Portfolio

LINK TO AMAZON.COM FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS

PORTFOLIO

AWARD WINNING BOOKS FROM THE COMING OF AGE QUARTET!

Slide title

THIS 1960's ROMANTIC TALE HAS RECEIVED A CHILL WITH A BOOK AWARD!

Button
Award winning Novels: Coming of Age Quartet; CAST A HOROSCOPE, BRIGHT DAFFODIL YELLOW

THIS EXCITING TALE ABOUT A LOST SOUL HAS RECEIVED A CHILL WITH A BOOK AWARD!

Button

SCENES FROM TWO QUARTETS WHICH FORM THE THRILLING HISTORIC AND ROMANTIC FAMILY SAGA 'JIGSAW':

THE GREEK LETTERS QUARTET & THE COMING OF AGE QUARTET.

GREEK LETTERS VOLUME ONE "BEFORE"

The town of Pylos once known as Navarino was pivotal in the battle to end the War of Independence and the setting of Greek Letters Vols 1 & 4

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 1
GREEK LETTERS VOLUME ONE "BEFORE"

The Venetian fort of Methoni with its iconic Bourtzi is a back drop to much of the stories in Greek Letters Vols 1 & 4

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 1

https://amzn.to/2U9jZy8

Pylos and Navarino

The tide turned in favour of the Greeks in the War of Independence with the Battle of Navarino, 20 0ctober in 1827; commemorated with this obelisk in Pylos main square to the memory of three admirals, Codrington, Heyden and de Rigny whose sailors defeated the Ottomans.
Button
The little octagonal Bourtzi fort at Methoni may be architecturally pleasing but it is anything but, being a place of torture, imprisonment or massacre during medieval and Ottoman times.
Button
The tiny islet of Chelonaki is crowned by a memorial to the British Sailors lost during the Battle of Navarino 1827.
Button
This magnificent church is part Turkish Mosque, recently restored inside and its exterior is best viewed from the magnificent Turko-Venetian fort above on the Neokastro at Pylos.
Button

The Western Peloponnese, setting for so many scenes in GREEK LETTERS VOLUME ONE

GREEK LETTERS VOLUMES ONE & FOUR

The church of Ag Spiridon on the old kastro at Kardamyli features in both books and is at the heart of the struggle for Greek Independence. But more to the point did Samuel marry his sweetheart here?

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 1
GREEK LETTERS VOLUME FOUR "MUCH MORE THAN HURT"

The tiny church of Ag Vavara is on one of the beautiful, mostly sandy beaches, near Scoutari, which are rarely mentioned in the guidebooks. Surely the adventurous Andrew and his wife Sky would have found this idyllic spot and perhaps partaken in lobster at the nearby taverna.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4
THE OLD HARBOUR IN LIMENI, MANI

From above the main port for Areopoli, in the early 19th c, Samuel watched the French merchant sail into the harbour, and out again. He knew not why those on board were frantically waving in his direction.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 1
TIME FOR A COFFEE ON THE WATERFRONT

No excuse not to linger in Limeni as did players in the Greek Letters Quartet, and to download the e-books and read in situ these wonderful stories.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4
GREEK LETTERS VOLUMES ONE & FOUR

These two books have a real feel of the wild Mani where as recently as 1956 mule was still the main means of transport. Visitors were infrequent during Samuel's time and even when his descendants travelled nearly 200 years later the Mani could be primitive.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4

Button
Button
Button
Button
Button

The Mani, showing Itilo, Limeni, Areopolis, and Kardamyli where most of the excitement takes place in GREEK LETTERS VOLUMES ONE & FOUR. In the bays of Itilo, Limeni and the old towns of Areopolis and Kardamyli the characters in Greek Letters had exciting adventures.

Button
Button

Athens Acropolis New Museum, the beautiful Caryatides, the others are in the British Museum, should they be repatriated?

Plaka hardly changed over the centuries

Plaka Leonidion, is hardly changed over the centuries and this 1926 photo is probably as the tiny harbour looked when Helene and her cousin Phil made their separate journeys here in the 1930s.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 3
BRIDGES OVER CORINTH CANAL lead to Corinth, Nafplio, Arcadia, Kiparissi

Consider that over the centuries many attempts were made to cut a canal through the Isthmus . But it was not until 1893 that this was achieved, effectively turning the Peloponnese into a large island and saving sailors many perilous miles.

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS
The Hotel Minoa always makes a good backdrop

The village of Tolo developed in a land and seaspace of outstanding beauty which Andrew's twins discovered in Greek Letters Vol 4 but when their 5 x great grandfather, Samuel, came to the Argolis there was only the tiny settlement of Minoa.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 2
The hills of the Argolis seen in Tolo, across the Gulf

The adventurous Helene Carr trudged over these hills from the Saronic Gulf to Nafplio and her story told in GREEK LETTERS VOLUME 3, always seeking her cousin Phil.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 3
Imagine sitting at these dining tables at Hotel Minoa

in the sunshine each breakfast time or by the light of the full moon, each supper time, you will find Tolo harbour a very romantic place!

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 2
A coast line little changed in 200 years

When Soula sailed up the Eastern Peloponnese with her young charge, the baby Philip, there was no road to Nafplio along the shore. They would have known nothing of this beautiful genuine taverna, indeed few people find it at Zarits!

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS PAGES
The Steam Roller of Leonidion such a central player in Phil & Helene's stories

Was it all the fault of the steam roller? The outcome of the both Helene's & Phil's lives was to some extent dependent on this very steam roller. GREEK LETTERS VOLUME 3

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 3
You can hardly see this tiny fishing village from the road!

It's likely Rosalind and her elderly sweeheart and her son Andrew and his wife were the only characters in the GREEK LETTERS Quartet who were aware of tiny Sabatiki on the eastern coast of Arcadia.

FACEBOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
One of the remotest seaside hamlets in the Peloponnese

For years Fokianos, like many of the small communities on the coast of Arcadia was only accessible by sea. It stands to reason that Andrew and Sky found this beautiful bay when the road opened from Leonidio but it took the author to find it nows goes through to Kiparissi, in 2018.

FACE BOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
No! We are not about to drive over a cliff edge!

The deep blue Myrtoon Sea is about 1000 feet below this cliff edge road but when Rosalind drove down to Kiparissi in the early 1980s the road was little more than a rough track in places only one vehicle width.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4
Was this Princess Diana's last hideaway?

Kiparissi has always been known to the cognisenti but we have it on very good authority that Princess Diana's yacht moored here immediately before the fatal return journey to meet Dodi in Paris. It is said that Prince Charles and President Bush have also visited.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4
It's worth the long drive to Kiparissi!

Indeed it is a long drive but not as perilous as it was, forty, twenty years ago when Rosalind and her newly found love and her son Andrew and wife Sky made their way carefully from Harakas to the once isolated sea port.

BUY GREEK LETTERS VOL 4

Button
Button
Button
Button
Button
Button
Button

In Argolida, Arcadia and Nafplio, the historic, beautiful east coast of the Peloponnese is crammed with ancient sites and features in all thevolumes of THE GREEK LETTERS QUARTET.

Button
Button
Button
Button

Romantic scenes from the Peloponnese

Kythira and islands

From the harbour at Kapsali look across to the tiny town of Chora and its castle perched on the hillside.

FACEBOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
Kythira

The perfect half moon bay of Kapsali draws your breath away with its beauty.

FACEBOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
Chora HIgh Town

High above the end beautiful bay of Kapsali the quaint little town of Chora, on the island of Kythira, has a castle churches and a fascinating Main Street.

FACEBOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME

Kythira just one of many beautiful islands visited by the author, in her tour-operating days with Filoxenia.

The magnificent elevated Arcopolis can be seen from most areas of Athens

Not everyone has a good time in Athens, THE SCORPION'S LAST TALE is set at the time of the Colonel's Junta in 1974 and when an British journalist falls under suspicion his life is not comfortable.

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS
The Greek Parliament Buildings

The Greek Parliament was the original Royal Palace when Samuel and Eleni attended the prestigious Royal Ball in mid 19th century beautifully captured in GREEK LETTERS VOLUME 2

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS
Bourtzi in Nafplio's beautiful bay - Prison or Luxury hotel?

This architecturally stunning little fort rises out of the sea, today a tourist attraction, but in the past prisoners' executions lived here, except when it was a luxury hotel.

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS
The rarely visited shores below Mt Parnon

The light is perfect this evening in the Myrtoon Sea.

FACE BOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
We never tire of this view!

Kiparissi, in the Eastern Peloponnese until recently best approached by boat, and even now the road from the south ia a somewhat adventurous drive

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS
Tranquil scene as Arcadia gives way to Laconia

Coming from Fokianos this would be your first view of the tiny but now fairly sophisicated Kiparissi, visited by Princess Diana in 1997. And of course by Andrew and Sky and before that Rosalind who found it primitive and spooky in the 1980s

FACEBOOK LINK TO GREECE IS THE THEME
Given they say Napoleon sailed into the Bay of Itilon ...

.... it is not surprising that much of the GREEK LETTERS QUARTET is centred on its wild shores.

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW PAGES
Enjoy the Peloponnese

Magdalena will take you on breathtaking cruises from the harbour at Tolo, to Spetses, Hydra and Monemvasia.

FACEBOOK LINK TO JIGSAW BOOKS

On location

From Areopoli in the Southern Mani to Kiparissi in the east and amazing Vastas with the church with 17 trees growing on the roof, in the west, the Peloponnese is wonderful.
Button
The church of Aghia Theodora at Vastas really does have 17 trees - with no apparent true root support - growing on its roof. Tucked away in the Western Peloponnese mountains many make the journey to see this miracle.
Button
The photographer relaxs behind his cover photograph.
Button

Slide title

The magnificent Meteora, with the dainty almost inaccesible Monastery of Varlaam (see previous slide) in the foreground and the Great Meteoron behind.

Button
Northern Greece, Pyli, Meteora, Doliana, Metsovo

Yes, the Pindus mountains are stunningly beautiful, and very much part GREEK LETTERS Volume 3 'THE EYES HAVE IT.'

Button
Slide title

The Porta Panagia in Pyli sits at the foot of the Pindus Mountains, the place where Helene and Phil (GREEK LETTERS VOL 3) began their dangerous journey up into the mountains.

Button
Slide title

This beautiful Byzantine church outside Pyli in Thessaly, the Porta Panagia, built on the site of an ancient temple.

Button
Slide title

From the Holy Monastery of Varlaam, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece a basket was lowered to winch up visitors and supplies as recently as the 1960s, although steps were carved in the 19th c. Active as a monastery since medieval times, the original monk Varlaam’s chapel was unused for 200 years until 1517 when it took 22 years to hoist up all the building materials and build the beautiful katholion and chapel in use today.

Button
Slide title

The delicate monastery of Holy Trinity, Meteora.

Button
Slide title

The exquiste church of The Holy Cross, Doliana, Thessaly is not the easiest place to reach but well worth the drive! Perhaps Helene rode by on her romantic travels in THE EYES HAVE IT, Greek Letters Vol 3.

Button
Slide title

Wonderful Metsovo, has survived as a thriving town, partly due to the generosity of philantropists.

Button
Slide title

Metsovo may be a long drive from both west and east coasts, deep in high mountains, but now the motorway, anciently named as Via Egnatia, passes by.

Button
Slide title

When a single bridge leads Helene and Phil to exciting and momentous adventures in the 1930s in the deep untamed Pindus. GREEK LETTERS VOLUME 3 Click for phtoograph link to buy.
http://amzn.to/15Fz0ZZ

Button

Stunningly beautiful Northern Greece, mountainous with amazing bridges, monasteries and churches, features in

GREEK LETTERS VOLUME THREE AND FOUR

Button

In 1960 an air-hostess' was a prestigious job, just one cabin staff on the small Viking aircraft, Suzi was indeed this hostess but the story in CAST A HOROSCOPE is not autobiographical!

Button
Button
Button
Button

North Wales including Pen-y-Gwryd (where the 1952 Everest assault team signed the ceiling in the bar) and the Italianate well-known village of Portmeirion feature in two thrilling novels of the COMING OF AGE series,

award-winning BRIGHT DAFFODIL YELLOW & THE GLASS CLASS

Ringstone Reservoir, Calderdale

Some days it just can't get colder than this! No wonder those used to the warmer climes of Greece can't adjust, but Pavlov the Puppy Doesn't Like Rain, loves it!
© OPW Stembridge
Button
Button
Button
Button
Button
Button

The scenes above, from Calderdale and Halifax, are typical of the areas depicted in part of CAST A HOROSCOPE, THE SCORPION'S LAST TALE & THE GLASS CLASS

Button
Button
Button
Button

The plains and small towns of Cheshire on the other hand, the setting for much of THE GREEK LETTERS QUARTET are much softer.

Really I can promise you that this little puppy is so very good!
Button
Sometimes I can sit still, even though I am a spaniel!
link for THE PUPPY WHO DIDN'T LIKE RAIN
If you love dogs, I think you will love this book!
Do buy this delightful book!

This little puppy is the springer spaniel who became the star of THE PUPPY WHO DIDN'T LIKE RAIN.

link to buy CAST A HOROSCOPE (DOORS TO MANUAL)

Link to buy THE SCORPION'S LAST TALE Link to buy BRIGHT DAFFODIL YELLOW link to buy THE GLASS CLASS

OVERSEAS READERS CLICK HERE TO BUY & FOR REVIEWS ON ALL THE BOOKS

Way back in 1960 Suzi Stembridge answered an advertisement in The Times, and became an air hostess which led to many travel-related careers and adventures …. ….

New Paragraph

Contact Us

suzistembridge@btinternet.com

PORTFOLIO

Slide title

Award winning Novels: Coming of Age Quartet; CAST A HOROSCOPE, BRIGHT DAFFODIL YELLOW

GREEK LETTERS VOLUME ONE "BEFORE"

GREEK LETTERS VOLUME ONE "BEFORE"

Pylos and Navarino

GREEK LETTERS VOLUMES ONE & FOUR

GREEK LETTERS VOLUME FOUR "MUCH MORE THAN HURT"

THE OLD HARBOUR IN LIMENI, MANI

TIME FOR A COFFEE ON THE WATERFRONT

GREEK LETTERS VOLUMES ONE & FOUR

Plaka hardly changed over the centuries

BRIDGES OVER CORINTH CANAL lead to Corinth, Nafplio, Arcadia, Kiparissi

The Hotel Minoa always makes a good backdrop

The hills of the Argolis seen in Tolo, across the Gulf

Imagine sitting at these dining tables at Hotel Minoa

A coast line little changed in 200 years

The Steam Roller of Leonidion such a central player in Phil & Helene's stories

You can hardly see this tiny fishing village from the road!

One of the remotest seaside hamlets in the Peloponnese

No! We are not about to drive over a cliff edge!

Was this Princess Diana's last hideaway?

It's worth the long drive to Kiparissi!

Kythira and islands

Kythira

Chora HIgh Town

The magnificent elevated Arcopolis can be seen from most areas of Athens

The Greek Parliament Buildings

Bourtzi in Nafplio's beautiful bay - Prison or Luxury hotel?

The rarely visited shores below Mt Parnon

We never tire of this view!

Tranquil scene as Arcadia gives way to Laconia

Given they say Napoleon sailed into the Bay of Itilon ...

Enjoy the Peloponnese

On location

Slide title

Northern Greece, Pyli, Meteora, Doliana, Metsovo

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Slide title

Ringstone Reservoir, Calderdale

Contact Us