With her distinctive voice and infectious passion for Greece, the Philhellene author invites readers to embark on an odyssey that celebrates wanderlust and the resilience of the human spirit
Greek-Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos, March 2024
Breaking News!
The launch of Repacking for Greece will be celebrated at a multi-author event hosted by the prestigious Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival, at Tuggerah LIbrary on Wednesday, 5th June 2024. Tickets are free, parking is plentiful, there’ll be olives and feta (of course) and a glass of bubbles to mark the occasion.
![Book covers for Sally Jane Smith’s ‘Repacking for Greece’, Deborah Pike’s ‘The Players’ and Meg Vertigan’s ‘The Strong Dress’, along with the logos of the Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival and Central Coast Libraries.]](https://journeysinpages.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/words-in-the-waves-book-launch-tile-resized-300.jpg?w=300)
New Release: Repacking for Greece
Fans of legendary UK travel-writer and explorer of all things Greece and beyond, Patrick Leigh Fermor, will find a kindred spirit in Repacking for Greece author Sally Jane Smith.
Jeffrey Siger, international bestselling author of ‘The Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis’ Mystery Series
From a glimpse of Mandela at his release rally, to the sound of water splashing onto Greek stone, Sally took me on a sensory journey.
Wendy Brooke, JourneyWoman Book Club host
When a long-forgotten, apartheid-era arrest record derails Sally’s plans for a Canadian family holiday, she packs her mum’s 1978 travel diary and sets out solo for Greece instead.
As she journeys to the landmarks her mother once visited — and discovers many more — Sally immerses us in Greece’s awe-inspiring landscapes and fascinating heritage sites. She delights in absorbing the country’s rich history and connecting the dots between legend, location and contemporary literature.
Insightful, intelligent and with an infectious sense of wonder, Sally embraces a gentler approach to travel: facing her fears, abandoning old anxieties, and finding joy in the simple pleasures of her own Greek odyssey.
Sally Jane Smith’s clear-eyed memoir of her travels through Greece captures serendipitous and heart-rending moments, spinning her misadventures into page-turning stories.
Melissa Joulwan, host of the Strong Sense of Place podcast
Book One: Unpacking for Greece
‘Reading Greece’ Book of the Month
Greek government website Greek News Agenda, July 2023
An inspired Greek odyssey, balm for the soul.
Tina Hartas, co-founder of TripFiction
When Sally sets out for Greece with her mother’s 1978 travel diary in her pocket, she is searching for the wanderlust she lost in a devastating overseas road accident.
As she ventures into the heart of the Mediterranean – wandering volatile landscapes, exploring historical sites, pairing books with places and savouring the tastes of Greece – she finds it is possible for a clumsy, out-of-shape woman on a budget to experience a life-changing journey.
In a story told with warmth, humour and a fascination with Greece’s natural and cultural heritage, Sally connects with her past, overcomes her fears and falls in love with life again, one olive at a time.
Unpacking for Greece is a truly literary memoir – a story of tragedy, resilience and the gradual rediscovery of adventure. Sally takes you with her in every sense.
Ned Kelly award-winning and USA Today best-selling author, Sulari Gentill
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Sally Jane Smith 