Inspiring Women Magazine May 2023

feature
Inspiring Reads: Secrets
of a Summer Village
Born and raised in Atlanta,
Georgia, Saskia E. Akyil
began her art by keeping a
journal and writing letters
to her friends, pen pals,
cousins and grandparents.
Since moving to Germany
with her husband in 2005,
she hasn’t been able to use
her “ very useful degree” in
Teaching English as a
Second Language. As a
hobby, she writes stories
and articles, does metalsmithing
and feeds her
husband and three sons. In
pursuit of a new career, she
is now studying towards a
MSc in epidemiology. She
hopes that one day she can
combine her interest in
writing and science.
Ashort summary of the book
When she doesn’t get a place in a Mexican
study abroad program, Rachel anticipates another
summer behind the counter of a coffee shop until
an unexpected opportunity to spend a month with a
family in Turkey drastically changes the course of her
summer. In a summer village on the western coast of
Turkey, you’ll meet Rachel, who doesn’t know what
she wants; Aylin, who doesn’t know if she wants the
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