Emily Tsokos Purtill recent sat down with Iris Papathanasiou from NEOS KOSMOS for an interview about Emily's debut novel Matia. Read below an extract.
Originally published in NEOS KOSMOS, 17 October 2024:
Author Emily Tsokos Purtill as a child with her grandmother.
Growing up, Emily feels fortunate to have spent so much time with her two great-grandmothers and grandmothers, listening to their stories. She became intimately familiar with the traditions and rituals of her heritage, attending weddings, kitchen teas, and other family ceremonies. From making traditional sweets to preparing the marital bed, Emily witnessed these customs firsthand.
“I have been thinking about those moments my whole life – how they kept their traditions going for so long over the years.
“From mother, to daughter, to granddaughter and I got to see it, and be part of it, which was amazing. I wanted to somehow write about all these traditions and capture these moments in time, so they wouldn’t be forgotten.”
Through the eyes of four resilient women in MATIA, Emily Tsokos Purtill captures the complexities of migration, identity, and the strong hold to heritage. As each generation navigates the challenges of a new world, they carry with them the timeless wisdom of their ancestors, through traditions, memories, and the stories they pass on.
