Repacking for Greece: A Mediterranean Odyssey

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.

The second release in the ‘Packing for Greece’ series travels to Athens and Delphi on the mainland; Nafplio, Mycenae, Epidavros and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Hydra, Aegina, Poros, Kefalonia and Corfu (with a side trip to Albania).

An early morning scene at Delphi. The photo is sliced into three, with a bit of clumsy overlap. Superimposed text on the three sections reads: 1. Fans of legendary UK travel-writer… 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. 2. A must-read for everyone who knows travel is the best way to get lost and to find ourselves. Melissa Joulwan, Strong Sense of Place podcast host. 3. … her distinctive voice and infectious passion for Greece…Greek Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos.

Sales links now live!

Paperbacks

  • The best place to buy Repacking for Greece is at your neighbourhood bookstore. If they don’t have it in stock, they can order in a copy. There’s nothing better than a bricks-and-mortar independent bookshop, and they need our support. If you live on Australia’s NSW Central Coast, you can find copies on the shelves of BOOK FACE Erina at Erina Fair, and the gift shops at Gosford Regional Gallery in East Gosford and Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park in Calga. If you buy at any of these four retailers, 70% of profits go to supporting local independent business, arts or wildlife conservation.
  • If you’re purchasing online, Amazon gives the best cut to indie authors. The universal link to Amazon and Barnes & Noble is here. If you’re in the United States, I get a teeny bit extra if you use my Amazon.com affiliate link.
  • You can also get an Australian copy from Booktopia.
  • In the USA, support independent bookstores by ordering online from Bookshop.org.
  • South African readers can get copies from online retailer TakeALot.
  • You can also find the book at heaps of other online retailers, so search for Repacking for Greece wherever you usually buy your books. I’d love to know where you found your copy. Please drop me a line.
  • Don’t forget your local library! Many libraries will order in books on request from their patrons, so be sure to let them know if you’re interested in borrowing Repacking for Greece for free.

E-books

E-books are available exclusively from Amazon (in all territories) for the first three months. This means they are free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers – authors get paid based on how many pages you read – and cost around $3.30-$5.00 for everyone else, depending on currency.

Find Repacking for Greece at:

Important note: Prefer to buy your e-books elsewhere? Help me decide whether to expand my e-book distribution networks after three months.

An image of the wraparound cover for Repacking for Greece. It shows the author's hand holding her mother’s tiny 1978 travel journal, complete with scuffed red covers, in front of an archaeological site. The site is the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia near Delphi, and the photo shows the three remaining columns of what was once a circular temple, standing under glorious dawn-lit skies.

Publication date: April 20th, 2024

Word on the Street:

Quote card from international bestselling author Jeffrey Siger reading 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.
Quote card from Greek-Australian newspaper, Neos Kosmos, reading 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.
Quote card from Melissa Joulwan, Strong Sense of Place podcast host, reading 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.
Quote card from novelist, memoirist and journalist Richard Clark, reading An engaging companion, Sally's life-affirming book reminds us all to seize the moment.
Quote card from JourneyWoman book club host Wendy Brooke, reading 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.
Quote card from award-winning author Peter Barber, reading Sally delves deep into their history and the surrounding regions... These facts are like a hidden treasure for travellers.

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