Save Eklektos Books

  • €1,700.00
    raised of €5,000.00 goal goal
34% Funded
49 Donors
Raised offline: €100.00
Total: €1,800.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

Show more
Show less

Keep the Blue Butterfly flying!


Eklektos Books has been in Elounda Crete for many years.

My late husband John and I saw it was for sale about a decade ago and arranged to take a look.It was a bit run down, with an air of neglect and a not impressive reputation, but we saw the potential and fell in love with it, so we took it on.

The first site of Eklektos and husband John

We set about categorizing the books, sorting the momentos, displaying the jewellery and opened the doors. We were quirky and unusual, selling books in as many languages and on as many subjects as we could get! Gifts were unusual, and often unique and that became our trademark...that and the balcony!

We had events! Book signings, birthdays, High Days and Holidays! There’s been music and dancing on the balcony every year...Four years ago, we decided to move to a bigger location to do more of what we enjoyed, and offer even more to the visitors and locals.

Sadly John never got to see the move completed and after his death, I carried on alone. Eklektos started to fly again with more events, more books, handmade gifts, cards and jewellery and offering a Meeting and Information Point to all Elounda’s visitors plus giving information about trips, restaurants, events and history to improve the experiences of everyone who comes to our beautiful village

Images from Patricia Wilson’s visit to the shop and our ABC event. 2018

The dream lived on...and then Covid hit.

With air corridors and borders closing, the bookshop and many other businesses found that 2020 gave us the briefest of Seasons, and then there was a hard lockdown here, and Eklektos was forced to close its’ doors temporarily...

However, there were plans afoot for Eklektos in 2021!An exhibition of work by a local artist, a music evening, 3 book signings (when the authors can get here!) Richard Clark, Yvonne Payne and Beryl Darby, and I’m hoping to talk successful local author Chris Moorey into doing something for us too! We are currently looking at improving the online shop and Kindle affiliation to move ever forward. The Greek government has helped to keep us going for some time, but a little bookshop isn’t really on their radar right now, so we need your help!

Without finances, the bookshop will be forced to close its door permanently before the new season even starts! The Blue Butterfly will disappear from Elounda. Please help keep us going and the dream alive!

Donate now and keep the bookshop open and the patio there to sit, chat and peruse the wealth of writing

Yours truly...and Pepper the dog.

Thanks!

Organizer

Donors

  • John Davis
  • Donated on Apr 30, 2021
  • Good luck Lynne

€200.00
  • Beryl Darby
  • Donated on Apr 09, 2021
  • Please help Lynne to keep the bookshop going. She is an invaluable member of the community in Elounda

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 30, 2021
€100.00
Mar 18

Amazing Response!

Update posted by Lynne McDonald at 12:51 pm

Good Afternoon!I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has become involved in the campaign to keep Eklektos up and running.Thanks to your help and support, the money raised has cleared the outstanding bills for the shop and has given us a chance at survival. The. . . . .

See update
1

Donors & Comments

49 donors
  • John Davis
  • Donated on Apr 30, 2021
  • Good luck Lynne

€200.00
  • Beryl Darby
  • Donated on Apr 09, 2021
  • Please help Lynne to keep the bookshop going. She is an invaluable member of the community in Elounda

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 30, 2021
€100.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
Amount Hidden
  • Margaret Shipman
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
  • Good Luck! I hope you are successful in saving your book store.

€20.00
  • Nigel Howard
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
  • Happy to help in a small way, this is more than just a bookshop it’s part of the community. Nigel and Maggie Howard

€50.00
  • jane vogas
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
€50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
  • All the very best for Eklektos

€20.00
  • Hilary Dawson
  • Donated on Mar 25, 2021
  • Hi Lynn, sorry to learn it has come to this. I hope this tiny donation helps. Wish it were more. Hilary xx

€20.00
Amount Hidden
Show more donors

Followers

16 followers
Beryl Darby
Jan Anthony
Nigel Howard
Geoff Dendle
Hugh Evans
Veronica Butler
Linda Bowe
Angela McQueen
Nicola Wheatstone
Julie Chilton
Show more Followers
€1,700.00
raised of €5,000.00 goal
34% Funded
49 Donors
Raised offline: €100.00
Total: €1,800.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities