Kobzar’s Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories

Over the weekend, the last story for Kobzar’s Children was edited.

I am really excited about this book.

The kobzars were the blind minstrels of Ukraine, who memorized the epic poems and stories of 100 generations. Traveling around the country, they stopped in towns and villages along the way, where they told their tales and were welcomed by all. During the early years of Stalin’s regime in the USSR, the kobzars wove their traditional stories with contemporary warnings of soviet repression, famine, and terror. When Stalin heard of it, he called the first conference of kobzars in Ukraine. Hundreds congregated. Then Stalin had them murdered. As the storytellers of Ukraine died, so too did their stories.

Kobzar’s Children is an anthology of short historical fiction, memoirs, and poems written about the Ukrainian immigrant experience. The stories span a century of history from 1905 to 2005; and they contain the voices of people who lived through internment as “enemy aliens,” homesteading, famine, displacement, concentration camps, and this new century’s Orange Revolution. More than a collection, it is a social document that revives memories once deliberately forgotten.

I just signed the contract for my tenth book recently, but this book is a first. It’s the first time that I’m an editor. The stories and poems in Kobzar’s Children were written by a diverse group of people. Most of the contributors contacted me initially after reading my books. They wrote to me and said, “I have a story too.”

I was moved by these stories. So many that have never been told before.

I began collecting these people and these stories together and many of us have formed an online critique group for Ukrainian story writers.

All of the royalties for this anthology are being donated to the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association. To find out more about UCCLA, go here:

http://www.uccla.ca

Here’s the amazon entry:

http://tinyurl.com/kr6cv

I can hardly wait until I can hold this anthology in my hands.

Marsha Skrypuch
www.calla.com

Author: Marsha

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

13 thoughts on “Kobzar’s Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories”

  1. Great News!!!

    I’m so happy to hear that the book is that much closer to hitting the shelves – you and the other contributors must be so thrilled! When is ti scheduled for release?

    With such a Ukrainian strong community here, will you be coming to Winnipeg to promote the book when it comes out?

    Congrats again, Marsha – this is such important work you’re doing, and it’s great news!

    Julie

    1. Re: Great News!!!

      Hi Julie!

      The official release date is June 2006 but I’m hoping it will be ready earlier than that.

      Brenda Hasiuk — one of the contributors — is from Winnipeg, so for sure there will be something happening in Winnipeg, whether it’s with me there is another matter. I love Winnipeg as you know, so hopefully I’ll get to travel there too.

      1. Re: Great News!!!

        Marsha:

        Well, I’ll be out to pick it up whenever it hits the shelves, so I just wanted an idea of the date!

        I did ask for selfish reasons …but I’m glad the book will be promoted here no matter what! The Ukrainian community here is very strong, and I think they’ll be very interested in the book!

        Congrats again!
        J

        1. Re: Great News!!!

          Hi Julie,

          It would be great to see you again! Here’s hoping there’s a Winnipeg trip in my near future.

          And you’re right, there’s a huge Ukrainian presence in Winnipeg.

  5. I hope there is more ukrainian web pages!

    Hello!
    I just want to ask do you have any more ukrainian Web pages?
    Julia

Comments are closed.