Ilse De Backer is the author of the books AGAPI, ELPIDA & PISTI, which are currently available in Dutch, and will soon be available in English, as well.

Born in Belgium in 1982 with Belgian and Greek roots, Ilse moved to Greece at the age of 23. She still lives there with her family. For a long time she wrote texts about how people try to find their way in life. In 2018, she started writing the book AGAPI, which was published in 2019. A few years later, in 2022, the second book, ELPIDA, was also ready, but not yet published. It came out in 2023, together with the third book, PISTI. From beaches and beautiful places in Greece, these stories took shape.

One of Ilse’s favourite passages worth mentioning in this series is:

‘Life has only one number, she thought. You get one life, one soul guides you, one shadow follows you, one moment is enough to enjoy, one word is enough to show your love, one gesture can make you a better person in the blink of an eye, and one smile can brighten up your day. Everything starts with one; everything starts with simplicity.’ (Book AGAPI)

To this day, Ilse says that writing this series is not only about her living this experience. It is mainly written for you.

The AGAPI, ELPIDA & PISTI series will come out in English in JUNE 2024!


THE AGAPI, ELPIDA & PISTI SERIES


AGAPI is the first book in the AGAPI, ELPIDA & PISTI series. It emphasises how we deal with the people around us. Let’s appreciate each other, to make the most of every moment.

This story of Filippos and Anna, living in a time of disillusionment, unforeseen circumstances and a heartbreaking event, accompanied by revelations from Filippos’s past, emphasises the little things in life.

‘Agapi’ means ‘love’ in Greek. No better word could describe this book, as love is the strongest feeling, but at the same time the biggest cause of many events.

‘Share your life with people
who help you make the big worries little
and the little pleasures big.’

from the book agapi

Elpida is a book that demonstrates how important hope is. It encourages every decision and determines every step forward.

In this story, Elpida wants to seek out experiences, discover an unknown world and create new opportunities. With unpredictable adventures during her journey in the Peloponnese, Elpida will meet new people who will show her the way to her goals, though she herself doesn’t yet know what they are – until, one day, something happens to cross Elpida’s path and will change so much.

‘Elpida’ means ‘hope’ in Greek, that which gives us the extra strength to believe in something.

‘What happened to you is the path to the present,
what you are experiencing will serve some purpose,
what is yet to come is the reason for your hope.’

from the book ELPIDA

Pisti was written to highlight the search for balance between the past, present and future.
Sometimes we wonder if some things are coincidental, or whether they are meant for us.

This is the story of a family in which everyone encounters their past, lives with their decisions, feels their disappointments and determines their strength, until something brings them together.
Something inevitable. Something unexpected.

‘Pisti’, which means ‘faith’ in Greek, is the final book of the series – a hidden life story that will tie together all three books in the trilogy.

‘Don’t be what happened to you,
but what you want to be.’

from the book pisti

What Ilse has to say about the series …

This series was inspired by life, our development, the people around us and the things we live for.

Every book in the AGAPI, ELPIDA & PISTI series has a powerful message. We need love, hope and faith to stand strong, to move on and to feel profoundly for other people. For me, these books primarily provide an impetus to live more consciously. Hopefully, this series will move you, as well.

I’d love for you to share your thoughts and feelings about the series, below.

Lots of Love,

Share your thougths and feelings about the Series.