Member-only story
Writing to Embrace a Rich Heritage
Ethnic writers like Patty Apostolides keep it real for American literature.
Within the span of a few months, I was demoted from a leader — to a follower — by a tiny baby boy with large lungs. — Patty Apostolides
With these words, writer Patty Apostolides describes her transformation from a scientist and musician to a stay-at-home mother. Her son ignored her work at the Cleveland Clinic experimenting on cancer cells.He didn’t care how sweetly her viola’s notes had graced the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra. Like all infants, his adorableness came with a panoply of non-negotiable requirements.
Patty rose to the challenge. She organized their days with the same ferocious detail she’d devoted to her cell cultures. The new mother began to spin tales for his little ears and found she liked doing so. With her husband’s encouragement, she began to write with the dedication and focus characterizing all her efforts since childhood.
Her first novel, Lipsi’s Daughter, came out in 2004; three more novels and a book…
