: About Me

I am a writer by education, who hails from Kalamazoo, MI. Writing has been my passion since I was in the first grade. Throughout my childhood, I would write, direct, and produce plays with my brothers, our friends, and our cousins, and perform them together in the privacy of our homes for our parents and other relatives. One of my cousins got me interested in writing plays when she had an idea one day while visiting with my family to write our own version of the play Cleopatra. She told my brothers and me about the movie version which cast Elisabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. Following the performance of our version of the play, I started writing other plays of my own, and collaborating with my brothers, cousins and friends.

My debut novel, Dominica's Inferno, was published under my pen name Joanna Maharis. It is a fictional work regarding the issues of child abuse and domestic violence. The book was inspired by my own experience.

My educational background consists of a BA degree in the writing field from Western Michigan University, and an Associates degree in liberal arts from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, in addition to being a graduate of Mattawan High School. Upon graduating from college, I competed in numerous literary competitions. My awards consist of Honorable Mentions for poetry and prose, in addition to being a monthly winner in the area of poetry. With regard to any honors I've had, I was a finalist in the 2003 Poet of the Year competition for my manuscript Where Black Waters Flow in a contest sponsored by Cader Publishing, Ltd. In 1991, I was a finalist in a fellowship contest sponsored by the Chesterfield Film Company for my movie script Shedding Some Light. I made it to the final round from which the 10 winners were picked. Writing is my passion and my life.

Many of my poems appear in numerous anthologies under my birth name Kiki Stamatiou as a result of participating in poetry competitions sponsored by Cader Publishing, Ltd., Poetry.com (The International Library of Poetry and also when it was the National Library of Poetry), Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum and JMW Publishing.

I also have poetry published by the Mississippi Crow Magazine in issues 5 & 6. My pieces of poetry found within this publication were published under my birth name Kiki Stamatiou.

Several of my writings were published on the Triond website. Here is the link.

https://www.triond.com/users/Joanna+Maharis

Here are the links where my book Dominica's Inferno can be purchased.

http://www.amazon.com/Dominica's-Inferno-Joanna-Maharis/dp/1413798969/ref=sr_1_?...

http://www.filedby.com/author/joanna_maharis/2184295

Dear reader,

I proudly announce the publication of my latest book "A BLANKET OF FOG" on
http://www.unibook.com.
You can read an excerpt on http://www.unibook.com/en/Joanna-Maharis/A-BLANKET-OF-FOG
under "Other" and buy it on line.

Kind regards,
Joanna Maharis

Dear friend of Joanna Maharis,

PublishAmerica is proud to announce the recent release of Joanna Maharis's new book: Japlin and Japlin!

Here's what the author says about the book: Jeffrey Lyons is a lawyer who is tough in the courtroom, yet has a tender heart when it comes to the people he cares about. He's not afraid to take a stand when there has been an injustice, such as he does when he takes on Jordan General Hospital where his father is Vice President of the board. Jeffrey's actions further distance him from his father, of whom he has always struggled to please. Attorney Jeffrey Lyons joins the Japlin and Japlin Law Firm, where he hopes to makes a difference in the world. Throughout the course of the story, Jeffrey Lyons is plagued by the case regarding the murder of Cora Thompson. He also struggles to acquire the affections of receptionist Denise Adams. Will Jeffrey Lyons find the answers he's looking for?

We are offering you an opportunity to secure your personal copy of Joanna Maharis’s exceptional book today. Please click here: http://www.publishamerica.net/product37168.html to secure your copy of the book*, then click Add to Cart. For an introductory discount of 20%, use this coupon code: Discount20.

Thank you for your interest in our author's wonderful achievement.

Have a great day!
PublishAmerica
www.publishamerica.com

www.publishamerica.net

Dear friend of Joanna Maharis,

PublishAmerica is proud to announce the recent release of Joanna Maharis’s new book: Peering Through a Streaked Window!

Here's what the author says about the book: Peering Through A Streaked Window is a volume of poetry that covers a broad spectrum of life ranging from the many tears that fall as a result of having a heavy heart filled with emotional baggage, that builds until every thing finally rises to the surface to be released in the form of a cleansing process of the mind, spirit, heart and soul. This volume of poetry is composed of many examples of how we as a society consume an excess amount of violence. It has to do with the passion that exuberates within, as a result of a special seed which is planted into our hearts. Waves intertwine with emotions, setting the level of the tides either high or low. The world's emotions vibrate at a high frequency to the beat of a rhythmic flow that takes humankind into the deeper realms of what humanity is really all about.

We are offering you an opportunity to secure your personal copy of Joanna Maharis’s exceptional book today.  Please click here: http://www.publishamerica.net/product44570.html to secure your copy of the book*, then click Add to Cart. For an introductory discount of 20%, use this coupon code: Discount20.

Thank you for your interest in our author's wonderful achievement.

 Have a great day!
PublishAmerica
www.publishamerica.com  

www.publishamerica.net

My passion is ...

writing fiction and poetry.

My childhood ambition ...

to be a writer.

My favorite memory ...

When I went to Greece at the age of five, I would always go with my grandfather to one of the local cafes in his village, during the later part of the afternoon, and have a softdrink with him, along with a good pastry.

Why I write ...

I write, because it's good therapy for me, and I love it.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

classic fiction/Ugly Betty, Prison Break, Greys Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives/Madonna, Chris Daughtry, Evanescence, Kelly Clarkson, and Country Western music.

My first job ...

working as a cashier at McDonald's.

My best moment ...

When I got an A in tennis class that I took for college physical education.

My inspiration ...

Cher, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John and Dolly Parton.

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: I will not be silenced

6 of 7

Your voice is the knife that cuts through my heart with your seething words. You can shred my spirit. You can even throw me into your towering inferno, But you will never silence me. I shall shout the truth of your wickedness that seethes into my soul. I shall consume all of your fire and drink the wines of your rage. Even if you throw my body against a spiked wall, the river of light shall overcome me, and lead me out of your dark pit you have placed me in.

More..

Rating:

• Helium Charter Member