About the Book (and its writing)

[Stephan]

Feel free to ask about any of the stories. Some are based on events in the historical record (Kamkov the Astronomer); some are based on events imagined into the historical record; and still others are drawn from a more journalistic approach -- those set in contemporary Ukraine, where I went on a Fulbright Fellowship to research the mail-order bride industry. And okay, maybe one story is somewhat autobiographical, but only the most embarrassing one.

[Stephan]

The Authenticity Question - as in "Why would an 'American' write about Russian characters?" - is answered over at The Nervous Breakdown, where I am the subject of an antagonistic self-interview. http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/sc...