Angelyn Christy Voss

"Stand a Little Out of My Sun" is one of BookTrib's 20 Favorite Books from 2022 That You've Probably Never Heard Of!
https://booktrib.com/2022/11/28/20-favorites-from-2022-that-youve-probably-never-heard-of/ Kala (Merry) Christmas!

20 Favorites From 2022 That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of | BookTrib. Share Tweet Share Pin “Where readers come to discover.” That’s BookTrib’s new tagline, effective with our redesigned website launching today. BookTrib’s editors have the privilege of helping readers discover hundreds of authors who hardly are household names, in many cases have just writte...

Happy announcements! A new puppy named Sophie! First Place 2022 Firebird Book Awards in Family Saga and Multicultural Fiction for my novel, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun" https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/book-award-winners-3/ Portland Art Museum Book Festival Author signing. https://willamettewriters.org/willamette-writers-at-the-portland-book-festival/ Featured artist at Oregon State University, October 2022!
www.angelynchristyvoss.com

I invite you to read the love BookTrib gave my novel, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun" https://booktrib.com/2022/04/12/a-poignant-look-at-forgiveness-family-and-the-greek-american-immigrant-experience/

A Poignant Look at Forgiveness, Family and the Greek-American Immigrant Experience

To convey my deep appreciation to all of you for the success of my novel, “Stand a Little Out of My Sun,” I will “Pay it Forward” by donating $10 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital for every book sold during the month of January 2022. It’s available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, Indie Press, and my website, www.natureslightpress.com Happy New Year!

My Greek grandparents (Yiayia & Papou), mom, and Chicago’s East Side pictured below were inspirations for my novel, “Stand a Little Out of My Sun.” To convey my deep appreciation to all of you, enjoy a 25% discount for an autographed book on my website under “Shop” and enter Promo Code at checkout: THANKS2021 www.natureslightpress.com We continue to enjoy excellent reviews on our exciting journey.

Happy News! "Stand a Little Out of My Sun" received a beautiful review from BookLife and will be featured in the 11-15-2021 Edition of Publisher’s Weekly magazine. “This uplifting 1950s coming-of-age saga demonstrates how courage, compassion, and faith can overcome emotional adversity.” Read the full review: https://booklife.com/booklife-reviews/1 My novel is also awarded the distinction of a 5-star review from Reader’s Favorite and was highlighted at the Pacific NW Bookseller’s Fall Conference with Cypress House Publishing. On a side note, Greek Festivals are flourishing! We enjoyed great food at our local festival. OPA!
www.natureslightpress.com Thank you for your continued support!

Good News! “Stand a Little Out of My Sun” is featured in the June 2021 Edition of the Kirkus Review magazine as one of 20 Top Indie Summer Reads! My novel just earned the distinction as the Winner of “General Fiction” in The 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. www.indieexcellence.com. You may also read about it on my website: www.natureslightpress.com

I am proud to share a review of my novel, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun," from the esteemed organization of Kirkus. You may also read it on my website: www.natureslightpress.com

“An elegant . . . compelling multigenerational drama.
The 1956 storyline simmers with tension . . . the prose is always excellent as when Voss offers vivid glimpses of the urban landscape: ‘In the darkening sky, Sophie saw the flaming smokestacks of the steel mills light up the night.’ Characters are equally well drawn. Overall, the text is entertaining and vibrant, rich with details of Greek American culture, ‘50s and ‘60s Chicago, and distinctive members of Sophie’s clan and community.”
-Kirkus Reviews

Happy Greek Easter - Kalo Pascha!❤

Fun fact: The Greek alphabet is over 2,500 years old. There are 24 letters, seven of which are vowels. The word, “alphabet,” comes from the first two letters, "alpha and beta."

Growing up Greek is mostly about eating. Everything revolves around food, which is a good thing!

Here’s my Yiayia’s recipe for Keftethes – Greek meatballs

1 ½ lb. of ground beef or lamb
1 medium sized onion minced
1-2 green onions finely chopped
3 cloves garlic (or more) minced
1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped OR 1 T. crushed dried mint
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley OR 1 T. crushed dried parsley
2 slices of bread broken in small pieces
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl by hand
Roll into meatballs, approximately 1½” in diameter
Coat each meatball in flour
Fry in olive, avocado, or other oil. Turn until brown on each side.

Place meatballs on paper towels to absorb oil.
Empty pan of oil – add approximately 1 C. water, 1 T. red wine vinegar, 2 T. tomato paste, salt to taste, 1/2 t. oregano. Stir
and heat on stovetop, add meatballs and simmer for a bit. Opa!!

Photos: Keftethes, and me as a child in the front holding a bottle of pop - sharing a meal with my Greek family. My Yiayia is in the photo. She is depicted in my novel, “Stand a Little Out of My Sun.” www.natureslightpress.com

We live in a vibrant multicultural country and our world has grown even closer. As we embrace our differences, we can seek understanding, and accept that all of us share common dreams for ourselves and our families. Opportunities to learn are right at our doorstep. This concept comes to life in my novel, “Stand a Little Out of My Sun.” I invite you to read a sample chapter on my website, www.natureslightpress.com Search “Book” on the menu bar.

The Holiday Season has begun! We are participating in Cyber Monday, November 30, along with many others. Go to our website and get a 25% discount on "Stand a Little Out of My Sun" and a free 8"x10" print of the cover for this one day only. Go to www.natureslightpress.com and use Promo Code: CYBER2020

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are excited! "Stand a Little Out of My Sun" has full national and international distribution. Anyone can purchase on their country’s Amazon or through the hundreds of partner shops. During COVID we have recognized that many prefer eBooks to print. Now you can also purchase an eBook from all online options.

To all my Greek family and friends in America and Greece, thank you for your support in so many ways - through personal notes/emails, following on Facebook, sharing my posts, and purchasing books. It’s been quite a journey and you have been an important part of it. To convey my thanks, enjoy a 20% discount for an autographed copy and an 8”x10” print of the book cover on my website www.natureslightpress.com Enter Promo Code at checkout: THANKS2020.

We are thrilled that Maria Karamitsos, did a full review on her November Book Reads blog, "Adventures of a WindyCity Greek." Here's an excerpt:
"In this poignant tale, Angelyn Christy Voss pays homage to her beloved Greek roots and customs, as well as her hometown. She tells a powerful story about second chances, redemption, faith, and forgiveness. Sometimes your strongest ally is the least likely one. Read more at, http://angelynchristyvoss.com/reviews

Immigrants came to South Chicago and worked hard to lay a foundation for their families. Industry, mainly steel, provided the very heart of the economy in the 1900’s. The following is an excerpt from my novel, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun."
“In the darkening sky, Sophie saw the flaming smokestacks of the steel mills light up the night on the East Side. Republic and U.S. Steel’s open-hearth furnaces – the low, somber hum of all machines working, churning, never ceasing, hung in the air. Silhouettes of grain elevators and factory smokestacks stood like guards over the Chicago landscape. Each stack gave birth to its own cloud of acrid, metallic smoke, which plumed up high into the sky and enveloped their corner of the city. Ash and grit from the factories and mills dusted the roofs, windowsills, and sidewalks like a sooty veil.”

Enjoy a 20% Fall Discount for an autographed copy. Go to my website, www.natureslightpress.com and enter Promo Code at checkout: FBFALL2020 (ends October 31).
My Greek Yiayia, me, and my family are in the photo below.

The South Side of Chicago in the fifties and sixties was vibrant as neighborhoods were drawn together by a strong sense of community, ethnicity, and a physical presence in the city landscape that signified industrial might. East Side Hamburgers, depicted in my novel, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun," mirrors my family’s business, Harmony Sweets and later, Harmony Hamburgers. Parents worked hard and kids had free reign. The richness of that era is graphically depicted in my novel.
Enjoy a 20% Fall Discount for an autographed copy. Go to my website, www.natureslightpress.com and enter Promo Code at checkout: FBFALL2020.
Check out these photos of the Southeast Side of Chicago in the fifties. My Papou (grandpa)and uncle are in the soda fountain shop photo.

We continue to get strong reviews from readers. They come from across the country, and now, even fans in Greece. They cross all walks of life and professions. Here's a recent one:

“I just finished your book and couldn’t put it down. I definitely cried in parts. You have a gift of bringing your words into our hearts. What a beautiful book of love, family forgiveness and healing. Such memorable characters. I love everything about it!! Thank you for taking me on a wonderful journey. It will stay with me for a long time.”
Beth Butler
Dancer, Musician, Stylist
Let us hear from you too! You may write a review here, on Amazon, GoodReads or on the comments section on our website www.NaturesLightPress.com

South Chicago kids in the fifties:

Your enthusiastic and faithful support has helped open the door for more visibility of my novel, “Stand a Little Out of My Sun!” It has been two months since it debuted, and we have experienced a broader reach than I anticipated. I am most thankful to you, my Facebook followers, and many readers. For a discount of 20%, go to my website: www.natureslightpress.com and enter Promotion Code: FBFALL2020 at checkout. This sale is going on until October 31. You will learn more about South Chicago and the Greek Culture during the 50's in upcoming posts!

I invite you to read a sample chapter of my novel, “Stand A Little Out of My Sun,” on my website, www.natureslightpress.com Search “Book” on the menu bar.

Avgolemono Soup: As an older child in a Greek household, you are surprised to find out that the FDA recommends you eat three meals a day, not seven! It’s normal to eat Avgolemono Soup two times per week. This comforting chicken/rice/egg soup is deliciously scented with lemons. Enjoy with a thick slice of French bread, Greek salad, and fruit or a piece of baklava for dessert. I describe this velvety soup on Pg. 34 in my book. Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients:
• 1 large chicken breast with bones (4-5 thighs with bones, or you may use a small whole chicken). I remove the skins.
• Water to fill 1/3 Dutch oven pot
• 1 cup chicken stock
• Juice of 4 lemons freshly squeezed
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup rice
• 2 t. corn starch
• Salt and pepper to taste. I usually use 3 t. salt.
Instructions:
Simmer chicken in a large pot of salted water for 2 hours or so with additional chicken stock. Remove chicken. When cool, shred the chicken and discard bones. Bring the stock to a boil and add 1 cup rice. Turn the heat down and simmer. Separate egg whites and yolks in different bowls. Beat egg whites with a mixer until frothy, not quite stiff. Add egg yolks, corn starch, and lemon juice. Mix together. When the rice is cooked, “temper” the egg mixture by slowly adding a half ladle full of the hot broth while the mixer is running. This slowly raises the temperature of the mixture without curdling the eggs. Add the egg mixture and shredded chicken into the broth/rice. Simmer and stir continuously until the egg mixture is cooked. Enjoy!

Tzatziki Sauce: Another favorite Greek recipe of mine!
It’s easy to make and there are endless ways to use tzatziki sauce! I enjoy it as a snack with fresh veggies and pita or crackers. You and your guests will love it!

Ingredients
• ½ cup finely grated cucumber
• 1 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• 1 tablespoon chopped mint, optional
Instructions:
Place the cucumber on a towel and gently squeeze out a bit of the excess water. In a medium sized bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, dill, and mint, if using. Chill until ready to serve.

Greek humor: You were as tall as your grandmother (Yiayia) by the age of seven. You can understand Greek even if you can’t speak it. You have relatives who aren’t really your relatives. You thought oil and vinegar were the only salad dressing.

If you want to learn more about the Greek culture and humor, read "Stand a Little Out of My Sun." www.natureslightpress.com
The following pictures are Tzatziki Sauce and a Greek Mom's advice in reference to the pandemic:

Many thanks, Kris Denning, for this wonderful endorsement and for your continued support.

So proud of Angie Voss for this beautiful novel she has written! Not only was she the best kindergarten teacher my Jane Denning could have ever been gifted - she is an amazing author! If you haven't read it yet - I highly recommend this book! Thank you Angie for this story! It touches the soul...

Oh, and she also illustrated that beautiful cover herself!
5 out of 5 stars Love and Life "Once in a while a rare gem of a book comes along that is so hard to put down, and at the same time I found myself trying to stall because I didn't want it to end. The author paints such a beautiful, tragic picture of a multi-generational Greek immigrant family that is so relatable, even for someone like me who comes from a very non-traditional family. Everything I would have wanted to know about in the midst of this story was richly described.

Stand a Little Out of My Sun Stand a Little Out of My Sun

Here are some interesting facts about Greece!
When seen on a map, the Parthenon in Athens appears to make a perfect isosceles triangle with the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, and the Temple of Athena Aphaia in Aegina!

The Greek language has influenced English with several thousand words. Here are some: cosmos, planet, galaxy, dinosaur, rhinoceros, metropolis, acrobat, hippopotamus, marathon, music, philosophy, democracy, physiology

Spanakopita – Another favorite recipe of mine and the Poulos family in my book. www.natureslightpress.com

3 boxes frozen chopped spinach (or fresh if preferred)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 bunches of green onions chopped
½ cup minced Italian parsley
1 small bunch fresh dill chopped finely, or 2 T. dried dill (mint is a nice substitute)
1 lb. feta cheese crumbled
6 eggs, beaten
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 box phyllo pastry dough
2 cups salted butter melted

Squeeze out excess water from thawed spinach. Sauté green onions in olive oil until tender. In a bowl, combine spinach, parsley, dill (or mint), feta cheese, and beaten eggs. Add sauteed onions. Lightly season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
Brush butter on the bottom of a 9”x13” glass baking pan. Line bottom of pan with phyllo dough. Brush butter one layer at a time up to 10 layers or so. Spread spinach mixture evenly. Top with remaining phyllo dough, again buttering between each sheet. Make sure you butter the top sheet. Sprinkle coarse Kosher salt on top to taste. Score top layer into diamond shapes with a sharp knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. or until top is golden and flakey. Yasou!

The endorsements are coming in! I am excited and humbled. Here is one from a art gallery curator:

"Stand a Little Out of My Sun" is such a moving, wholesome story of life. Angelyn Voss paints pictures with words so beautifully that I can visualize the setting and identify with the characters. I couldn't put it down."
Tina Green-Price
Associate Director and Gallery Curator - Oregon State University
Avid Reader

Many of you have asked if you could write a review. The answer is YES. You can comment here, or you can write a customer review on Amazon. Thank you!

Last chance for the Launch Month Special. Click here to get your autographed copy. www.natureslightpress.com

The healthy Greek Mediterranean diet is packed with vegetables, fruits, olive oil, fish, lamb, whole grains, legumes; including lentils, beans, and chickpeas. Check out the Greek Salad below.

On the decadent side, a traditional cookie and a favorite of mine is Thea Toula's and Yiayia’s Kourambiedes. I’m proud to share their recipe:
1 lb. salted butter
5-6 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans or other nuts
10 T. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla
1 full shot glass of Metaxa (Greek Brandy)
Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar until fluffy and light. Add vanilla, brandy, and nuts. Add flour and mix into butter mixture. Forms into balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until sandy brown color. While still warm, dust tops of cookies with powdered sugar. OPA! www.natureslightpress.com

Do I have any NetGalley readers and reviewers? We are up on NetGalley as of this week! Take a look, write a review, let your followers, readers, and students know the messages in this book about tough multicultural issues, and the joy of growing up on the Southside of Chicago within the folds of a Greek family.
www.natureslightpress.com

"Stand a Little Out of My Sun" captures the dramatic crosscurrents of life within the folds of a Greek American family in Chicago’s Industrial Southeast Side during the fifties.

Are you looking for a fall novel for your book club or reading group? A number of them are now using "Stand a Little Out of My Sun." It’s sparking some lively conversation on topics of multicultural issues, forgiveness in times of real trial, and even more! Take a look at the Study Questions on my website under Book Clubs at www.natureslightpress.com eBooks and print books are available wherever you purchase books. I am offering a Launch Discount with autographed books through Labor Day on my site. Have fun and let me know what you discover in your group.

"Stand a Little Out of My Sun" teaches a moving lesson about forgiveness, but it also tackles the issues of multicultural and multiracial acceptance. It’s the story of young siblings, Sophie and Niko, who are caught between two cultures. They are enriched by their Greek mother and family with their abundant passions, but they are confused by their non-Greek father who can’t decide where he fits in. This novel addresses the timeless challenges and ultimate rewards of acceptance. www.angelynchristyvoss.com
www.natureslightpress.com

We’ve all experienced and observed cultures colliding with one another. To embrace cultural differences, we need to seek understanding, work out personal biases, and accept that all of us share common dreams for ourselves and our families. We live in a vibrant multicultural country, and our world has grown even closer. Opportunities to learn are right at our doorstep.
This learning comes to life in my book, "Stand a Little Out of My Sun," as characters, Sophie and Niko, are caught between two cultures. Check it out at www.natureslightpress.com

Today, Aug 4, we’re celebrating our publication day for "Stand a Little Out of My Sun!" We so appreciate the support from all of you who have helped us on this journey and those among our early readers. Many of you have asked about posting customer reviews on Amazon and BarnesAndNoble.com. Since today is our publication day, it is also the first day to start posting. Thank you!

Angelyn Christy Voss The creativity that goes into developing artwork and writing words on paper go hand in hand. Each enters a vast world of imagination which inspires elements of composition, texture, character, light, dark, and the dimensions of space. The joy of any artistic pursuit is the realization that learning....

Stand a Little Out of My Sun tells the story of Sophie Poulos, who becomes the soul protector of her little brother, Niko. Sophie wishes to live with her Greek grandparents with their big passions and abundant love, but Niko idolizes their pa. Nine-year-old Niko becomes the newest member of an under-the table car business run by his pa. He shuts Sophie out, and she can’t bear the way his eyes have begun to get the same hard flash as their father’s.
Here's how you can find my novel:
www.natureslightpress.com
www.angelynchristyvoss.com

Angelyn Christy Voss The creativity that goes into developing artwork and writing words on paper go hand in hand. Each enters a vast world of imagination which inspires elements of composition, texture, character, light, dark, and the dimensions of space. The joy of any artistic pursuit is the realization that learning....

The Timberline Review, a publication of Willamette Writers in the Pacific Northwest, has featured an excerpt of Stand a Little Out of My Sun in its 2020 Spring/Summer issue. I will be reading an excerpt of my novel live tonight with other writers! It will be up on YouTube later and I will share that link as soon as it's available.