Author Bio
MJ Krause-Chivers is the historical fictional stream for Canadian Christian author Miranda J. Chivers.
As the grandchild of Mennonite refugees fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution in Russian Ukraine, the author grew up surrounded by poverty, trauma and story. After a career in social work and tourism, she returned to her childhood love of writing.
MJ’s recent fictional work Russian Mennonite Chronicles portrays characters from Mennonite heritage who struggle with mental health due to war trauma.
The author lives in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. She enjoys a quiet life of nature walks, reading, and historical fiction movies. She occasionally samples the local fine dining and organic wine of the Niagara region.
Book One: Katarina’s Dark Shadow: 1915-1917 The Early Years in Ukraine
1951: After WW2, Peter finds his adopted mother’s diaries from the Russian revolution in the rubble of their old apartment building in Munich. Seeking answers to Katarina’s mysterious disappearance in Ukraine during the second war, he starts transcribing the Cryllic and Gothic writing. But as Pandora's box of secrets is opened, more questions arise.
1915-1917: At fifteen, Katarina fights against the traditional Mennonite values of marriage and motherhood. But when the growing civil war in Russia creates political upheaval in southern Ukraine and her life is thrown into chaos by a rebel attack, she seeks safety at her wealthy sister’s estate. Undeterred by the lure of wealth and still resolute to follow her dream, she pursues her education and finds employment with a local newspaper. Here she learns about the national and regional crisis including the threats from the growing anarchist army and Lenin’s broader plans to destroy the German colonies.
As the solid foundations of faith and family begin to crumble, Katarina faces the ultimate choice that will determine her future.The decision to emigrate seems obvious. But things are not as easy as they seem. Leaving means abandoning her pregnant sister, Anna, who fears life without her husband.
Timing is everything.
Will Katarina stay and depend on her faith to face an unknown future? Or, will she abandon all hope and move to a foreign destination knowing that she can never return?
Is life a journey or a destination?
About the Series: Inspired by the harrowing tales of the author's ancestors, Russian Mennonite Chronicles portrays the courageous human struggle inside a distinct faith during violent political times. Like the book of Job in the Bible, the series examines the quest to understand why bad things happen to good people.
Katarina’s Dark Shadow is Book One of the planned five book series. It will particularly interest those with German-Prussian, Ukrainian, or Russian Mennonite ancestry.
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EXCERPT (from Chapter 12)
Katarina kicked at the dusty ruts and glanced over her shoulder at the
scullery maid trailing behind her. “Where’re you from, Kiva?”
“Me? I live in Petrovka with my husband,” the woman picked up the
pace and drew closer.
“Does he work at the factory?”
“Yes.”
The woman’s abrupt answers were annoying. Katarina’s attempts at
pleasant conversations were failing miserably. During the servant’s daily
interaction with Alyona, she was quick-witted and talkative. But Katarina
had never been alone with her before, at least not like this. She wracked her
brain for a good topic. The woman was a local. Perhaps she had insight into
the recent uprisings. “Do you know Makhno?”
“I know of him. Everyone does.”
“I heard he’s a trouble-maker.”
“He has ideas to free Ukraine from Russia.”
“I see. Are they good ideas?”
Kiva shrugged, “I don’t know.” The maid’s pace slowed as she shifted
the picnic basket to her other arm.
Katarina sensed more resistance. She changed subjects, “So ... what’s
it like in Petrovka? I’ve never been.”
Kiva snorted, “We live, we work, we sleep. Like everyone else.”
“Do you have roses in your gardens? I like roses, cornflowers, and
sunflowers. I’m sad when summer is over and they fade into nothing.”
“We don’t have time for such things. In our free time, we celebrate
with friends and families.”
Katarina frowned, “We do that, too. And we enjoy our gardens.”
“We don’t have servants to take care of our homes. We take care of
your homes, then we go home and take care of ours. You Germans think
everyone has servants.”
Katarina clenched her fists. She wanted to slap the maid’s face. Anna
would never tolerate such disrespect. However, discipline would only
increase the animosity and make for an uncomfortable afternoon. She
wanted to enjoy a peaceful walk and a blissful hour under the golden
autumn sun by the water. A dignified rebuttal would put the maid in her
place, “We’re Mennonites, not Germans.”
“It’s all the same to us.”
Katarina grimaced. There was obvious resentment in the cold tone.
Had she offended the maid? She’d always made an effort to get along with
the help, but it wasn’t working this time. She bit her lip. Maybe the woman
hadn’t slept well. That thin mattress under the kitchen table couldn’t be
very comfortable. Then again, not seeing one’s family for the better part of
the week would be tough for anyone.
Katarina wondered about the servant’s family. Where was Petrovka?
Would Anna be upset if she asked Olek to take her for a drive to see it? She
shook her head. That would invite gossip from the sewing circle.
Her father’s words flashed through her mind, “Don’t make friends
with them.” She squared her shoulders. As much as she wanted to be liked
by everyone, it wasn’t proper to defer to the servants. Friendship was not a
requirement of the job, but rudeness wasn’t tolerated. She’d report the
behavior to Anna later.
They traipsed past the grain bins and the machinery barns without
speaking further and took the left fork into the tree plantation, past the neat
airy lines of fruit trees, turned right by the walnut and chestnut groves, and
meandered into the deep, structured rows of coniferous and evergreen
trees.
…...
She pictured the snow drifting over the evergreens and considered the
seasonal change, then looked over her shoulder at the servant sauntering
three paces behind her, “Hey Kiva, do you celebrate Christmas?”
“Of course. In January, like all Orthodox.”
“Do you believe in Jesus, too?”
“Yes. We have the true religion.”
True? “You mean, Christian — like us?”
“No … I don’t know. The Orthodox church says they are the true
church. Started by Apostle Andrew.” Kiva shrugged, “I suppose we all
believe in the same God.”
Is it the same God? We think our church is the correct one, too. Can
both be right or is one wrong? That Russian leader wants to ban all religions.
Does she know anything about politics? “Lenin says there is no God.”
“Who? That communist leader? Oh. He can say what he wants. I don’t
care about his ideas.”
So, Kiva knew who Lenin was. And she knew Makhno. How educated
was the girl? Katarina probed, “He has many strange convictions. Do you
think he’ll change Russia?”
“Anything is better than what we have now. The people are tired of
being slaves to the Czar.”
Anything is better? Katarina wondered what was so bad about the
Czar. The Mennonites appreciated the strict values of the old guard and they
were aiding in the battle to restore old Russia. Was the system so unfair to
the locals?