As I grew up and studied history in school, I never heard World War II ever discussed from the Ukrainian perspective. I waited for it, but it never came. I sought it out, repeatedly, but always came up empty handed. So what was a writer to do, but to write it?

Kris Spisak – 14 July 2023

The Back Flap

When their Ukrainian grandmother is lost on a trans-Atlantic flight, two sisters are swept into a quest across Eastern Europe to find the woman who had 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 war, emigration, folktales, and feminism, all for the sake of chasing who they’re starting to believe is a true Baba Yaga. Understanding their Ukrainian roots has never been more clear.

About the book

What is the book about?

A Ukrainian grandmother—who hasn’t been back to Europe since she left it after World War II—books a flight back, steps off the plane, and disappears. A wild goose chase across modern-day Eastern Europe follows, where her granddaughters, Larissa and Ira, desperately search for her, not knowing if she’s ill, injured, lost, or up to something. Ira, for one, is fairly convinced she’s up to something.

The Baba Yaga Mask is a dual timeline story that moves between western Ukraine in 1941 and this Eastern Europe search in the present day, as the sisters navigate what they know of their grandmother and what they know of each other. They move between countries as the tale weaves between the three women’s lives, held together by Ukrainian traditions and the thread of a folktale witch well loved but as elusive as ever.

When did you start writing the book?

I first started this project in 2014, and if you know recent Ukrainian history, you might guess at some of the inspiration. The story came in creative bursts with numerous interruptions, but that’s life.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft of this manuscript took a few years. Not only was the project delayed because of the publication of three other books; it was also a slow process because I was dedicated to being as historically and culturally accurate in this story as possible. My own heritage matches that of my characters, yet I wanted to know where family tales merged with world events. I wanted to know where childhood memories of dancing and sketching with my grandmother lined up against the traditionally correct dance steps and the folk-art symbolism of different regions of Ukraine. I worked with academics and multiple others across the United States and Europe until I had a story I was satisfied with.

Where did you get the idea from?

Ever since I was a small child, listening to the World War II stories of my Ukrainian grandparents, I’ve been fascinated by the human will to not only survive but to persist with a heart full of love and loyalty in the face of any hardship. As I grew up and studied history in school, I never heard World War II ever discussed from the Ukrainian perspective. I waited for it, but it never came. I sought it out, repeatedly, but always came up empty handed. So what was a writer to do, but to write it?

I tried countless times over the years to find my right angle on this story, but in 2014, the concept hit me: a Ukrainian grandmother who disappears, the granddaughters (of my own generation) on a quest to help her or save her or discover what she’s up to—revealing their own family truths amid history’s horrors and Ukrainian traditions. Once that idea struck, the words flowed, and the story unfolded itself before by eyes.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Intertwining the events of 1941 Ukraine with a present-day chase across Eastern Europe, with two differing plotlines that were closely connected, was an organizational challenge at times. Yet in the spirit of my characters, I pushed myself on and eventually discovered where I needed to be.

What came easily?

The passion and integration of Ukrainian folk art, dance, and folktales. I loved bringing family traditions to the page and exploring pieces of my heritage more deeply than I ever had before.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I borrow emotional drive from my memories, remembering those moments in my own life where I felt so strongly about something that in some way parallels my character’s experiences—but not specific personality traits or personal histories. Those are entirely fiction.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I read as much as possible, across as many genres as I can. I have a deep background in the “classics” but read contemporary novels voraciously. I could name dozens of writers as an answer here, but for The Baba Yaga Mask specifically, the work of Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, two Ukrainian masters with patriotism at their core and literary curiosity always on the tip of their pens, are real inspirations to me.

Do you have a target reader?

Myself. I want to write the book that I would love reading. Or if I’m not allowed to say myself, maybe I’ll say my mother. The Baba Yaga Mask is written for a reader who recognizes the varied ways a woman can be strong, who is intrigued by cultures and histories they might not be familiar with, who appreciates the arts, including dance and storytelling, and who may be intrigued about the unknown strength simmering within her own ancestry.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Some people have gym buddies to keep them on track physically. I have a similar relationship with writing friends. We give ourselves hard goals and deadlines and reward our progress with taco nights, chocolate, and the occasional high tea. But it works!

I love writing at 5 a.m. and spending hours at my craft when I can, but the truth is I write whenever there are cracks in my life that permit it to happen. If that means five minutes in my car between errands, sometimes, that’s my reality too.

A creative can always find their ways.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I usually have a few “beats” or a few plot points pre-decided before I begin, but how I get from A to B to C is often a creative mystery that unfolds itself with time, dedication, and a little bit of magic—whether it’s Baba Yaga’s or otherwise.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

As a professional editor with over a decade of experience in fiction, this is a complex yet joyful question for me. In fact, my second book, The Novel Editing Workbook, explores exactly the ins and outs of this question.

I do edit as I write, but only a bit—just enough so I can get myself to move forward. The real work for me comes after my first draft is finished. Then, I revise in dedicated stages, with specific steps pre-defined within each one. Again, check out The Novel Editing Workbook for details!

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Every book I’ve written has a soundtrack attached to it, something that really fit the tone and the mood of the project I was writing, even if the readers would never know. For The Baba Yaga Mask, though, this was easy. Ukrainian music, especially traditional folk songs, were frequently playing as I wrote.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I do have a literary agent, and we worked together for a number of years before The Baba Yaga Mask was finished. She has empowered my author career in so many ways, connecting me with the publisher of my first book deal, helping with negotiations and difficult decisions and conversations in the years that followed. She’s truly a powerful partner in my process. However, my agent represents my non-fiction work, so I had a unique challenge with this manuscript.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?

I came close to a publishing deal with a larger press with this book, but when that didn’t work out, I began researching other possibilities. I had heard amazing things about my publisher, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, so I sent my query their way. Because I had experience with the non-fiction pitching process for traditional publishers, I handled this query similarly. It wasn’t just a brief “hook, book, cook” fiction query with sample pages of my manuscript; it was a full non-fiction-style book proposal with a synopsis, marketing plan, and all. And it worked out.

Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

The first phone call I had with Wyatt-MacKenzie was so full of excitement for my project that I knew it had found a good home. Everything rolled quickly from there.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My publisher designed my book cover, and I’m in love with it. I have been since the moment I saw it as a concept amid others. What’s been especially profound for me is that I was convinced that its design in the colors of the Ukrainian flag would be my own little piece of pride that the world likely wouldn’t see. Well, here we are. The world knows the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and do I have a story for you!

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have the joy of round two with my marketing plan, because after my flurry of marketing efforts, speaking engagements, and book club events last year, when the The Baba Yaga Mask released in paperback and ebook through Wyatt-MacKenzie, I am now able to do it all over again with the release of the audiobook through Tantor Audio. It’s been an honor to continue this conversation, to connect with readers, and to share this story. Many of my efforts have also included humanitarian aid efforts to help the people of Ukraine, so I’ve been thrilled to continue making an ongoing difference. This isn’t just my story we’re talking about here.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

If you take the time to do it well, from the writing to the editing to the publication path that makes the most sense for you, great things can happen. The writer’s life isn’t an easy one, but when you feel called to tell a story, there’s a reason to listen to that voice.

About You

What would you like readers to know about you?

While I am an author of fiction and non-fiction, everything I do is around the single idea that well-written words and well-told stories can change the world. With my first three books, Get a Grip on Your Grammar, The Novel Editing Workbook, and The Family Story Workbook, this intention was directly designed for readers themselves. Whether writing for work, writing for pleasure, or writing to preserve important stories of their lives, capturing the right language and specifics makes all the difference. Impacts ripple over time.

The same is true for my fiction. Just as The Baba Yaga Mask is held together by the thread of a folktale, there are countless famous stories humanity has held onto over time—and so many of these tales have lingering impacts. (As a teaser, I share so many of them weekly on Instagram!) I cannot wait to share future work that explores even more via my own creative twists.

What are you working on now?

I was shocked to realize how little known the Eastern European folktale witch, Baba Yaga, was to many readers. I guess I wasn’t done with her, and she wasn’t done with me. While I have new fiction in the works, I will be returning to non-fiction for my fifth book.

Becoming Baba Yaga: The Eastern European Witch Colliding with Modernity is an examination of Baba Yaga’s history, her mysticism, her feminism, and how her stories have ripple effects and lessons to share in the present day. This new book is coming from Red Wheel / Weiser Books in the fall of 2024, and I can’t wait for it!

End of Interview:

For more from Kris Spisak vist her website and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Get your copy of The Baba Yaga Mask from Amazon US or Amazon UK.