Maria A. Ioannou

Maria A. Ioannou (Limassol, 1982) studied English literature and 20th-century literature (MA King's College London, BA University of Reading) and is completing her PhD in creative writing (University of Winchester), having been honored with the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence in Research Award 2019. She has published two short story collections, an experimental novella, and a fairy tale ("The Giant Fall of an Eyelash," Gavrielides Publications 2011 - Emerging Writer Award, Cyprus State Literary Awards / "Kazani," Nefeli Publications 2015 - shortlisted for the New Writer Award 2016, Greek magazine Klepsydra / "I Want My Head Back," Mikroskyklos Publications 2016 / "The Fly and the Jug," Patakis Publications 2019, illustrated by Philippos Theodorides). Her works have been awarded in local and international writing competitions and have been translated into various languages, with her short story collections translated into Hungarian and Serbian. In 2013, she founded the international festival SARDAM: Literature Otherwise, which received the European EFFE Label certification in 2019 as one of Europe's significant festivals.