We had a fantastic evening at the packed Red Poppy Art House with stories inspired by our Ukrainian, Russian, Armenian, and Serbian roots. It was so special to read alongside the writers from my diaspora region, who are all fiercely original but also share some familiar themes and experiences. Our pieces ranged from humorous to tragic, covering a vast geographical and historical space, from contemporary California to the Soviet Union of the 1930s and beyond. I was honored to read an excerpt from my novel in progress, set in a small Serbian town whose heritage dates back to ancient times.

Many thanks to our amazing hosts for the beautiful atmosphere and to everyone who joined us!