The story take place in present-day Athens on a beach and adjacent cafe over two winters. This location, the weather and a love of the sea, bring an eclectic group of people together on Sundays, to pursue their passion for swimming. Sundays revolve around Betty, her cafe, her son Jacob and Louli, the brindled cat. The swimmers, of all ages, backgrounds and types, have their views on life in Athens as economic, political and social tensions across Europe take effect on Greece. As well as swimming, they relax together, using the cafe and the beach as their oasis in difficult times. A mysteriously staged suicide sets events in motion which will affect them all to various degrees. Against this clandestine backdrop, the stories unfold about the swimmers' lives, past and present and their hopes for the future. They experience happiness and joy, tragedy and loss and become close friends who try to help each other wherever possible. For those who have visited Greece and fallen in love with the land and the people, the book may offer a deeper insight into realities of life there and to Greeks, many of the characters and stories may seem all too familiar. The Winter Swimmers' Club has a message about the positive power of love and friendship and how it can sustain us and offer us all hope in the face of adversity. The story unfolds with a dose of romance, mystery and a passion for life which should entertain readers of all ages.

About the Author
Sheila G. Bardas is a teacher and author. Born in Manchester, she graduated from Manchester Polytechnic where she achieved a BA (Joint Hons) in English and History. She trained as a teacher at West Midlands College and achieved an MA in Philosophy at Newcastle Polytechnic. After teaching in England for some years, she left to work in Athens, Greece, initially for a year but stayed on making the city a base from where she travelled extensively. She then settled to teach in an English school in Kallithea. She married Christos Bardas and the couple live in Thiseio, central Athens where they raised their two children, Gordon and Helen. After living through the difficult years of political turmoil and witnessing the effect of the economic crisis first hand, Sheila was prompted to write this story hoping it might touch the hearts of all those, Greeks or not, who have endured the problems caused by austerity, thereby offering some relief and hope for those who find themselves embroiled in similar circumstances. The Winter Swimmers' Club is Sheila's first book.


Book Information
ISBN 9781838092979
Author Sheila G Bardas
Format Paperback
Page Count 290
Imprint i2i Publishing
Publisher i2i Publishing