On Sunday, October 6, international bestselling author and three-time Emmy award-winning producer Yvette Manessis Corporon is headed to Chicago to host a book talk and signing prior to the launch of her new book Daughter of Ruins. The New York-based Greek author—who holds close ties to Chicago’s Greek community—will be hosted by St. Helen Women’s Philoptochos of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church and the Hellenic American Women’s Council-Great Lakes Region (HAWC).
Manessis Corporon is the daughter of Greek immigrants, and prior to writing Daughter of Ruins, she was encouraged to write about her unique life experiences. “I was raised with one foot in each culture and sometimes I wasn’t quite sure where I belonged,” Manessis Corporon said in an interview with Chicago Star, reflecting on the start of her journey writing the novel.
“I had respect, admiration, and love for the history of Greek mythology and culture, but I hadn’t quite realized the significance of it until after I became a parent myself. I looked back to what my grandparents struggled through, as well as my parents in order to come here to this country to give me this amazing life. I’m only one generation removed and my grandmother was illiterate while I have a degree in NYU. That wasn’t lost on me, so I realized all of this was what I knew and I started blending what I loved most to craft these stories.”
Set in Corfu and Kefalonia, Greece and partially in America, Daughter of Ruins examines the experiences of Greek-American women in the 1920s and 1950s. The story follows the struggling lives of a motherless daughter, an Italian prostitute, and a mail-order bride as they each set out to change their fate.
“Eighty years later, my children are fortunate enough to have the privilege of our family’s American dream, so reflecting on that, it was important for me to document the struggles that early Greek immigrants went through,” Manessis Corporon said. “Not only were the early immigrants targeted, but they were called ‘dirty Greeks’ and their businesses were boycotted and firebombed. There was a whole generation of young girls left back in Greece when others started to migrate to America. Oftentimes, their families had no way to feed themselves so the girls were sent to the U.S. as picture brides to the early Greek immigrants. Knowing all of this, it’s important for me that we always remember the struggle that the previous generations went through for our current family to have these privileges.”
According to Manessis Corporon, several scenes and a pivotal portion in Daughter of Ruins take place in Chicago and were inspired by her time visiting the areas. Manessis Corporon attended the U.S. debut exhibit and gala for her longtime friend Prince Nikolaos of Greece , who was being hosted at the National Hellenic Museum .
“I was so touched by the community and the history and how a group of immigrants settled to create this thriving Greektown,” Manessis Corporon said. “It was so important for them to preserve this culture that they pulled together their money to eventually build this beautiful museum. It was an homage to our beautiful culture and cuisine with all the restaurants in Greektown. This experience stayed with me and that’s why there is a very important part in the book that takes place in Greektown of Chicago as well as Milwaukee.”
During the event in Palos Hills, IL, Manessis Corporon will be joined by journalist and author Maria A. Karamitsos, who founded and is a former publisher/editor of WindyCity Greek magazine. Karamitsos is a published poet and is currently editing her first novel.
Manessis Corporon is the author of three additional books that have all been translated into 16 languages. Aside from being an accomplished author, she is currently a Senior Supervising Producer with EXTRA. Manessis Corporon has received the Silurian Award for Excellence in Journalism and the New York City Comptroller and City Council’s Award for Greek Heritage and Culture. Learn more about the author on her website .
The book talk and signing will take place at Saints Constantine and Helen Church, located at 11025 S. Roberts Road (Hon. Father Byron Way), Palos Hills, IL. Daughter of Ruins will be officially released on Tuesday, October 8, but a limited number of copies will be available for sale during the event. To RSVP, call 708-289-9004 or 708-715-5322.
Pre-order Daughter of Ruins online .
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