AWARD-winning local author Chrissie Parker has released her 10th book, a fictional story based on the true events of the ‘Great Ionian Earthquake’.

Set on the Greek island of Zakynthos, ‘When the ‘Earth Wakes’ is based on an earthquake which happened in 1953.

It is the third book Ms Parker has set on Zakynthos, her first being World War Two fiction ‘Among the Olive Groves’.

Now, Ms Parker has returned to the popular Greek island where in real life live family and some of her closest friends, to use a true event which impacted the island more than 70 seventy ago, when the UK heavily supported the relief effort and aftermath.

The 10th book written by Burlescombe author Chrissie Parker.
The 10th book written by Burlescombe author Chrissie Parker. (Contributed)

Ms Parker, who used to work in Court Fields School, Wellington, and now lives in Burlescombe, said: “I have wanted to write this book for many years, but I was not sure how to tell the story.

“While ‘When the Earth Wakes’ is a work of fiction, with fictional characters, the events of the earthquake and the rescue effort that followed, are wholly factual.

“I have done my absolute best to write the book respectfully, to honour the memory of those who were affected, and to show the bravery of the people who helped save the lives of so many Zakynthians.

“It is my hope that the memory of the island’s history be kept alive through this story.”

The books tells of English archaeologist Humphrey Lancaster and Greek archaeological student Phoebe Konstantinou who travel to Zakynthos to complete an archaeological survey of the island’s historical sites.

Then, a natural disaster strikes and with Zakynthos in ruins and nobody to rescue them, Humphrey and Phoebe are forced to save themselves along with the island’s history that has become so important to them.

‘When the Earth Wakes’ is published by Fossend Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-9164025-9-1.