Author Chara Zymara will present her new novella, Iremias 21 (Tranquility 21), at the Home for Cooperation on Friday, April 26 at 6:00 pm.
The event will feature Zymara in conversation with Marina Oikonomidou, Chief Editor of the Kathimerini newspaper, and fellow author Nasia Dionysiou. Journalist EvdokÃa Papadopoúlou will moderate the discussion.
Iremias 21 tells the story of Ivi, a journalist who returns home at 34 after breaking up with her boyfriend, and Penelope, a woman searching for her son who lives on the other side of the divided island. Set against the backdrop of the 2004 Annan Plan referendum, the novella explores themes of societal norms, unconventional choices, and the lingering effects of the island’s political division.
The book references a real-life incident where European official Günter Verheugen, a vocal supporter of the plan, faced media censorship in Cyprus.
The launch of Iremias 21 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Annan Plan referendum, a pivotal moment in Cypriot history. The referendum’s rejection ushered in a period of social polarisation and heightened tensions. Zymara’s novella explores this period through the lens of ordinary people’s lives, highlighting a missed opportunity for peace.
The cover art for Iremias 21 is a watercolour by Cypriot artist Katerina Attalidou.
About the Author
Chara Zymara was born in Nicosia in 1988. She holds degrees in Political Science and European Political Economy from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the London School of Economics.
Currently working in communications, Zymara has a background in journalism and communications consultancy.
She maintains a blog, mikreskakesistories.com, featuring short stories with strong female leads.
