by Elena S. Smith (Author)

Why Birches Are White reveals the power of a glance, a touch, and a kiss to change profoundly the orderly, predictable lives of an American man and a Russian woman. It is a love story written on two different canvasses: a realistic, insightful black and white portrayal of contemporary Russian life and a bright, fresh impressionist reaction to America's past and present. In the summer of 1987, average Americans and Russians walked from Leningrad to Moscow for Peace. This fictional romance based on a true story is about just one of the amazing consequences of the Walk. Two of the walkers' discovery that they were 'kindred spirits' proved the foundation for a friendship that endured in spite of cultural, political, and geographic differences. Their courageous willingness to eventually admit they loved each other is set against a backdrop of doubt, hardship, and sacrifice. Unexplainable forces and a host of personal Angles dramatically bring them together again and again.

Author Biography

I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. I moved to the U.S. in 1993 and became an American citizen in 1995. I have a Ph. D. in English linguistics. I teach English at Washington State University.

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