Erin Litteken

Dear Readers,

The seeds of this story took root in my mind even before Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, and now I sit drafting this letter while the news of Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine–its cities, its civilians, its future–plays on the television in the background. I never imagined the release of my novel on a past assault of the Ukrainian people would coincide with such a parallel tragedy.

Ukrainians today are fighting for their country with a strength and tenacity that has captivated the world, but it is impossible to deny that history is repeating itself. It’s horrifying, and we must do better.​

As the granddaughter of a Ukrainian refugee from WW2, the poignancy of this war devastates me. While we can’t change history, we can all learn from it and do something to help the Ukrainian people today. I’m so pleased that my publisher, Boldwood Books, will be donating a portion of each sale to DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.​

My heart goes out to the brave Ukrainians defending their country, their culture, and their lives, both then and now.

Slava Ukrayini!