When I arrived to Kiev in October 1991, I was shell-shocked. It was a world far removed from Washington D.C. where I worked as a junior associate a huge law firm. That's when I began taking my first notes about real life which was happening at the time. Racketeers? Like everyone else, I was worried when they showed up at my doorstep. And, like everyone else, I went to look for my own protection against thouse thugs. That exciting period of mid-90's made quite an impression on me, a young American lawyer, so I wrote down everything I saw without having to embellish much. Perhaps that's why my new novel, The Steel Barons, rings true with veterans of the Kiev business community.

          The novel is about corruption, a business practice that pre-dates Jesus Christ himself. Having worked in Kiev for 15 years, I was fortunate to live through a time of unique business opportunities, when Ukraine's economic revolution made overnight billionaries out of well-connected individuals. The saying in those days was, "so long as there is bribery , you can on justice." Unfortunately, things did not change much after the Orange Revolution. To get to the root of evil, we have to understand its full extent. The Steel Barons describes the lives of ordinary people and systematic corruption thay face on nearly every level. Those who are unable to "wheel-and-deal" in the semi-criminal world simply end up collecting empty beer bottles in Shevchenko park. Per my grandmother's advice, I changed all the names, but the essence of my sad story remains true.

          If you wish to join a discussion about the various issues raised in The Steel Barons please visit my chat room by clicking onto your say . I am truly looking forward to hearing your opinions and sharing your experiences, both good and bad.