Thanks, Coco Kettmann, for these great questions about Under Attack, book #1 of the Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy.
Young Reader Discovers a Powerful Story From Ukraine
Category: News stories
Visiting Oakville Ridna Skhola for Holodomor Remembrance Day
Many thanks so educator extraordinaire Oksana Levytska, her team, and her fabulous students. It was a pleasure to discuss my books set during various times in Ukraine’s history, particularly my books set during the Holodomor, and my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy, which is set during a time these students are all too familiar with. It was a dual presentation, with some students in person, and others attending remotely.
Copies of Under Attack, book #1 of my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy had been pre-purchased through Koota Ooma, my favourite Ukrainian book and gift store, so I got to know the names of each student as I signed them.
After all of the books were signed and I was packing up my things, it was thrilling to see so many students reading their brand new books — an author’s dream.
Ms Levytska invited me to attend the school’s Holodomor assembly. I was moved by students’ dedication and talent in honouring those who had perished in this genocide orchestrated by Stalin.
Online presentation, Dec 4th
Thank you, Centre for Ukrainian Studies, University of Manitoba, for this invitation to speak about Standoff, book #2 of my Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. Looking forward to lots of questions.
CUCS Lecture Series
How and why Marsha Skrypuch wrote the “Kidnapped from Ukraine” trilogy
Date and Time: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 12 PM CST
Location: Online via Zoom
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://umanitoba.zoom.us/meeting/register/XUP5uT77ShygI7Qeee7h2g
Standoff: Koota Ooma Book Launch!
Speaking with Planeyo Book Circle
In 2024, I was honoured to see that Nigerian literary scholar, Eyoh Etim had written an insightful paper titled Memories of Women and Children’s Representation in Marsha Skrypuch’s Making Bombs for Hitler and Tiyam be Zeleza’s Smouldering Charcoal so when Dr. Etim contacted me for a video interview, I jumped at the opportunity to connect. Here’s the link to that interview. There are three authors interviewed in this session and my portion is at the beginning. Thank you, Dr. Etim, for all that you do!
Book talk at St. Volodymyr Cathedral
One day after the PYI conference, I traveled back to Toronto to participate in a new initiative at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church & St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto, organized by Artem Galchuk. It was interesting to hear the other speakers, including authors Mykola Latyshko, and Alla Topchii. I was particularly interested in Anastasia Baczynskyj’s presentation about the early Ukrainian community in Toronto. Koota Ooma was there with a wonderful array of books, including mine.
Writing from the Shadows/CANSCAIP PYI
It was an honour and an angst to be asked to give the final keynote at this year’s Packaging Your Imagination Conference. I attended my first PYI way back in 1993 and it inspired and focused me to such an extent that I was able to revise and submit several children’s book manuscripts I had on the go, and within months, I had a yes for my first picture book, Silver Threads.
The final keynote is a memorial lecture, honouring Claire Mackay, who was a founding member of CANSCAIP, a force to be reckoned with (in a very good way) — and she was funny, brilliant and kind. The Peter and Eleanor Daniels Foundation sponsors this award. Here’s a pic with Elly Daniels, a woman who does tremendous things in support of arts in Canada.
My talk was very well received. The audience gave me a standing ovation. Many hugs and tears followed.
I sat in on fantastic and inspiring speakers all day long, which probably wasn’t the best way to prepare for doing a keynote, but heck, how could I not? It was a stellar lineup.
I grabbed some screenshots taken by friends and posted on social media (must learn to speak without flailing my arms around!)
Recording backmatter for Still Alive
Launch for Sheryl Azzam’s Red Flags and Butterflies
What a wonderful, tearful, emotional event this was!
Good on ya, Sheryl!
My friend and writing buddy, Sheryl Azzam, died before her first novel was published. But it is being published, and Sheryl’s brilliance, empathy and compassion lives on. Today, Quill & Quire did a feature story on Sheryl and her novel, Red Flags and Butterflies. Here’s the link:
