My Kind of Normal

Born to Greek Cypriot immigrants and raised in a staunch Orthodox home, Irene feels the pressure of having to marry a suitable Greek man, despite her gay tendencies. In her quest for a conventional life, she falls in love with and marries Italian Mario, believing their love will last forever. While raising their four children, the turmoil builds as she tries to stay sane in a marriage characterised by incompatibility. When Irene’s attraction to Sarah is uncovered, she – and her community – are forced to come to terms with her sexuality. Irene and Mario’s final attempt to reconcile is ill-fated when she meets Emma – a meeting that will change the course of her life.

Despo Pavlou is a debut author who has recently completed her first manuscript. She is the older of two, born to Greek Cypriot parents, who immigrated to South Africa in the 1960s. Despo has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and has owned and managed her businesses for 30 years. She spends her time focusing on her new found love, writing and travelling between Cyprus and South Africa to be with her mother, brother and her four adult children.