Book Extract: The Santorini Writing Retreat by Eva Glyn

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Eva Glyn to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book,  The Santorini Writing Retreat.

Secrets make the best stories…

Three women, one writing retreat, endless possibilities…

Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?

Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success.

And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.

In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…

Eva has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it. 

*****beginning of extract*****

There are three viewpoint characters in The Santorini Writing Retreat; Jo, the author with a terrible secret who leads it, Zina who owns the Retreat House and is desperate for her new business to succeed, and Karmela who just wants to write her book. Here we meet Karmela for the first time, as she arrives in Santorini by ferry.

Karmela jumped as something cold and wet nudged her leg. Looking down, she met the amber eyes of an almost silver greyhound, which was gazing up at her with an adoring expression. Without thinking, she reached to stroke its head.

“Hej ti,” she murmured softly.

A male voice came from above, slightly overloud and English. “I am so sorry.” He spoke slowly and left a gap between each word.

“It is OK,” she told him. “I speak your language.”

“Then I’m sorry again.”

She unbent from the dog to find herself standing next to a tall man with a frighteningly short haircut and the most arresting green eyes she had ever seen. His nose had a slight bump but his smile radiated warmth, and she could not help but grin back. Despite the hair, he was surprisingly attractive.

“There is no need. I spoke to your dog in Croatian, after all. It is a rather endearing creature.”

 “Doesn’t she know it? She’s a rescue dog, a former racing greyhound, and I’m afraid she can be a little bit naughty.”

“And with those eyes of course you forgive her anything.”

His laugh was as warm as his smile. “Got it in one.”

He leant on the rail next to her, while the dog rested her head against his knee. Behind them the hilltop village was slipping away, and Karmela could see that as well as the houses on top, a huddle of buildings fringed the shore, tucked beneath the honeycomb of russet-grey cliffs. She guessed the varied palette of colour in the rocks was to do with the island’s volcanic origins, and it gave the caldera an almost otherworldly feel. In places they were blacker than black but in others, layers of red, ochre, gold and cream sparkled in the sun. It was almost the moonscape of her imagination, but surrounded by sea.

Her new companion interrupted her thoughts. “I don’t think we can be long from docking.”

“Which is something of a relief. I have just discovered I am not the best of sailors. Zagreb is a long way from any ocean.”

 “Are you all right now? Is there anything I can get you?”

“That is kind, but no. I feel better for being outside, and I am being met at the port.”

“OK. Just thought I’d ask.” He looked at her for a long moment, before turning back to the view.

Ships passing in the night. On a ship at that.

She smiled to herself as she gazed at nature’s majestic walls rising up from the sea, fringed white with the buildings on top like icing on a cake. Should she grasp the nettle and ask if he was staying on the island long? Should she grab this potential opportunity with eager hands? But she had a book to write and she could do without the distraction, especially as Mama had paid for the retreat. She needed to repay that belief.

*****end of extract*****

About Eva Glyn –

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary stories are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests, and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives. Her latest book, The Santorini Writing Retreat, is her first set in Greece.

In addition Eva has written two Second World War dual timeline romances, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter. All her books are published by One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Say hello to Eva on Facebook, X, Instagram and Bookbub.

The Santorini Writing Retreat was released by One More Chapter on 22nd May 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

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Win A Copy Of The Santorini Writing Retreat. 

We have a paperback copy of The Santorini Writing Retreat to give away.

All you have to do to enter is click on this link.

This competition is open internationally.

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Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link above. 

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I (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.