This week has been even more distressing than usual. And it’s been a pretty distressing year. Frequent terrorist attacks, a …
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A “Divine” Fantasy: Robert Jackson Bennet’s City of Miracles
Is it me, or do "reading is really really good for you" stories keep showing up again and again in the news? Check out the newest …
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One Month Into Self Publishing
Exactly a month ago, I hit the "go" button on a new phase in my authorly adventures and I self published my first book, The Song …
How to Self Publish a Book: The Story of My Novel
The Story of My Novel Part I In a psychedelic cafe in Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, a Sirin came and sang to me. (well, …
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The strange tale of how Napoleon’s soldiers became Cossacks
You know that scene in Godfather II where young Vito is given the last name “Corleone” by the American border guard, only because …
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Don’t blame the Byzantines: Why does Russia have such problems?
One of the early readers of my first novel complained that I had too many adjectives in my writing. He was absolutely right; I was …
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What do the most popular Russian insults actually mean?
Something a little less serious this week for your reading pleasure. I found a rather absurd little article about the historical …
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The Curse of the Murdered Prince Dmitry of Uglich
Several episodes in Russian history are so fanciful that they read like novels. One of the more mysterious and interesting is the …
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The Coronation of Nicholas II: Triumph and Tragedy
The problem of ideal government has bothered people for millennia. Perhaps until very recently, some people might have considered …
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The Path of the Artist: remembering the art of Pavel Ryzhenko
As a writer, I find myself as inspired by painters as I am by other writers. One of my favorite artists is Pavel Ryzhenko, who …
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Cover Reveal: The Song of the Sirin
Well, here it is! The cover reveal for The Song of the Sirin. Designing your book's cover is such a tricky step in …
One month left until I self publish my first book!
Tomorrow is a great day. Not only is it "Love a Tree Day," but also "National Sea Monkey Day." I don't know about you, but when I …
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“Moscow is the Third Rome”: a pivotal moment in Russian history?
My first novel The Song of the Sirin imagines a strange scenario: what if the early Russians were the chosen people of God? What …
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Fantasy for our time: my writer’s manifesto
Ask pretty much anyone what is the one pop-cultural event that they’re waiting for more than any other. What do you think they’ll …
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Nicholas II, the Armenian Genocide, and Donald Trump
Refugees have been on a lot of people's minds lately. First it was the waves upon waves of refugees escaping the horrors of …
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Radonitsa: How Russians Give Joy to Their Dead
As much as my stories are traditional historical fantasies set in a mythical early Rus, the events and characters are equally …
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The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler My rating: 4 of 5 stars I think we're living in an interesting moment for the …
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Villains of Slavic Mythology: Koshchei the Deathless
This week we're continuing the theme of "the invisible world in Slavic mythology." After the hero has passed the trials of Baba …
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