A glimpse into my story

A glimpse into my books

Hi, I’m Faidon Kyriakou,
and I was born in Athens, Greece, in 1990. As a kid, I was terrible at soccer but good with words. The former was evident to all, while the latter was something I used to hide — more often than not, it’s easier to hide your strengths than your weaknesses. In the meantime, I was dreaming of becoming a physicist because the world seemed too interesting to remain undiscovered; the world was too complicated, I was too curious, and we got along nicely, the two of us. 

In 2013, I graduated with distinction from the School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the National Technical University of Athens. My original plan was to fulfil my dreams of becoming a physicist, but I graduated as a mathematician with a specialization in engineering instead. My life’s plan took an unexpected turn, as it often happens to plans that have the nerve to look the future in the eye.

A year later, I enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. Computational simulation of stent graft devices for abdominal aortic aneurysms… colloquially: go figure. The bottom line was that life was good, apart from the weather (Glasgow has 1216 hours of sunshine annually, while Athens has 2773, but who’s counting).

In 2018, I earned my doctorate and worked as a post-doctoral researcher of cardiovascular devices, while in 2022, I started a new career as a Data Analyst, still hoping for a sunnier future — I do not imply brighter. 

Alongside science, art has always accompanied me; as a calling, a true love, a way to dig deeper in search of what is actually out there. In the past, I used to draw; now, I’m also dancing Argentine tango, yet the one thing I never stopped doing was writing.

I’ve written children’s stories since I was a child, along with verses, teenage poems, then sketches of novels, my first completed novel… One creation followed the next and by the time I graduated from high school I decided it was about time to start sharing my art; i.e. to get exposed.

I was published in online poetry magazines, I was awarded a distinction in the 27th Delphic poetry competition (2012), I participated in creative writing workshops and, with time, I started finding my voice, which is to say, I managed to express more by saying less.

In 2015, my first picture book, The Soup of Wisdom, was published by Metaichmio Publications, and in 2019 my picture book Christmas Dream was published by Martis Publishing. A year later, my debut novel The Guillotine of Nafplio, Kedros Publishers, reached the bookshelves of bookstores in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown, and in 2022, my latest picture book, The Magic Soil, Martis Publishing, was released.

In the meantime, I keep writing children’s stories, novels, lyrics, and spoken word poetry; in Greek, as always, but not exclusively. Brand new English stories are also in the making. Stay tuned! 

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As the story goes, when Queen Victoria read Alice in Wonderland, she was thoroughly impressed and asked the author to send her a copy of his next book. Yet Lewis Carroll, apart from being a wonderful storyteller, was also a mathematician. The outcome? The signed copy he sent to Her Majesty was a book of algebra…

Anyone who wishes to get a glimpse of the emotions the Queen experienced is very welcome to have a look at my scientific work:

Evaluation of a New Approach for Modeling Full Ring Stent Bundles with the Inclusion of Manufacturing Strains

A Methodology to Quantify the Geometrical Complexity of the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Analysing The Cross-Section of The Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Neck and Its Effects on Stent Deployment

Efficiently Simulating an Endograft Deployment: A Methodology for Detailed CFD Analyses

A glimpse into my books

The Safe Box Maker
Historical novel
Kedros Publishers, 2023

A coffin maker awakens in the hospital on the day of the Nazi invasion of Athens. While recuperating from a suicide attempt, the Axis occupation unexpectedly presents him with an opportunity. Over the ensuing months, he will face his guilt, his secrets, and his buried love as he makes plans to reclaim control of his life.

“Faidon Kyriakou is among the most complete authors I had the good fortune to read.”
Dominica Amat

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The Magic Soil
Picture book
Martis Publishing, 2022

A town’s fields are magical and can grow anything sown within them, whether it’s cakes, books, or sheep. But when the rain comes and quickly grows into a flood, the townspeople discover that a similar field lies inside of them.

“A fabulous reading experience about the power of love that dwells within each of us.”
Pelio Papadia, editor-in-chief at Talcmag

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The Guillotine of Nafplio
Historical novel
Kedros Publishers, 2020

Two prisoners on death row spend their final days confined in a cell within a Greek castle in 1872. As they reminisce about their pasts filled with tragedy and triumph, recounting tales from philhellenic Paris, the Greek War of Independence, and encounters with influential figures who shaped our world, an unexpected friendship blossoms between them.

“A true literary gem! A masterpiece comparable to very important works from the past!”
Στον αστερισμό του βιβλίου

“One of the best novels I’ve ever read.”
Βιβλίων έργα

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Christmas Dream
Picture book
Martis Publishing, 2019

When a mother encounters Santa Claus, she drags him back home to meet her children. However, the kids are already fast asleep and only a remarkable plan can make her wish come true…

“A Christmas picture book that blends imagination and humour, delivering a fabulous result. With modern and pleasing illustrations, wit, and originality.”
Μικρή παραμυθού

“An original, imaginative, and humorous Christmas tale that expands our imagination, bridging the gap between dreams and reality. The rhymes add tempo and vividness to the story, making it perfect for dramatization and improvisation.”
Elniplex

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Book cover

The Soup of Wisdom
Picture book
Metaichmio Publications, 2015

A wizard and a giant loathe each other until they realize their striking similarities after consuming a magical soup they’ve concocted together.

A humorously written story that manages to convey significant takeaways.”
Kos Voice

“The text is truly enjoyable, witty, and fun. The themes that come to the surface are many and deep.
Elniplex

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