With many successes, the young author, Maria Daskalaki, who writes this newspaper's popular The Other Side column, and who also pens for Patris (in which this story first appeared) has many incentives to continue her work.

She was recently granted the first prize at the 54^th Competition of the Feminine Literary Company in the novel category with an ecological content for children from 8-10 years of age - sponsored by the publishing house Minoas - for her work titled Adventure on the island of Neptune.

Maria (right) accepts award from
Kelly Dimopoulou of Minoas Publishing

"Let's not forget that the future belongs to the children and the stronger bases we create for them the more luminous the tomorrows will be for all of us," she emphasized in her recent interview.

Excerpts of the interview follow:

With all this praise you have been getting, what does it mean for you?

“It means a lot. The Feminine Literary Company is in existence for over half a century and is a very serious non profit association that deals with literature for children and young people.  Its members are distinguished writers, like Angeliki Varella, Katerina Mouriki, Nannina Nikolakopoulou-Sakka, Zoi Kanava, Litsa Psarafti. This award, therefore, means a lot to me. It's not a small thing to see your childhood dream slowly becoming a reality."

 

Congratulating Maria are her sister, Anna (left)
and author Katerina Mouriki

Does it give you incentives to continue?

"Absolutely. For the first time in 2006 I took part in the competition at the  Feminine Literary Company, where I received honourable mention for a novel with a cultural content.  In 2008 they made me member of the Company. This year, I received first prize for the ecological novel. It's as if they want to tell me that I'm in the right path and motivate me to continue.  

The book passes ecological messages to children. Do you believe that through art, like literary writings, the children can become tomorrow's active and ecologically sensitive citizens?

 "It is true that by nature the children absorb easily all information whether they receive it via books, or via television. It's both a blessing and a curse because though it's easy to pass to them messages, it's also dangerous if this information is not correctly monitored.  In general, books and literary texts are a beautiful way to arouse the sensitivities in children regarding their surroundings and creating in them the wish to protect their environment.  Thus, growing up, not only they will become active and sensitive citizens, but also more responsible as adults.

"In the up to now generations, even in ours which is younger, there was no intense awaking in environmental issues – perhaps because in the old days there were no big ecological dangers, but today, of course, there are more than ever.  

"Therefore, our ecological conscience is not second nature - as it should be - but something for which we try daily."