Unpacking for Greece: Travel in a Land of Fortresses, Fables, Ferries and Feta

Greek travel photographs of Monemvasia, the Porch of the Caryatids on the Acropolis, and Santorini’s caldera, with superimposed text reading: 1. “Reading Greece Book of the Month” Greek government website, Greek News Agenda. 2. “Sally takes you with her in every sense.” USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill. 3. “An inspired Greek odyssey, balm for the soul.” Tina Hartas, co-founder of TripFiction. 4. “Compelling travel memoir.” Eleni Sakellis, The National Herald.]

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.

Sticker showing the cover of Unpacking for Greece and the words Greek-Australian League's 2024 Book Award First Prize for Prose in English

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.

Book One in the ‘Packing for Greece’ series travels to Athens and Meteora on the mainland; Monemvasia, Sparta and Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula; and the islands of Santorini and Rhodes.

Sales links now live!

Paperbacks

  • The best place to buy Unpacking 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 Umina Beach Book Nook (which also does online orders), 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 Unpacking 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 Unpacking 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 $2.99-$4.50 for everyone else, depending on currency.

Find Unpacking 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.

A book cover titled Unpacking for Greece. It shows the honey-coloured stone columns of the Parthenon against a deep blue sky. A hand is holding up an old snapshot from 1978 in front of the Parthenon, as if trying to match the scene. The sepia photo shows two women – my mother and grandmother – sitting on the temple steps. There is a tagline on the cover reading: Travel in a land of fortresses, fables, ferries and feta

Publication date: June 1st, 2023

Word on the Street:

Click the quote cards to read editorial reviews and features, or catch what readers are saying on Goodreads:

Quote card from Strong Sense of Place podcast reading All of that experience makes her an excellent travel accomplice. This book will transport you to Greece in the company of a curious, insightful, self-deprecating companion who will definitely share her olives with you.
Quote card from Valerie Poore, author of Watery Ways, reading: I loved the layers, the quiet humour, the thoughtful reflections and the sheer beauty of Sally’s lyrical writing... I visited chapels, temples and archaeological sites I have never seen but feel I have, and I will read it again, more than once.
Quote card from The National Herald reading A compelling travel memoir that highlights not only the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Greece but also brings the reader along on Smith’s personal journey. The journalist's name is Eleni Sakellis.
Quote card with an extract from ‘The Book Stop’ by blogger Deb (aka Curly Geek), reading: ...she followed her mother’s path through Greece, exploring historical and archaeological sites while seeking to recover her own joy in travel.
Quote card from author Alyson Sheldrake, reading: The sights, sounds and tastes of Greece are all brought to life as Sally travels... the lesser-travelled paths and lanes of this historic country. Sally’s honesty and enthusiasm shines through every page
Quote card from Gum Trees and Galaxies blog reading It is about discovery, not just of Greece but of a mother who travelled there before.. Sometimes getting lost is the best way to find your bearings.
Quote card from Tina Hartas, co-founder of TripFiction, reading An inspired Greek odyssey, balm for the soul
Quote card from Maria A. Karamitsos, Greek-American journalist and a`uthor reading: Her eloquent and beautiful descriptions are so vivid, you’ll travel right alongside her... It’s a story of re-learning to trust oneself, opening to possibilities, making peace with the past, and cruising with confidence through middle age. Bravo!
Quote card from Linda Lappin of TripFiction reading: What better place to search for your origins than the storied land of Greece, where every square inch of terrain is infused with myth, and every paving stone bears witness to the wanderlust of thousands of years and millions of feet?
Quote card from Sally Cronin of Smorgasbord Blog Magazine, reading: ...a wonderfully descriptive way of writing that invites you to join her as she explores... an entertaining reflection on middle-age and discovering your mojo.`
Quote card from Ned Kelly award-winning and USA Today best-selling author, Sulari Gentill, reading 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.

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