Greek author Lena Manta has revealed that she overhauled her daily life to focus on health and self-care following the death of her husband Giorgos.
Speaking during an appearance on the television programme Noris-Noris on Monday, November 2, the popular novelist explained that she spent decades driving herself relentlessly, but is now learning to treat herself with patience and indulgence.
Manta said that living on her own after the loss of her spouse had prompted a complete reassessment of her everyday habits, leading her to adopt regular exercise and a structured nutrition plan.
She explained that her new routine centres on engaging in activities that bring personal happiness while actively casting aside unwanted duties and pressure. At 62, she noted that having built a fulfilling career, raised a supportive family, and welcomed grandchildren, she no longer feels compelled to satisfy external expectations.
Manta stated that maintaining good health remains her chief priority, pointing out that having reached this stage of her life, she is entitled to enjoy her time without obligation.
Husband's role in publishing career
During the interview, Manta paid tribute to her late husband, crediting him with launching her professional career in literature. She recalled that Giorgos was the first person to read her debut manuscript, believing in the work so strongly that he personally took it to publishing houses until two or three firms responded positively.
She said that Giorgos chose very deliberately to remain one step behind her throughout her public career. According to Manta, he harboured no personal desire for the limelight, content instead to act as her steadfast champion and serve as the private team behind her success.
Manta has long stood as one of the most widely read contemporary fiction authors in Greece, having published dozens of romantic and dramatic novels that regularly top national bestseller lists. Her late husband remained a constant presence throughout her rise across the domestic literary world.
Arranged meeting and persistent courtship
Reflecting on how their relationship began, Manta confessed that their initial introduction did not leave a favourable impression. The pair met through a matchmaking arrangement, and she admitted that their first date had gone poorly enough to be written off as a complete failure.
However, Giorgos refused to give up and continued pursuing her. Over time, she found herself won over by his intellect, character, perspective, and steady gaze, which eventually allowed a deep relationship to flourish.
Manta described her husband as possessing an extraordinary and unwavering respect for women throughout his life. She remarked that she frequently told him that if all men behaved as he did, the feminist movement and women's rights campaigns would never have had any reason to exist.
Braking on Alexandras Avenue
Sharing an early memory from their romance, Manta recalled a dramatic gesture that she subsequently banned him from ever repeating. While driving to collect her from college on a rainy evening, Giorgos abruptly slammed on his brakes in the middle of heavy traffic along Alexandras Avenue in central Athens.
He leaped out of the stationary car into the pouring rain simply to purchase a rose for her from a street vendor. Manta said she had to step in immediately to forbid him from ever pulling such a reckless romantic stunt again.
The novelist has spoken candidly in recent months about coping with grief since Giorgos passed away, noting previously that the difficult moments have become less frequent and that the urge to write became an essential way of processing her loss.
