Right now, I’m basking in the productive atmosphere of the Oregon Coast Writers’ Retreat, and I’m getting close to a place in my …
Five Myths about Russian Cuisine
Yesterday, I got back from an amazing trip to Saratov, Russia, where I was one of 41 men recording sacred music for a men’s choir …
How to Name Your Future Prince
In the novel I'm working on now, the generation of characters that was young in the first novel now has children. And …
The Three Warriors of Slavic Mythology: Who Were They?
Sometimes, when I get stuck in my writing, it helps to take some time to study the visual arts. The amazing flourishing of serious …
Continue Reading about The Three Warriors of Slavic Mythology: Who Were They?
Villains from Slavic Mythology: Baba Yaga
The Hut on Chicken Feet Slavic mythology would not be the same without the old hag with an odd taste in food and …
Continue Reading about Villains from Slavic Mythology: Baba Yaga
Things You May Not Know about “Kievan Rus”
These days, Tolkien isn’t particularly popular among certain readers and publishers of fantasy. To be called “Tolkien-esque” can …
Continue Reading about Things You May Not Know about “Kievan Rus”
Ushkuiniki: the Last Pirates of Old Rus
Recently, I've been having trouble with a main character's journey in my second novel. He literally wasn't going anywhere fast. It …
Continue Reading about Ushkuiniki: the Last Pirates of Old Rus
How Alexander the Great Became Popular in Russia
Recently, my wife and I finished reading aloud the amazing new Russian novel Laurus by Evgenii Vodolazkin. I loved it. First of …
Continue Reading about How Alexander the Great Became Popular in Russia
Russian Village Windows: the Eyes of the Russian Soul
Those of you who’ve been following me, especially on Pinterest, know that I love traditional Russian village windows, which …
Continue Reading about Russian Village Windows: the Eyes of the Russian Soul
The Deed of Paksenarrion
The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nowadays, readers tend to give an author no more than five …
Slavic “fake-lore”: was Slavic mythology made up?
In the 18th century, Russia entered the grand stage of European history. It threw aside its "primitive Easternness", and did …
Continue Reading about Slavic “fake-lore”: was Slavic mythology made up?
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Uprooted by Naomi Novik My rating: 4 of 5 stars When I finished this book, I was sure it would get no more than a 3 star …
The Suffering Innocents
It is easy to become jaded, seeing all the horrors of war on our Facebook wall. It is easy to lose empathy with the suffering …
Bright Week
The Bright Seven Days The first week of Easter is like an extended single day of feasting. Joyful and bright. …
How Iconographers Draw the Soul
In my second novel (tentatively titled The Garden in the Heart of the World), one of the characters is given a …
Seven Ways Russians Used to Celebrate the Coming of Spring
As I’ve begun to delve deeply into my second novel, I’m considering using the time of the year as a contrast to the characters’ …
Continue Reading about Seven Ways Russians Used to Celebrate the Coming of Spring
The Book of the New Sun
The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe My rating: 5 of 5 stars In the fantasy genre, coming of age tales abound. "Commoner …
Things you never knew about the Russian cradle
A criticism of an early version of my first novel was that it was not grounded enough, too “out there,” too interested in the …
Continue Reading about Things you never knew about the Russian cradle