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"Soul of my Soul"
Anthology: The Devil Who Loves Me
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Preorders: Begin May 1st, 2023
About the Author: Antony Paschos is a Greek author with published short stories in Metaphorosis, Channel, The Common Tongue magazines and several others in Greek anthologies and literary magazines. He has also published two books, the latest of which was released in 2019 by Bell Publications. He is a member of the Athens Club of Science Fiction, and lives in Athens.
Release Date: June 23rd, 2023
Preorders: Begin May 1st, 2023
About the Author: Antony Paschos is a Greek author with published short stories in Metaphorosis, Channel, The Common Tongue magazines and several others in Greek anthologies and literary magazines. He has also published two books, the latest of which was released in 2019 by Bell Publications. He is a member of the Athens Club of Science Fiction, and lives in Athens.
Q & A
How does it feel to have this story published for the first time?
It feels great! This story is one of many I’ve written which are taking place during the Bulgarian Occupation of Northern Greece in WW II. This period is very special to me since I’ve heard a lot of stories about it from both my parents, who lived through it during their childhood.
What inspired the idea for your story?
Actually, “Soul of my Soul” is based on a dream I had, which, in turn, was probably inspired by the movie “Fallen.” I twisted the idea a bit, wondering what would it be like if the demon who can jump from one body to another was, in fact, the hero?
We know that writing can be a tumultuous journey with a lot of obstacles, what is your kryptonite as a writer?
My job, I guess. I like to write in the morning, so I have to wake up really early to squeeze some productive hours into my schedule.
Clearly, you’ve succeeded at writing a captivating story for GrendelPress, but we all start somewhere. What advice would you give yourself as a young writer?
If I could give an advice to my younger self, I would tell him not to bother with writing and pick another hobby. It’s just not worth the time that I’ve ended up investing in it. Problem is, that my younger self would probably not listen!
We’d like to argue that every good story makes both the author and the readers feel something. What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with your story?
My hero is, seemingly, an old woman with a larger than life past, quite literary speaking. I like to think that I shake off the cliché of the peaceful grandmother a bit.
Tell us about your favorite author. What about their book(s) call to you and how do they inspire your own writing?
There are many authors who I admire, but, if I had to pick one of them, it would definitely be Marcel Proust. His prose is so unique that the only way you can be inspired from it is by avoiding to write like him.
What do you love most about your story’s genre?
The way I see it, all stories are, in one way or another, speculative fiction. Even in an autobiographic novel, the past, the world, the characters, the environment, everything is reinvented. In fantasy you just let an additional, different or strange element slip into the process. If you exclude everything speculative from your creation, then you simply confine your imagination into a limited set of rules – which I find very restricting.
What are some other genres you’d like to break into and why?
My second novel in Greek was mainstream fiction, so I’ve already been there – in that case, though I had considered it, in the end I didn’t feel that the story would benefit from adding speculative elements.
Also, my third book is going to be a collection of literary short stories set in the same period as “Soul of my Soul”. One of them is, in fact, supernatural horror. Lastly, most of the stories I currently write are science fiction, while I’ve also tested myself in the crime fiction genre in the past, with questionable results! Anyway, there aren’t many genres left for me to break into!
Also, my third book is going to be a collection of literary short stories set in the same period as “Soul of my Soul”. One of them is, in fact, supernatural horror. Lastly, most of the stories I currently write are science fiction, while I’ve also tested myself in the crime fiction genre in the past, with questionable results! Anyway, there aren’t many genres left for me to break into!
If you had to pick another story of yours to share with your readers, what would it be?
I’ve written a science fiction novella about an AI and clone hybrid who puts up against the remains of humanity who have merged into a collective conscience, in a foreign, and quite hostile, planet.
