#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kris Spisak and her Baba Yaga books!

Good Morning and Welcome, 

Today's guest is brand new to our blog so please give Kris Spisak a huge SW Louisiana... 

... W-E-L-C-O-M-E!

Hey there, Kris, please give us a little background on why you write and then tell us about your books.

Thanks, Pam.

The words we use and the words we digest have a profound impact. Ergo, I've made it my mission to empower voices and perspectives, writing books both to sharpen storytelling and communication skills and to introduce lesser-known histories and perspectives that have something to say about the moment we live in today. Emboldening others, as writers or as thoughtful readers, is my favorite part of what I do.

In my debut novel — dual timeline, multigenerational fiction, The Baba Yaga Mask (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, 2022; Tantor Audio, 2023) — I had the opportunity to tell the story of my Ukrainian roots, a country's fight for independence, and a World War II perspective I had always sought but never found in fiction prior. When I signed my publishing deal in 2021, I had no idea how timely this book would be upon its launch only weeks after Russia's invasion in 2022. Now, more than ever, its backdrop focused upon the many ways women can be strong, amid war and amid motherhood, is one I'm proud to share.

When their grandmother is lost after a trans-Atlantic flight, two Ukrainian-American sisters are swept into a quest across Eastern Europe to find the woman who always told more tales than truths. From Poland to Slovakia to Hungary and beyond, Larissa and Ira navigate the steps of Ukrainian folk dance, the cliff-side paths of Slovak Paradise National Park, and the stark realities of love and war. Larissa and Ira’s journey is cross-stitched with their grandmother’s narrative of survival within the epic panorama of World War II in Western Ukraine, where her coming of age echoes a country’s fight for identity and independence. For teenage Vira in 1941 and her modern-day granddaughters, understanding their family’s roots means everything. Their grandmother’s obsession with the wisdom and ferocity of Baba Yaga folktales is only the beginning of what they uncover. 

As I spoke with (and continue to speak with) book clubs, at libraries, and other events around this novel, I've been honored to shape humanitarian aid donation drives around these book talks, speaking not only about Ukrainian art, culture, folklore, and history, but helping collect winter socks, diapers, and more for people in need today. Please connect with me if you'd like to be a part of this effort: https://kris-spisak.com/humanitarian-aid-ukraine/

Following The Baba Yaga Mask's publication, I realized that more needed to be said about the Slavic folklore "witch" at the core of my novel. I was overjoyed to return to nonfiction with Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods (Red Wheel / Weiser, 2024; Tantor Audio, 2024), which has been described as Yuval Noah Harari meets Brené Brown, with a touch of the macabre. 

Book Summary: 

Darkness, fear, and instability sometimes inundate our daily lives, but folktale figures like Baba Yaga speak to the dichotomy of our existence—the hope and the horror, the magic and the mundane. Stories that linger have something to teach us, and Baba Yaga’s tales don’t disappoint. Understanding ourselves, our complex world, and our place within history are only a matter of turning to a boney-legged old woman who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs deep in the Eastern European woods.

My publications are varied but always return to the simple idea that well-written words and well-told stories have the ability to change the world. 

How wonderful, Kris! Thanks for sharing. You have a few more books don't you?

Yes, I do! 

The Novel Editing Workbook is designed for new and established writers alike. This step-by-step guide to self-editing will help you transform your story into the book you want it to be.

Written for those who hate grammar, Get a Grip on Your Grammar is a writing resource filled with quick answers and a playful style—not endless, indecipherable grammar jargon. 

And, The Family Story Workbook contains 105 prompts and pointers for writing your family history that is sure to bring pleasure for those who read it!

NICE, Kris! Now please give us the lowdown on you and tell us where your books can be found...

LOL! Pam, here is my bio and links...

Author Kris Spisak, a graduate of the College of William and Mary (B.A.) and the University of Richmond (M.L.A.), wrote her first three books—Get a Grip on Your Grammar, The Novel Editing Workbook, and The Family Story Workbook—to help writers of all kinds sharpen their storytelling and empower their communications. Her award-winning debut novel, The Baba Yaga Mask, was inspired by her family’s experience in the post-WWII Ukrainian diaspora and has been called “A complex, poetic tale” by Kirkus Reviews and “edu-tainment at its best” by the Historical Novel Society. Her fifth book, Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods, described as “A delicious read” by Atlas Obscura, is a nonfiction exploration of the complex origins of this Slavic folktale character and her lingering lessons for empowering us all. Kris is an active speaker, workshop leader, and literary historian.

All of the books can be found at Amazon and other online retailers listed on my Website (linked in bio).

Thank You, So Much, Kris for sharing with us today! We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on all of your work.

Hope you enjoyed Kris's visit as much as I did friends, and that you'll check back weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight where I bring you great authors and their books.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT