Author: Marsha

I write historical fiction, mostly from the perspective of young people who are thrust in the midst of war.

Canadian taxpayers have funded a Russian propaganda film

Here is the core of the letter that I’ve sent to my MPP and MP. Please feel free to model your own letters from this.

There is a new pro-Russian documentary titled Russians at War currently being shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This propaganda piece was partly funded by Canadian taxpayers. This is a worldwide humiliation for Canada, that we would allow public funding to normalize the genocidal acts of Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

The filmmaker is Anastasia Trofimova, a Russian Canadian. She imbedded herself into a Russian unit as they invaded Ukraine. Is it not treasonous for a Canadian to accompany the invasion of one of our allies?

Ms. Trofimova claims that she embedded herself at great personal risk. Given that an American-Russian ballet dancer was jailed in Russia for merely donating $50 to a Ukrainian charity, this claim doesn’t hold water. This filmmaker has done many documentaries for Russia Today (RT), a Russian propaganda outlet banned in Canada. This film is propaganda, with the goal of “normalizing” Russian soldiers who volunteer to go to Ukraine to rape, steal and kill. It was produced in association with TVO and BC’s Knowledge Network, and partly funded through the Canada Media Fund (CMF), that gets its funding from the federal government and telecommunications companies.

In the short term, please demand that TIFF delist the film and post a public apology.

The larger question is how did we let this happen? Canadian taxpayers’ money should not be used to fund Russian propaganda.

Kidnapped from Ukraine: audiobook

Love having the opportunity to speak the backmatter and acknowledgements for the audio editions of my books. Today, I did that for Kidnapped from Ukraine: Under Attack, Scholastic. Thank you, Will Crann at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton! I have deep respect for professional narrators who do this all the time.

Deal news: New Trilogy

I never thought I would be writing about a war as it’s happening. When the war in Ukraine began, I had been writing a companion novel to Winterkill, but had to set it aside. I plunged in to a project I had been working on for a long time: a novel set in the 1500s. Then Scholastic asked me to pivot. It took a lot of soul-searching, but in the end I realized I had to do this. The emotional pain of researching and writing these three books is nothing compared to what Ukrainians are enduring every minute, every hour. I invite you to step into the shoes of 12 year old Dariia and her twin sister Rada. Feel what it’s like to wake up one morning to your bed shaking from bombings. To have your country invaded by a jealous neighbor who doesn’t acknowledge your right to exist.

A pic from the Kobzar event with Adrian Lysenko

Just had a virtual chat with two first-time-published kidcritters and Adrian’s name came up. Then I realized, this lovely pic wasn’t on my website. Adrian has been in my writing group for a very long time and he’s a FABULOUS writer.

from March 21, at Kobzar Book Award night with fellow nominee and fellow longtime kidcritter, @AdrianLysenko. Congratulations to the winner, Myrna Kostash!!!

Ann Featherstone, editor and friend

Ann Featherstone was an editor like no other, but she was also my friend. She helped birth so many phenomenal children’s books, and I’m honoured that she helped to birth many of my own. Ann, when I write, I think of the lessons you taught me. Vichnaya Pamyat.

Ann Eloise Featherstone (Butler) 1953-2024 passed away on June 12, 2024 after a long and courageous journey with cancer. Ann was born in Oakville, Ontario and came to Victoria in 1971 where she studied English and Art History at UVIC. Ann lived a life of books and was one of the original “Munro’s Girls.” She worked at all the Munro’s Books locations and managed the Market Square Store. Ann came to specialize in children’s books and developed the children’s section at the Government St. store.
Ann moved into publishing in the early 1990s and over the next three decades shepherded over five hundred books into publication. She became one of the most well-loved children’s book editors in Canada and developed the children’s books lines for Orca Books, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, and co-founded Pajama Press. Ann leaves a lasting legacy of friendship with authors and illustrators and brought delight into the lives of countless children.
The title of her last book, A World of Kindness, perfectly captures her empathetic personality. She was adored by her husband of 47 years, Grenfell; daughter, Robin (Colin); sister, Pat (Jamie); brother, Rob (Twyla); and Frankie the polydactyl ginger tabby-cat. Ann was pre-deceased by her parents Mary and Tony Butler, and her brother David.
We cannot adequately thank Dr. Bernstein and Dr Masuda for their years of support, and Dr Adzich, the palliative care nurses, homecare workers, and the chemo ward nurses at the Cowichan Hospital all of whom treated Ann with gentleness and professionalism.
In lieu of flowers, please read to your kids!
 
Here are all of my Ann Featherstone books, spanning two publishers:
 
Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars

Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars

A beautiful omnibus edition of the award-winning biographies Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue from War and One Step at a Time: A ...
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Too Young To Escape

Too Young To Escape

One day they will send for her, but how long must Van Ho wait for her family to find a ...
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AdriftAtSea_website

Adrift at Sea: A Vietnamese Boy’s Story of Survival

It is 1981. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a fishing boat overloaded with 60 Vietnamese refugees drifts. The ...
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DanceOfTheBanished_HR_RGB1

Dance of the Banished

Based on true events, a compelling story of love and hope published on the 100th anniversary of World War I ...
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One Step At A Time

One Step At A Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way

Tuyet has found a loving family at last. Life in a strange new country presents many challenges for the young ...
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airliftcovernew1

Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Child’s Rescue From War

Last Airlift is the true story of the last Canadian airlift operation that left Saigon and arrived in Toronto on April ...
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Call Me Aram

Call Me Aram

From the New Beginnings series, comes Call Me Aram, the sequel to Aram’s Choice. Aram Davidian, like his fellow orphaned Armenian refugees, ...
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arams-choice

Aram’s Choice

From the New Beginnings series, comes Aram’s Choice, a story that follows the life of a boy who loses his family in ...
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enough

Enough

This story, set during the Famine of the 1930s, tells of a young girl’s attempts to save her village from ...
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Kobzar's Children

Kobzar’s Children

This unique anthology introduces new voices and a century of hidden stories. The kobzars were the blind minstrels of Ukraine, ...
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dow

Daughter of War

Daughter of War is a gripping story of enduring love and loyalty set against the horrors of Turkey during World War ...
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Swing, fluttering paper, memories

I just received the most beautiful package of letters and cards from students and staff at JL Simpson MS (Virginia) in response to 6 virtual visits over two days that we did together a few weeks ago. Jeannine and I had corresponded about this for about a year and I was very impressed by the students and their in-depth questions on a wide variety of my books, and about history, and about the current war in Ukraine. The letters were tied in a blue satin ribbon, and the cards are amazing. Individual student artists created cards based on scenes from books. The artwork below is inspired by Stolen Girl, about Nadia’s joy at having a tree with a swing, now that she’s safe and living with people who love and care for her.

This is from Making Bombs for Hitler, when Lida is in the Displaced Persons’ camp. She’s checking the hundreds of bits of fluttering paper that have been attached to one of the few stone walls still standing. Each paper was a note with a person’s details on it, as they were trying to connect with loved ones who survived. I think of the war going on now in Ukraine when I look at this artwork, and think of all the people trying to find their loved ones.

This is from Stolen Girl. It’s Nadia’s confused memories because of the Nazi brainwashing she endured, making her forget her true family. It breaks my heart seeing this picture because there are kids right now kidnapped by Russia, in the midst of having their memories washed.

Here are all of them.