{"product_id":"swan-out-of-water-9781881276371","title":"Swan Out of Water","description":"\u003cp\u003eEssentially, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSwan Out of Water\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a stand-alone sequel to my previous book, \u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eChildren in the City of Czars\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, in which Fedya, Elena, and Irina begin their odyssey in St. Petersburg, Russia. That story was dedicated to my adult daughter, Liliana, who was adopted from St. Petersburg at age 15, and experienced the challenges of a Russian orphanage. Both of my sons, now adults, were adopted from a Latvian orphanage at ages four and five. Latvia is my parents' home country and I am a first generation American. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead of continuing the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eChildren in the City of Czars\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e timeframe, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSwan Out of Water\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e takes place ten years later and exposes the impact of childhood trauma on a young teenager and the difficulty of assimilating into an American culture. Some of these issues I drew from my daughter's experiences here in the States. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy late husband, Mike Brown, and I have long held a passion for the plight of orphans and vulnerable children both in this country and abroad. Inevitably, we discovered many incidences of human trafficking among orphaned children. I am grateful for the many non-profits who work tirelessly to help these girls, boys, and women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSwan Out of Water\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, Annie Spencer thought she knew who she was.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when a buried secret surfaces, her entire world unravels. Adopted from Russia as a child, Annie discovers the shocking truth-her adoption was illegal, her birth records forged, and her true identity-Irina Lebedev-erased. Even more haunting? She may have siblings back in St. Petersburg who never stopped looking for her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesperate to uncover the past and reclaim the truth, Annie makes a reckless deal with a charming stranger named Maks, who promises to help her get to Russia. But Maks has his own agenda. And by the time Annie realizes she's been played, she's on a bus surrounded by armed guards-with no way out. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBrown, Irmgarde:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Irmgarde Brown is the author of Swan Out of Water, a stand-alone sequel to Children in the City of Czars. Her stories are shaped by lived experience: her daughter, adopted at 15 from St. Petersburg, endured the challenges of a Russian orphanage, and her two sons were adopted from Latvia, her parents' homeland.Set ten years later, Swan Out of Water explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the struggle to adapt to American life, themes drawn in part from her daughter's journey. Brown and her late husband, Mike, shared a lifelong commitment to supporting orphans and vulnerable children, a passion that deepened their awareness of human trafficking and the vital work of those who fight it.","brand":"Serey\/Jones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51777669595410,"sku":"9781881276371","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_50d1bf21-1a1d-4829-9189-9990ed2d5917.jpg?v=1765362822","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/swan-out-of-water-9781881276371","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}