All the leaves have gone

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It is my favorite season, time to harvest and prepare for Winter. I always look forward to it, but this has been a particularly challenging Autumn.

I found out my grandmother’s brother in Ukraine died tragically in a fire today as he sat beside the stove for warmth. He survived the Holodomor, WWII, Siberia, and the Soviet Union. He was reunited with my grandmother when she returned to Ukraine in the 90s for her first visit since leaving in the 40s. They corresponded by letter and rare phone calls when he would go to a neighbor’s house to use the telephone. My grandmother sent photos of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. He was a widower, never had children, and lived alone.

I always hoped that I would meet him on a future visit to Ukraine. I worry about what this may do to my grandmother. I know that it’s a gift that she’s still here. Incredible that all of my grandparents are still alive, in their 80s and 9os. (knock on wood)

The elders are dying, and many of their stories will die with them. I hope that he had someone to talk to, someone to listen to him. It hurts my heart to think that he died in such a way. Alone.

Life is so fragile. So much dies in Autumn.

 

Live-Tweeting The Silence of Trees With Xe Sands

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As I mentioned in an earlier post, Iambik Audio is producing the audiobook for The Silence of Trees.

After reviewing auditions, we’ve chosen for our narrator the talented Xe Sands!

I’m so excited to hear her reading of my novel. In preparation for her narration, she’s reading The Silence of Trees and live-tweeting the process.

You can follow along by following her on twitter: @xesands or by searching the hashtag #silenceoftrees

Here’s a taste of her tweets so far:

“What are we in war? Things to be oved, broken, used, thrown away…” Oh my heart breaks for you, vorozhka. #silenceoftrees
 The simplicity and overwhelming passions of youth! With our circle so small, we think questions of love the be all/end all #silenceoftrees
“all the milk of heaven…” – gracious, what a lovely image of a full moon. Don’t think I’ll look at it the same way again. #silenceoftrees
“This sad melody, so soft & familiar, that slid across my body & pulled at my chest w/bittersweet secrets…” #silenceoftrees
 So beautifully painted – can almost feel the movement of the dvorovyi around me, the wind whipping through my hair… #silenceoftrees
More to come!

Radio Interview on Nash Holos

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Last month I was interviewed by the lovely Paulette MacQuarrie for Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio. The interview and book giveaway of signed copies of The Silence of Trees, will air this weekend, Sunday, October 9, at 6pm PST on AM1320 CHMB Vancouver. The program also streams live at the CHMB website. The podcast is available at iTunes and audio archives on the Playlist page.