Garyfallia Katsampani-Tsagari

Garyfallia Katsampani-Tsagari was born in 1944 in Dorio, Trifylia. She lost her father at the age of seven. She completed her primary and secondary education in her village. She studied for one year at Panteion University and four years at the Midwifery School of the Alexandra Maternity Hospital. As a midwife, she worked in the public sector, in rural clinics in her area, for seventeen years. She lives in Valyra, Messinia. She made her literary debut in 1993 and has published the following books: 1) "The Swallows," children's poems, 1993. 2) "Some Truth and Some Tales," Narratives - Myths, 1995. 3) "At the Edge of the City," Short Stories, 1996. 4) "Escape and Flight," Poetry Collection, 1997. 5) "The Poplars Filled with Birds Again," Short Stories, 1999. 6) "Myths - Legends - Stories," 2001. 7) "Folk Songs and Laments of My Land," 2004. 8) "From the Heart," Poetry Collection, 2008. 9) "The Lady of the Hill," Short Stories, 2011. 10) "The Twelve Children of Time," Folklore, 2013. Many of her works have been published in literary magazines such as "Spiritual Life," "Trifylian Hearth," "New Ariadne," "Expression," "Ithomi," "Student Joy," and in newspapers like "Simaia," "Voice," "Messinian Word," "Messinian News," "The Voice of Saint Nikon," "The News of Soulimaians," "Georgitsanika News," and others. Her poems and short stories have been included in the following anthologies: 1) "Anthologies for Children and Youth," Toxotis Publications, 2) "Writers of Our Time" (Anthology of Modern Greek Poetry), Spiritual Life Publications, 3) "Panathenaia 2004," DE.EL. Publications, 4) "Poetry Anthology" (1st Thessaloniki Festival 2005), Hydrogios Publications, 5) "Poetry - Short Story Anthology," Cultural Cooperation Publications, 2006, 6) "Messinian Creations," volumes A’, B’, C’, D’, E’ by the "Union of Messinian Writers," published respectively in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 7) International Poets' Festival D.E.E.A. 2011, Smyrniotakis Publications, 8) "International Poets' Festival," Smyrniotakis Publications, 2011, and 9) "Poets and Painters," Smyrniotakis Publications, 2013. Her work has received excellent reviews and she has been honored with numerous awards by relevant bodies in Greece and abroad. Invited by relevant organizations, she has given talks at primary schools, municipalities, and cultural associations. She has been featured in "Peloponnesian Literature" by Kostas Stamatis, in "The Continuous History of Modern Greek Literature" by Michalis Stafylas, and in "The Great Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature" by Haris Patsis, volumes 14 and 27. She is a regular member of the "Society of Greek Writers," "D.E.E.L.," the "Union of Messinian Writers," and the "Association of Historical Writers."