When the Moon is Low | Beyond the Story

When the Moon is Low | Beyond the Story

Often, I have readers tell me that my story made them want to learn more – it is incredibly rewarding to know that the connection to the characters and their plight extends beyond the final page and into the real world. This novel, like THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL, is a work of fiction based on reality. For readers interested in going beyond the story, Patras and the Jungle of Calais are real places, as is the Chunnel between France and England. These countries are now, understandably, overwhelmed by the number of people trying to reach their soils. Greece’s islands, like Kos, are a primary point of entry and bear the brunt of the crisis. When I wrote this story, the migrant situation was nowhere near the epic proportions it has now reached. It’s chilling to me to read about individuals venturing into the dangerous Chunnel and almost making it across. The perilous journeys of the displaced can indeed by deadly. There are many organizations like the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and Human Rights Watch working hard to advocate for those individuals and documenting the staggering rise in the number of displaced worldwide (60 million people) and their harrowing attempts to redefine home. For footage and gritty documentary shorts on the refugees of Myanmar, Syria, the Kurds fleeing the Islamic State or the dilemma on how to manage Calais, check out Vice’s many pieces available on YouTube.