Tatiana and The Russian Wolves by Stephen Evans Jordan

Tatiana, Alexander Romanovsky’s mother, suffered from depression that became insanity (the Russian Wolves) and led to her suicide-leaving Alexander fragile and vulnerable. The Revolution’s casualties are incalculable and include the many émigrés who fled Russia and fell into penury and despair, as did Tatiana’s family.

I’ve been fascinated with Russian history, especially the Revolution’s futuristic promises that devolved into a sinister despotism lasting seventy years. Suicide can run in families as loved ones face the bewildering jumble of frustration, depression, guilt, and a subliminal anger that can trigger self-loathing: TATIANA AND THE RUSSIAN WOLVES deals with the questions left behind.

Three friends from my college days committed suicide I’m still dealing with the Lingering sadness. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Elmhurst-just west of Chicago-with their cats Lucy and Muffin. Stephen enjoys French bistro cooking, long walks, and reading. His commentaries have appeared in the CHICAGO DAILY OBSERVER and the Western Neighborhoods Project (San Francisco). He has been a regular contributor to KEYSTROKES, selected works of the Oak Park Writers Group. He also won an award from Negative Capability for “Prince Charles and the Texans,” set in Singapore. “Snake Charmed” was published in GEM STREET: COLLECTOR'S EDITION, a print-only anthology by Labello Press in Ireland Stephen received Labello’s Excellence in Contemporary Narrative Award. “A Complete Overhaul” and “Raju,” were published during 2014 in EASTLIT, the online journal promoting English literature on South and South East Asia. Inspired by Paul Theroux’s Asian collection, The Counsel’s File, Stephen has written a collection of short stories centered in Southeast Asia. He describes Chicago as the most dangerous, Singapore the cleanest.ĭespite his initial misgivings, Stephen found living in Asia fascinating, frustrating, and life threatening at times. His banking career involved assignments in Jakarta, Singapore, London, East Africa and Chicago. Speaking good Spanish at the time, he was bewildered-but not entirely surprised-when he was assigned to the Asia Division and later transferred to Indonesia.

But practicality prevailed, and he opted for business school and joined Bank of America’s International Department. While at Stanford, Stephen discovered art history and considered a career in the arts. Stephen will be available for a book signing event at BookMine in Napa on October 6th. Stephen's first novel, TATIANA AND THE RUSSIAN WOLVES, will be published in October 2018. Of his parents’ gifts, love of literature is his most cherished. He grew up in Napa in the 1950s in a family of readers-dinner-table conversations often centered on books. Stephen Jordan’s fiction is often inspired from living and working overseas combined with a passion for history.

Tatiana and The Russian Wolves by Stephen Evans Jordan