My book, Uniquely Crete, has arrived on the island with us in its wake.  We literally hit the ground running beginning my book tour in jolly ol’ England (more on that later), and finishing off in Crete.  Each day has been filled with the joys and trials so typical of this Greek island.  All in all, I’ve been surprised, humbled and grateful for the interest in my book, especially from the Greek population.

The highlight of the tour was my book signing at the lovely Manousakis Winery in the hills outside of Hania.  Alexandra’s entrepreneurial spirit and her creativity have elevated this little winery to new heights in the business of winemaking and hospitality.  Our evening there was accented by balmy breezes, stellar wine and food, and a successful book signing event which included a reading from my book.

But perhaps the most memorable part of the evening was the fantastic fellowship between friends, new and old.  Many of our dear friends showed up to enjoy the evening and offer support.  And, as is the case in Crete, you can’t come here without making new friends as well.  I was delighted to meet the successful author from England, Leah Fleming, as well as a young woman with a big dream, Billy Lourakis, who invited us to stay a couple of nights at her beautiful retreat on the sea, Theodore Boutique Hotel.  We were more than happy to oblige and this is where I sit and ponder God’s abundant blessings this morning.

Our days are filled with the typical activity of book promotion that sometimes bleed into the night.  But there’s something about Crete that gently demands a slower pace.  Sigha, Sigha (slowly, slowly) is my mantra here and I plan to carry it home with me in my proverbial bottle from the sea.