Randomize ME

Sobornost: an adoption themed story about the limitless bonds of love.

I am the adoptive father of four children from Russia. I initially conceived of this story while contemplating what I would tell my children when they inevitably asked about their mothers. We weren’t given any information, so I researched the causes of child abandonment in Russia in order to construct some plausible scenario of what might have happened in my children’s cases.

From this research, I came upon the Russian concept of “sobornost” which is basically a kind of community whereby people maintain individuality yet work together in a community. The idea in practice is basically a family, but the scope of the idea is very broad in scope. The practice of true “sobornost” would result in a kind of universal family. The idea of universal family is very much present in any adoption story.

I think I resonate the strongest with Boris. He’s not a major character, but his story says everything about whether “sobornost” is possible or not.

Readers have also resonated strongly with Boris. He is definitely the most memorable character in the book.

I do have a day job, and my career has helped make me very disciplined about getting my writing time in each day.

Between working full-time, soccer games, gymnastics, school, and all the other demands of parenthood, writing time is scarce and therefore highly valued.

I’m currently researching for my next book which will be more of a fun story. I needed to work on something light because Sobornost, by the nature of the story, was very difficult to write. Many tears were shed during the course of writing that book.

My current project is all about laughter and mirth.

The Kite Runner, What Men Live By, or anything by Frederick Buechner