Writing

a writer’s village
Demetra received a BA in literature from Willamette University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with English honors. She took creative writing courses from Oregon Book Award winner Scott Nadelson, who introduced her to the craft of nonfiction. Upon graduating, she fulfilled a research position at the Center for Faulkner Studies in Missouri, under the direction of Faulkner scholar Robert Hamblin. Her nonfiction essay “On Faulkner and Me” was published in Teaching Faulkner.

From Emerson College in Boston, Demetra earned her MFA in creative nonfiction writing. Studying narrative nonfiction, literary translation, and archival research, she worked closely with Fulbright Scholar Douglas Whynott, Guggenheim Fellow Pablo Medina, and Pulitzer Prize winner Megan Marshall. Demetra’s master’s thesis, Roots & Wings: A Memoir of Hope and Transformation, was published by Mneme Press in 2017. The book captures her decade-long journey as a performing artist who perseveres despite having posttraumatic stress disorder.

Roots & Wings

a designer’s vision
In 2017, Demetra had the opportunity of working with Mneme Press, a Seattle-based publisher that acknowledged her not only as a writer, but also as an actor, Greek American, and mother-to-be. Demetra told them she wanted to sell her memoir at her performances, keep the rights to her play, and start a family soon. They worked together to find a printing model that best met those professional and personal needs.

During the design process, Demetra collaborated with Rebecca A. Demarest, an award-winning book designer. Early in the process, Rebecca researched how ancient Greeks counted and categorized items. She discovered two ancient numbering systems to use within the memoir: Greek letters for the sections (similar to Roman numerals), and hashes for the chapters (similar to tally marks). She opened each chapter with photographs shot in Monemvasia, Greece, and epithets Demetra translated from ancient Greek plays.

Around the spine of the book, Rebecca wrapped a timeless image of victory. Artist Rachel Rosenkoetter graciously granted Mneme Press permission to use her vibrant painting “Nike of Samothrace” for the cover art. The Greek key, or meander pattern, winds through the memoir, reminding the reader to trust their own journey. The back matter includes an insert with performance photos of Roots & Wings Onstage, as well as a bibliography organized not merely by alphabetical order but by subject: GI system, Greek art history, inspiration, Lariam, PTSD, and trauma.

a Memoir of Hope and Transformation

“On this journey with Demetra, we understand that posttraumatic stress disorder is not reserved for veterans of war, but for veterans of life.”
~ Author, RN & MFA

“This is a must read for parents, educators, and anyone in the health care profession.”
~ International Educator, MA

Praise

“While Roots & Wings is a triumph of persistence, it is also a rare opportunity to reflect on the complex connections between mental and physical health.”
~ High School Educator, MA

“Through her honest, human sharing of her own suffering, Demetra becomes an advocate for all who have suffered.”
~ Author, MFA

Purchase the Memoir

speaking of