book details

Book: Natasha's Ukraine by Rob Ottesen

categories: Book, Romance, Women's Issues, Eastern Europe, Euromaidan, Revolution, Family Saga, Ukraine, Historical Fiction

Rob Ottesen

about this book: After visiting Ukraine, I became fascinated by the political, social, and economic challenges faced by the people of that country. So I decided to write a fictional novel about a family struggling to survive during the 2014 revolution. The spirit of the people of Ukraine never fails to impress me, and the protests at Independence Square truly changed the leadership of their nation and the history of their country.

Unfortunately, because of corruption and a lack of strong copyright, patent, and trademark laws, Ukraine continues to experience difficulty. Health care is inadequate, and the possibility of war with Russia is always present. All of these factors make Ukraine a difficult place to earn a living.

In my novel, I introduce siblings Natasha and Alexander. Natasha has had enough. She wants a better life, and has decided to leave her country to find it. Alexander, on the other hand, is an idealist. He participates in the dangerous protests in Kiev, and eventually joins the Ukrainian military, knowing full well that he might be facing Russian soldiers someday. Their lives take different paths, and they grow in different directions.

I wonder if that's one of the major points of this story. Ukraine is currently suffering a major "brain drain", as intellectuals leave for countries that value the rule of law. My book shows how an imperfect government can affect the lives of it citizens, and cause the best and the brightest to find opportunity elsewhere.

I hope you enjoy the book!