Angela Patera

What was your favorite book as a child?

My favourite book as a child was Matilda by Roald Dahl. I first read it in Greek at the age of 8, and by 11, I conquered the English version. Revisiting it countless times over the years, the magic endures. Even now, whenever I read it to my daughter, the familiar tale still resonates.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I only started writing creatively at the ripe age of 36. I had been writing academically for years: at first, it was university projects, then it was essay writing guides for ESL students. I have been a reader ever since I can remember myself though. A few months ago, I had an epiphany. A story, a memoir, spilled forth spontaneously. I just wrote something I would personally like to read. The experience was inexplicable. It was a hot summer night, my daughter was fast asleep and I just started writing. It felt amazing. I started editing it and working on it and then I had another idea and I wrote another story. In less than six months, I have birthed ten stories, seven of which have been published. I still can't explain it.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

Now that I am in my late thirties, I can say that I am a notoriously shy and risk-averse individual. I can safely say that the pinnacle of my life has been the birth of my daughter. Before the birth of my daughter, attending live concerts was my ultimate source of thrill and adventure. From punk gigs in underground venues to colossal stadium spectacles, I have seen countless bands and artists perform live. I started going to gigs when I was 15 and feeling the adrenaline rush, I immersed myself in that “hobby” weekly until the age of 30. I have many stories to tell, some of which are really adventurous (like a Beastie Boys concert turning into a riot, a man on a wheelchair crowd-surfing during a Napalm Death concert, meeting my future husband in a High On Fire concert, having my t-shirt ripped off during a Machine Head concert, crying my eyes out during a Neurosis concert, etc etc etc. I can recall almost every concert I have ever attended.)

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Music has been my constant companion and a perennial source of inspiration. I listen to music all day long. When I write, I gravitate towards artists or bands that have left an indelible mark on my soul. The older I get, the more I regress towards the music I listened to when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I find solace in familiar tunes, I create a mental bridge to past times and experiences. Each song evokes a cascade of memories — a scent, a sensation, the voice of a person, or a specific place. Music, for me, is a conduit to profound emotions and cherished recollections.