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ASPASIA by Florence Wetzel

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ASPASIA


A peaceful mountain village in 1990s Crete. Katerina is an American who lives a tranquil life with her husband Dimitris and their daughter Aspasia. But when Dimitris leaves to work on a cargo ship, a terrible secret shatters Katerina’s world. Suddenly, life in the village turns claustrophobic, threatening both Aspasia’s safety and Katerina’s sanity.

Drawing inspiration from Sophocles' timeless play Antigone, Aspasia is a gripping tale of two shocking crimes. The novel delves into the depths of a mother's love and the extraordinary lengths one woman will go to safeguard her child.

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

  • The story and inspiration behind Aspasia – including Florence’s time in Crete, the “village secret,” and how another novel influenced her to give her character a different kind of ending.
  • The meaning of the name Aspasia – its personal, historical, and symbolic significance, and why she chose it for the book.
  • Katerina’s perspective as an outsider and a mother – her integration into village life, her strength and vulnerability, and how she reacts differently from the community.
  • Themes of secrets, silence, and power – including the role of Christos, how fear and routine shift after the secret is revealed, and the tension between what’s spoken and unspoken.
  • Florence’s writing journey – revisiting a book she began 30 years ago, the evolution of publishing/self-publishing, trigger warnings, and what projects she has coming up next.

    • ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Florence Wetzel was born in Brooklyn, NY. She writes in different genres, including the memoir Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard; the Swedish mystery The Grand Man; and Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson’s autobiography. Aspasia is her latest novel, published in July 2025. 

    You can learn more about Florence Wetzel and her work at https://linktr.ee/FlorenceWetzel

     

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