About
My full name is Maria Igorevna Kuroshchepova and I am a Russian-Ukrainian immigrant who came to the United States as an impressionable 19-year old exchange student.
An engineer by education, an analyst by trade, as well as a writer, translator, photographer, artist and amateur model, I weave narratives of life, love, loss and learning.
Description
<p>When Jessica Bryant pesters her wealthy parents to allow her to have a dog as a pet, the answer is a resounding "No"; but they soon come to regret their decision when thier home is broken into one evening whilst they are out and their daughter kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers, in the form of four seedy and incompetent characters wearing Disneyland-type masks, take her hostage and keep her incarcerated in a place from which there appears to be no escape. However, they reckon without the resourcefulness of our heroine, and the courage of a wonderful stray dog who comes to her aid and whom she names 'Murdo'. And so begins an exciting and humurous accounting of the couples' adventures together as they consistently foil and outwit the abductors whilst on the run together.<br /> This is a lovely story of the friendship between a girl and a dog, bringing out themes of responsibility, camaraderie, redemption, salvation and self-sacrifice. It includes some wonderful dialogue sequences as Jessica teaches her new four-legged friend how to communicate with her, with additional delightful conversations between the animals when a rabbit and a sparrow join forces with them in an effort to outwit the kidnappers and restore Jessica safely back to her parents' home. </p>
Reviews
Pfoxmoor Publishing, "This is exactly what a travel book should be: intelligent, insightful, entertaining, and a wonderful resource for travelers desiring a more
authentic experience than the usual pre-packaged offerings can provide.
When (not if) I visit Paris, this guide will have pride of place in my
carryon."<br /><br />Bill Kirton, author, <em>The Sparrow Conundrum</em> "A very refreshing look at a wonderful city from a transatlantic
perspective. (Mind you, it probably helped that it confirmed all my own
feelings for the place.) Not being a shopper, I'll take Maria's word for
the places to go, and her perceptions of what's on offer did seem very
acute and accurate.<br /><br />
"Best of all, her advice about what to see, how to move around the city
and what to expect from Parisians themselves helps to explode the myths
and negative impressions that are peddled by people who have somehow let
the magic pass them by, or perhaps who want their pleasures cling-film
wrapped and customized.<br /><br />
"I hope it encourages more visitors from the USA to come over, let its
<em>joie de vivre</em> and relaxation charm them and absorb the romance of just
wandering its boulevards."<br /><br />John Booth, author, <em>Wizards</em>, "This is an excellent and amusing read on what the non-western european
should do when visiting Paris. Aimed at the American reader it contains
excellent advice on where to go, what to see, how to treat the locals
and how they'll find you.<br /><br />
"The observations are acute and witty, the advice on what to take clever.
I can't say much about the fashion tips as that goes over my head.
There are clothes that clash?<br /><br />
"A good read and if you are thinking of visiting France in the near future I think you should read it."