David Chernushenko knew little of his roots in Ukraine until he received a document from his Aunt Raya in 2021. She had completed a family memoir and was sharing the results. He was immediately hooked—and convinced this extraordinary story should be shared.

Then Russian forces launched a full-scale war on Ukraine. David was surprised by how viscerally it affected him. Though this was the native land of his father and aunt’s family, he had never visited and didn’t even speak the language.

Like many people, he was upset by Russia’s assault, but why was he so upset?

To understand demanded a deep dive; not just into his Ukrainian origins but a retracing of his life’s journey across six momentous decades, as a globe-trotting diplomatic child, ambitious journalist, environmental activist, self-taught filmmaker and novelist and accidental politician.

What emerged was a remarkable tale that is equally a family journey, personal voyage and universal story.

Join us Sunday, June 7th at 2:00pm to hear David read from this genre-bending book. Doors open at 1:30pm.