From Lesvos to the World: The wild Odyssey of Aristotle Roberto Carlos Smithopoulos
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Sydney based writer, Billy Cotsis has been involved with eight book titles since 2016, he has authored 1453: Constantinople and the Immortal Rulers, the Many Faces of Hellenic Culture and The Aegean Seven Take Back The Stolen Marbles.
Next month Cotsis releases book a semi-autobiographical novel, based on a character from Lesvos who goes from one place to another looking for adventure. Some of the stories in the book are real and characters are based on real life characters, such as the “Greek” President Lula from Brazil, the footballer Socrates, Jair Bolsanaro a guy representing the past military regime which lasted until 1985.
Adventures ensue involving a double murder, the killing of a puppy named JFK and being chased by bad guys from the regime – including Bolsonaro himself.
Using the name Roberto Carlos, given to him in Colombia by a forger, he is then inexplicably drawn in as a star footballer in Los Angeles, then ignites a music career in New York, where the regime looks to finally end him.
“I have been lucky to travel every year from 1999 to countries abroad. The travels allow me to meet people, hear stories, learn about new cultures and practice ways to engage with different people.
“Not every person I meet is decent and honest, yet everyone has a story.”
With that in mind, Cotsis created Alcibiades Roberto Carlos Smithopoulos. The name Roberto Carlos is from the brilliant footballer of the same name, and Roberto Carlos the singer who sold 70 million records.
Set between two dictatorships from the 1960s to the 1980s, this is an “autobiography,” even though the character is technically fiction, some of the stories and events transpired, all set against a number of historical events. Not all events here are fact. A football club where the real Roberto Carlos played in Brazil did not come to fruition until 1981. Carlos himself did not play in the 1980s. Cotsis thought it would be a unique tribute to one of the greatest defenders of all time.
“I was also able to bring in some crazy real-life people or characters. For example, Mick Dundee makes an appearance.
“We get to meet Bon Jovi, INXS, Obama, the KKK and a friendly Canadian-born Cop who doesn’t want to simply smash Aristotle’s taillight, he genuinely wants to fix it. Just like all those wonderful Canadians out there, good guys,” Cotsis said.
A real-life person is Ronnie Biggs, the Great Train Robber. He lived a crazy and adventurous life, most of what Cotsis describes about Ronnie is true, except he never owned a bar.
“I did not want to glorify Ronnie Biggs, however, the more I have studied him, the more I admire his thirst for adventure and free spirit.
“His law breaking aside for he was a petty thief, he had this loco life that included breaking out of prison, being kidnapped and rescued on a technically in the Caribbean, saved from extradition on a Brazilian technicality, being cheated on and vice versa and working at Channel Nine Melbourne while being a fugitive”
The events set after the 1974 invasion of Cyprus are also fiction, but some of the history lessons are not.
Some of the characters such as Alcibiades, Melina, Fernandinha, Dazza, Jamal, Jenkins, Solon, have all appeared in Cotsis’ books before. As has, Alex Sanchez who is a real star footballer from Spain and a friend. Some of the other characters are based on people he met or inspired by them.
Socrates and Lula were real and they helped the movement for the restoration of democracy. Aristotle delivers a powerful Pericles style address at one democracy rally in Sao Paulo.
The book is fast paced being and written like a movie. It contains trademark Cotsis Dad humour, showcases causes, be it homelessness, poverty, peace, and the way humans can adept in adversity.
The book was written between Latin America, and Papua New Guinea, and edited in Sydney -with feedback from friends. The book cover is designed by sports star Mame Gonzalez Braconi, who is in Argentina.
“I met her in London and we became firm friends. She appeared in one of my short film projects and has designed all my covers. For someone who is not Greek, she manages to nail the concepts every time.”
“Dr Robert Mueller from Adelaide was amazing with his feedback and copyright and Shirley Kaptanos Katsoulakos from Marrickville, my biggest “fan” was as always brilliant.”
These are people who help make Cotsis’ offerings international, whether it is a friend in Cyprus or a First Nations person, Cotsis always manages to connect with minds who help inspire him.
Profits from the sale of the book go towards Cotsis’ next project, a feature documentary about the Greeks of Latina America, and you can find some of the work on his YouTube Channel, which is free to subscribe to. Any money raised from his Channel goes towards UNICEF.
*Aristotle Roberto Carlos Smithopoulos, the adventures of, is available at the end of this month on Amazon and at Antipodes in the Writers’ Quarter, followed by a launch at the Greek Bilingual Bookshop later this year.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
