Goodreads and Longshots

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Busy with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, I had not heard that Goodreads has a 2010 Goodreads Choice Award in several genres and categories until someone let me know they had written in a vote for The Silence of Trees (and so voted for me) as Favorite Debut Author for 2010.

http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice#41615-Debut-Author

There are 15 preselected titles on the board, but anyone can vote/write-in a vote after registering.

I know it’s incredibly unlikely for a small-press published magical realism novel like The Silence of Trees to win, but let’s give it a try! I’ve seen many examples in my life of the unlikely becoming reality, of people succeeding against the odds. It’s part of my personal mythology, part of the reason I’m an optimist, and part of the reason I juggle the many things I do in life. I dream dangerously and work hard to make those dreams a reality.

If you have a moment, please go to the 2010 Goodreads Peoples Choice Awards and write in The Silence of Trees for Favorite Debut Author AND Favorite Cover Art (Didn’t Madeline Carol Matz do a fantastic job?!)

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful story to see this little novel make it to the top, despite the odds?

And a gentle reminder that if you are on Amazon and have read The Silence of Trees, please take a moment to review the novel, Those reviews really do help new books to get attention. Thank you!!!

Reading in Philadelphia at Robin’s Books on Dec. 11

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Photo by Kyle Cassidy

I’m excited to return to Philadelphia this weekend, this time to do a reading at Robin’s Books Store and Moonstone Arts Center on Saturday, December 11, from 7-9pm. Robin’s Books is the oldest Independent Book Store in Philadelphia, opened by Larry Robin’s grandfather in 1936.

I’m thrilled to join the writers who have appeared at Robin’s Books over the last 40 years. I am also so happy to see the very dear Trillian Stars and Kyle Cassidy again.

Amy Blackthorn

There will be wine and treats. I’ll read from The Silence of Trees, have a Q&A, and sign some books.  I thought it would be fun to have a real life “vorozhka” or fortuneteller at the event since a tarot reading features prominently in the beginning of the novel. The talented Amy Blackthorn will be doing free tarot readings!

The Silence of Trees is magical realism set in WWII Eastern Europe and modern-day Chicago. It’s a story of sacrifice, folklore, friendship, and storytelling. I wrote it to honor my grandmothers and all women who live through war and too often are silenced. You can read more about the story behind the book here.

Cover Art by Madeline Carol Matz

“In The Silence of Trees, Nadya, the astonishing matriarch, war survivor, and narrator, weaves a remarkable life centered on fate, love, luck and choice while honoring the ghosts of her past. Her voice is an important and unforgettable addition to the post-war immigrant experience.” –Irene Zabytko, author of When Luba Leaves Home and The Sky Unwashed

Please help to spread the word. The more the merrier! I look forward to meeting you on Saturday.

Незлим тихим словом (A kind, quiet word)

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Back in November, I was invited to participate in a reading of Ukrainian American writers at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago.

I’ll admit to being a bit nervous before the reading at UIMA. It was a new venue for me, and I was uncertain of the audience: Who would attend? How would the Ukrainians like my selection from The Silence of Trees?

Any anxiety was unfounded; the audience was gracious and enthusiastic. I even ran into a few people I hadn’t seen in years. I thoroughly enjoyed the readings by the other Ukrainian American writers: Anya Antonovych-Metcalf, Michael Beres, Ksenia Rychtycka, and George Wyhinny.

Ukrainian American Literary Voices Reading at UIMA. Here we are pictured with the two organizers (Anna Golash and Sonya Arko) on opposite sides of the group.
Three of us had been students (at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian School) of the artist Alexandra Kochman. Pictured: George Wyhinny, Alexandra Kochman, Valya Dudycz-Lupescu, and Anya Antonovych-Metcalf

Such diverse voices, genres, and themes in our writing, and yet there were familiar echoes . . . of sacrifice, displacement, hope. There were references to Chernobyl, to WWII and the DP camps. Ukrainian words peppered the prose: familiar names and places.

As I listened to the other readings, I found myself thinking about our little sampling. Was there something that connected our work as Ukrainian American writers? Something that set us apart from other ethnic American poets, dramatists, novelists, artists?

Clearly our worldview and voices have been shaped by certain defining historical events of the 20th century. Shared traditions and language influence our imagery and help to define our characters. But what does it mean to be a Ukrainian American writer/artist in this day and age?

I didn’t come up with answers, only more questions. But I think that for writers and artists, questions can be better. They encourage us to seek, to stretch, to challenge, to uncover, to make connections. Questions fuel us. They certainly motivate me.

I was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the event and happy for the time I had to chat with the other writers. I would have liked a few more hours to sit down with them around a large table, perhaps over coffee or tea, to talk about our inspiration and experiences. I look forward to the next time our paths cross, and I hope that it’s soon.