I was born and raised in Wrocław, Poland. English is my second language although, thanks to my wonderful and far-sighted mother, I began learning it in early childhood.
In Poland I was an academic, teaching in the English Department of the University of Wrocław. In the summer of 1981, on the eve of Solidarity crisis I received a scholarship to McGill University from where I graduated with a PhD in literature in 1988.
In 1984-86 I worked for Radio Canada International, the Polish Section, in Montreal, writing and producing radio programs about Canada. In 1988 I joined the faculty of Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario) where I taught English and humanities courses until 2007.
It is in Canada that I became a writer. My first short story, “Marble Heroes,” was published by the Antigonish Review in 1994, and my debut novel, Necessary Lies in 2000.
Recognition
Necessary Lies , won the Amazon.com/Books in CanadaFirst Novel Award in 2000.
The Winter Palace (2012) and Empress of the Night (2014), have been bestsellers in Canada, Poland and Germany.
The Chosen Maiden (2017) has been a Canadian bestseller.
The Winter Palace has been included in:
Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction 2012
The Washington Post 50 notable works of fiction
Polish Language Site