It’s exciting to round out the 2024 Author Interview series with historical fiction author Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger. She says, “Writing strong women characters gives me a real kick, as does exploring cultural clashes, languages, and relationships.” She also enjoys “connecting with people and challenging myself and others to look from different perspectives.” And that’s what this series is about. Chrystyna is prolific, with many books under her belt, but her most recent is Swimming with Spies. Fellow historical fiction author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch wrote of the book, “A breathtaking read that asks, what would you risk to protect the ones you love?” It’s a question to ponder as we make our way into 2025.

Welcome, Chrystyna!

Christina: Swimming with Spies is a little different from your previous work, as the protagonist, Sofiya Oleksandrivna, is only 12 years old. What made you want to write about an adolescent? Did you encounter any challenges in your writing process due to the switch?

Chrystyna: Funnily enough, I’d always thought I’d write for children someday. Apparently it was in the stars. In 2022, when I was faced with yet another “What’s next?” question, I told myself I should do something in the direction of kids. Whether it was teaching storytelling at my son’s school, or creating a kid’s version of my grammar game, which I use to teach adults…it was supposed to be something. I think it was the very same day I had these thoughts that the email from Scholastic came, asking whether I’d be interested in hearing about a concept they have. Would I like to write it? Sofiya was born the next day. I was currently in various stages of a WW2 trilogy, so I had to leave my normal work environment. I went to a busy and loud bar, sat down with a notepad, and just started writing in the “I” form. I never really looked at those notes again. I hammered out the plot and the first three chapters, revised, and six months later, signed the contract. But by then, I was completely in love with Sofiya. Writing her was a dream. Her voice was clear and strong and true.

Christina: The story is “based on the true events of the 2014 annexation of Crimea.” What about those events compelled you to write the story? Did anything surprising arise in your research?

Chrystyna: Scholastic suggested that I set it in Sevastopol. Since February 24, 2022, I was following every single bit of news about Ukraine under Russia’s attack. I was getting a good feel about the voices and the culture. I’m a Ukrainian-American, but that doesn’t make me a modern day Ukrainian. I read newspaper articles, and reports, and first-person accounts of those events in 2014, and picked up the voice, the cadence, the concerns, the fears, the anger, the disparities from those and built them into Sofiya’s world. The political history and events did not surprise me. I think the most surprising research, however, was learning about the dolphins and their roles in the military.

Christina: It’s December 2024, and here we are, still with conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As the descendent of Ukrainian immigrants, would you share your thoughts with us about this seemingly ever-present issue?

Chrystyna: This is a really, really, really deep question. I think I can best answer it this way: since my birth, my entire Ukrainian diaspora, the community of Ukrainian immigrants, instilled in us first-gen Americans the absolute NECESSITY to understand our heritage, to speak our language, to read it, to write it, to practice the traditions, and our religions. All my life, I have defended being of Ukrainian descent, not Russian. All my life, I have had to correct assumptions that the two were one and the same. They are not. They are not. And I think most non-Ukrainian people are—with this war—FINALLY beginning to understand that.

Christina: On your blog you once wrote, “I burn to tell the histories I discover beneath the surface of the places to which I have traveled.” When did this burning begin? What draws you to telling histories in particular?

Chrystyna: This burning began when I started going abroad on my own, but when I saw the church tower sticking out of the surface of the Reschen Lake Reservoir in South Tyrol—the northern-most province of Italy—I had to know a.) why it was there and b.) why were German-speaking people considered Italians. What I discovered turned into a five-book series, and I can honestly say that my Ukrainian background and experiences are exactly that which made me burn to tell the Tyrolean story. Because just like Russia swallowed up Ukraine for some fifty years, Italy attempted to swallow up the former Austrian province and its people. But the Tyroleans fought. They fought tooth and nail, and they won. Kind of. South Tyrol at least regained its autonomy. I felt connected to their story.

Christina: Your books “tackle David-vs.-Goliath themes with strong women battling for the Underdogs against a system, be it political, geographical, or industrial. Sometimes all three.” Which of the three—political, geographical, or industrial—is easiest to write about? Easiest to research? Holds the most interest for you? Have you considered writing about other conflicts that might arise?

Chrystyna: I don’t know when it happened exactly—maybe the moment Al Gore supposedly lost the election in Florida—but I’ve turned into a political junkie. Though these days, I think the term is doom scroller. I love writing about resistance; my protagonists are always faced with a moral dilemma and have to figure out how they’re going to overcome their greatest fears to do what’s right. All my life I’ve most enjoyed those stories about normal people facing adverse conditions; having to ask themselves, do I have the courage to do what I know is right or not? Usually they do. But I’ve had reviewers complain that my protagonist was naïve in the beginning; was weak; was whiny… I don’t normally respond to these comments, but I’m going to ask this now: “Which hero story have you ever heard where the protagonist is just “all there” and “all clear” from the start; a hero who never asks himself whether he’s really going to jump from the top of this building or not?” Never! It’s NEVER happened. EVERY story has a hero who has to debate and fight with himself or herself, make mistakes along the way, and then learn from those mistakes. That’s life, man! And I really try to write from as realistic a standpoint as possible; not Hollywood style, but from real life.

Christina: In your initial email to me you said that the “goal here is to be a voice for those who can no longer speak.” Many folks will never publish a book as a means to do that. What can the community do to help with that same mission?

Chrystyna: Listen. Ask thoughtful questions. And then advocate for them. Just be there for people. Teach your children that different is not bad; different is an opportunity to learn about the broader world. I want kids to grow up with empathy for one another and our planet; I want them to listen to each other, to be curious, considerate, and confident.

Christina: As you wrote about in a blog post, “Our superficial assumptions, our misconceptions, our prejudices come from cookie-cutter retellings,” and you “aim to dissolve the ignorance through an entertaining but accurately depicted story.” In your opinion, are we getting better or worse at accurately depicting history? What impact do you think social media plays? Do you have any concerns going into 2025?

Chrystyna: I recently read an article about an author who was complaining about having his book “revised” to fit readers’ appetites today. He writes historical fiction too. And he also questioned this. Why would you change something that historically reflected a history only to make it more modern? To suit the reader’s sensibilities? And still from a perspective from the time that the book was originally written in; because when we write these books also reflects what is going on right now. It’s why we’re driven to write historical fiction, I believe. The mirroring aspect. Changing that original work makes the whole work inauthentic. I understand that publishers want to sell books, but I think that by rewriting history in order to better suit a particular assumption or audience is a huge disservice. I’m not as much concerned about the voices whose stories I tell as I am to dispense knowledge and fodder for the soul and brain. I’m not going to get into social media, but my concerns for 2025? I’m concerned about deadlines again and working to contract. I’ve enjoyed a hiatus from the stress of producing and creating, but I am positively thrilled about my next book. It’s going to be a bit more risqué than any of my works. More than that, I don’t want to speculate about because anyone can feel the doom just scrolling through their own social media feeds.

Christina: Your website says that you “buzz around the area as a business communications trainer.” For those who might not know what that means, can you explain what you do? How does that experience inform your writing?

Chrystyna: When I moved to Europe, I started out teaching English in businesses, but my love for psychology, communication, and not just what you say, but how you formulate things, as well as cultural studies eventually transformed me into a business communications trainer and coach. I help people to better structure their messages for clearer communication, more impact, and more confidence in handling stressful business situations. Internally and externally. I love it, but it is becoming my hobby and my writing is my business now; it was my goal ten years ago to turn those tables, and I can honestly say I have achieved that now.

Christina: We have to talk about your pets because readers love to know about them. You have at least a cat and a dog. What are their names? How long have you had them? And information is wholly appreciated!

Chrystyna: Our furballs are fantastic. I have two sister cats—Chloe and Anaïs, whom we call Joey and Comanche, as well. Long stories around those nicknames but believe me, they really suit them. We live in the mountains in the woods, so they are half-wild, but love their people. They’re three now. Nebbiolo is our nearly-11-year-old Italian rescue. He’s a lover, a terrier mix, and the most loyal, sweetest character. He’s the kind of dog your kids can learn to love dogs from, you know what I mean? He’s never done anyone any harm – we live with lots of wild animals around us, livestock, chickens, rabbits, etc. He’s curious, but gentle, and always, always begging for food. It drives us all nuts. But he’s Italian; so love through the stomach and all that. We also have random mice that Chloe brings in and lets loose into the house. I’d like to tell you it’s out of concern for their warmth and nutrition through the winter, but I can’t. I’ve tried all kinds of toys with her, but nothing beats terrorizing live mice.

Christina: What’s next for you?

Chrystyna: My editor and I at Scholastic are really excited about a new concept we cooked up. It takes place in Ukraine as well and I’m already thoroughly in love with the story. It’s got animals again, and I have already reached out to the real-life people I plan to write about. In the meantime, though, I’m writing a contemporary family drama, and have a long-time historical fiction for adults project in my head that is brewing, brewing, brewing. My stepdaughter and I are also working on a play. I’m definitely not bored!

Chrystyna can be found in multiple places!
Website: https://inktreks.com/
Goodreads: @ckalyna
Instagram: @ckalyna
Facebook: @inktreks
BookBub: @chrystyna-lucyk-berger

Thanks to Chrystyna for agreeing to this interview! If you know of an author or artist who’d like to be featured in an interview (or you would like to be featured), feel free to leave a comment or email me via my contact page.