NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Monday, March 10th, 2014 Edmonton Raised Author to Unveil New Family Memoir A Promise Kept: A Tribute to a Mother’s Love is the title to a new book to be unveiled by Edmonton-raised author Andriy J. Semotiuk at a book launch to take place on Friday, March 28th, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Ukrainian Youth Unity Centre, 9615 – 153 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta. The evening will be hosted by the Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta and also supported by the Ukrainian Resource and Development Center at Grant MacEwan University. The book is a family memoir focused on the life story of Salomea Drozdowska, the author’s mother, who was born in Western Ukraine and grew up under pre-World War II Poland. The book describes how, after losing her hearing as a young child, the author’s mother becomes a silent witness to the atrocities of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. Then, after surviving the war years, she flees through Western Europe just ahead of the invading Soviet Red Army to become one of the first refugees to Canada in 1948. Just when her life appears to settle, unexpected hardships greet her on the farms of Alberta ultimately driving her to Edmonton where she gives birth to a son. The story continues from there to describe how she and her Los Angeles-resident sister raise the author in North America. A Promise Kept touches on some important themes, including: pioneer Canadian history, Edmonton community life, genealogy, the search for birth parents, single mothers, orphans, adoptions, the deaf, issues of faith, care giving for the elderly, the immigrant experience, and matters touching Eastern Europe and particularly Ukraine. Mr. Semotiuk, who grew up in Edmonton and practiced law in the city for some 30 years, is now a Toronto immigration lawyer. A former United Nations correspondent stationed in New York, Mr. Semotiuk wrote on immigration and human rights themes for Southam News Service as well as other North American newspapers. This is Mr. Semotiuk’s second book. His first book entitled The Young Professional, was published last year by Cengage Publishers of Boston, Massachusetts. Following the reading the author will be available to talk to people and autograph copies of the book. For more information please contact Ann Semotiuk at 416-233-9200, or email Ann.Semotiuk@gmail. Or call Jars Balan of the Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta at (780) 492-3765 or Roman Petryshyn of URDC at (780) 497-4375.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:33:10 +0000
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