Award-wining Greek Author Nektaria Anastasiadou is currently in the US as part of the International Writing Project at University of Iowa, one of the world’s most prestigious literary residencies. Serving as an ambassador of Greek civilization, she has participated in numerous events and panel discussions. During her tenure, she participated in a book event in Chicago and next week, will travel to New York for another book discussion.
Based in Constantinople, Anastasiadou is the 2019 winner of the Zografeios Agon, a Greek-language literary award founded in 19th century Constantinople. Her debut novel, A Recipe for Daphne (Hoopoe, 2021), was shortlisted for the 2022 Runciman Award and longlisted for the 2022 Dublin Literary Award. Daphne was also a finalist (with an Honorable Mention) for the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Award, and a 2021 Women’s National Book Association (US) Great Group Read. Her writing has also been included in syllabi at Boğaziçi University, the University of Iowa, Bilkent University, and Boston College.
Her second novel, Στα Πόδια της Αιώνιας Άνοιξης/Beneath the Feet of Eternal Spring (Papadopoulos, 2023), was released in Greece this summer, and is the first novel published in the Istanbul Greek dialect.
Anastasiadou shared details about IWP and her residency, as well as the upcoming event in New York on October 25.
Maria A. Karamitsos: What is the IWP?
Nektaria Anastasiadou: The University of Iowa is the premier center for creative writing in the United States. Its International Writing Program (IWP) was founded in 1967 as an internationally focused counterpart to the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. It hosts established writers from around the world in a 10-week residency, during which the writers continue their own work, hold readings, and give lectures. Nobel Prize winners Orhan Pamuk and Mo Yan, as well as award-winning Greek writers Kostas Taktsis, Katerina Angelake-Rouk, Thanassis Valtinos, Dimitris Nolas, Argyris Hionis, and Christos Chomenides are all alumni of the program.
MAK: When did you go to IWP and what have you been doing there?
NA: Since my arrival in August, 2023, I have been doing readings, participating in literary salons with other novelists, and presenting at public discussions (you can read an extended version of my panel paper on the Istanbul Greek dialect in The Markaz Review). I also presented the film POLITIKI KOUZINA for our Cinéphile program, at which writers from all over the world had the rare opportunity to learn about and discuss the Greek/Rum community of Istanbul. And of course, I’ve continued working on the historical satire novel that I began some time ago.
MAK: You're representing Greece and Turkey. Talk about this.
NA: Turkey is my home country, but I write in Greek, and the publisher of my second novel is in Athens. So I represent both countries. Most importantly, however, my participation in the University of Iowa’s IWP puts the ancient Rum/Greek community of Istanbul on the world map of contemporary literature.
MAK: What else will you do with IWP? Any other events?
NA: I will present my work at International Literature Today, an undergraduate class built around the work and presence of IWP residents. In this class, students study our work, we give presentations, and then the students have the opportunity to ask us anything they would like about our writing.
MAK: You’ll travel to New York next week.
NA: On the evening of Wednesday, October 25, 2023, I’ll be in conversation with Poet and Professor Nicholas Alexiou of Queens College at the Hellenic Cultural Center in Queens, NYC. The event is sponsored by Queens College, the Hellenic American Project, and the Greek-American Writers Guild. Doors open at 6:30 pm and admission is free.
MAK: What's next for you?
NA: At the end of November and beginning of December, I will be in Greece for interviews and book signings of my latest novel, Στα Πόδια της Αιώνιας Άνοιξης/Beneath the Feet of Eternal Spring, as well as author Q & A’s with distinguished artists whose names I will keep a secret for now!
For more information about Nektaria Anastasiadou and her work, visit nektariaanastasiadou.com.
