Greek Myths – Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea

My  new book ‘Greek Myths – Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea,’ has just come out! It is beautifully illustrated by Jane Ray. I was asked by my publisher Frances Lincoln to write the book for younger readers, to introduce them to the world of Ancient Greece, to the Gods and their stories. So I have focused on  characters and dialogue, and telling the drama of the action clearly, so that young readers can get involved.

My partner is Greek, and has taken me to visit some secret places: hidden temples and grottos; the remains of palaces; mysterious mountains; far-away islands; the gorge where Pan still lives; and rivers where the neriadas still bathe.  The Greek landscape is dominated by burning sun, dusty stone, and blue sea. I  have linked images of sun, stone and sea with the three gods Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon.

The world of Greek mythology is still alive in the landscape. Real places hide an invisible world where the stories can be found. I have included notes and Jane Ray has made a glowing map showing the real places in Greece that are connected with the stories.

The world of Greek mythology describes another reality, where gods and monsters battle, and heroes struggle with impossible tasks in order to discover who they are. The stories are eternal, they need to be told again and again, and these are some of my versions.