“Mrs. Zei, you are like the blue sea,” a young student once told her in Chios. The student grew up; he became a father and perhaps a grandfather by now. I am sure he hasn’t forgotten her, that he has passed her books on to his children, the very books that you will read, dear readers.

It doesn't matter that you didn't know her personally like he did. She will speak to you from these pages, and it will feel a bit like you are together because she will tell you stories, the ones she wrote and others that few have heard. You will always meet her with eyes that sparkled!

The eyes of Alki Zei, eyes as restless as the sea, changed colors and hues, sometimes bright light blue and other times tumultuous, dark and gray as the waves struck her. Eyes that shine every time we read her stories.

When we have the company of Peter from the Occupation, the Caplani from the showcase of the Samos house, Konstantina freed from her spiders, the little girls with the Purple umbrella, Alice from the Marbles, Grandfather who didn't tell Lies, Annivas, and Mattia who wanted to hand power to the children, the Child from nowhere.

A TOUCHING JOURNEY INTO THE TURBULENT LIFE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK OF ALKI ZEI.