BY HUBIE CRAM
suggest that the book may impact those struggling to overcome challenges like domestic violence, those tolerating abuse, those needing to make choices, those going through a divorce or the loss of a loved one. The theme points to one’s resilience and ability to persevere in overcoming life’s challenges. A 1000-day project released on Mother’s Day in 2014, S.W.A.K. is now celebrating the one-year anniversary of publication. George and Adriana collaborated on the entire book together, a rare literary event, with both drawing on life experiences to supply details. While the book is fiction, Adriana says they enjoyed weaving familiar names or a favorite location into the story. “It was truly an artistic process,” George comments. “Art reflects things that are seen, heard, read. In this case, the novel depicts the importance of family and demonstrates the triumph of the human spirit. The life choices that we make have consequences and making choices is an important component of the book as it is in everyone’s life.”
S.W.A.K.
A novel of ultimate betrayal FROM ADRIANA AND GEORGE SIFAKIS A COUPLE OF ULTIMATE INSPIRATION
S.W.A.K. is a riveting story of a highly controlling mother and her influence on the entire family, especially her youngest child. Ma works to make all of
Lauren’s decisions, to the detriment of both their relationship and Lauren’s growth and development as an individual. S.W.A.K.
follows Lauren from adolescence through her young adult years as she struggles to discover her strength and become the person she can be. Crafted in short chapters, seemingly unrelated at first, S.W.A.K. delivers a hardhitting drama that takes the reader on a twisted journey of lies and manipulation. A combative mother-daughter tale, it touches on themes, in some fashion,
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found in stories like Mommie Dearest, The Glass Castle, or even Psycho. S.W.A.K. appeals to a wide-ranging audience, with readers offering positive feedback like, “kept me to the end,” and “a real page-turner.” George and Adriana
Throughout its first year, the book has been well received. “We were blessed with some solid support from the beginning,” says George. “We sent out galleys to everyone we’ve known and respect. We received blurbs from people like [Aspen Institute CEO and author] Walter Isaacson (Steve Jobs) who said, ‘This is an exciting novel of love, betrayal, and self-discovery, it will help you reflect on the importance of family’.” George notes, “We had a booth at a local Greek festival. One woman bought the book and read the entire novel in the car. She said she couldn’t put it down.” Adriana reflects on another moment, “We were at a book-signing in Clearwater, Florida. Michael, a visually impaired person, asked what the book was about so we gave him an overview. He was so inspired he said he would buy the book and have someone read it to him. Then when the book comes out in audio, he will buy the audio book as well.” Learn more at www.swakthebook. com. The book is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com
George and Adriana, the couple The Sifakises have three children Alexa, 11, George, 7, and Eva, 4, who are their number one focus, but they also find time to run Axela, a consulting
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