A Grain of Hope by Melissa Cole
Ukraine, 1932. Thirteen-year-old Oksana Kovalenko lives a picturesque life with her family in a small farming village. She spends her days attending school, playing with her best friend, and helping her parents and older brother ensure a healthy harvest on the land they’ve held for generations. Little does she know dark times loom just on the horizon.
Melissa Cole’s riveting debut historical novel, A Grain of Hope, takes an up close and personal look at a seldom discussed piece of history — the Holodomor, also known as the Ukrainian Famine. Over 2 years, millions of Ukrainians died at the hands of the Soviets and their man-made famine. In our full review, we reveal how the author weaves a tale of one young girl’s strength, faith and resilience in the face of cruel uncertainty. And in this exclusive interview, Cole tells all about the journey to creating this incredible story of hope.
Q: What first inspired you to write A Grain of Hope?
A: I’ve long been familiar with the dark chapters of the Bolshevik Revolution and the harrowing tragedy of the Holodomor in Ukraine under Stalin’s regime — two monumental events that have been largely overlooked in mainstream history education. Feeling compelled to bring these stories to light, especially for younger audiences, I decided to craft a Young Adult novel. The recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine underscored the unsettling echoes of history repeating itself, making it clear that now was the crucial time to bring my project to fruition. My goal is to illuminate these past horrors through a narrative that educates and engages, providing young readers with a poignant connection to the significant, yet often unspoken, episodes of history.
Q: Tell us about your main character, Oksana Kovalenko. What kind of emotional journey does she go on throughout the narrative?
A: Oksana’s emotional odyssey is marked by deep valleys of sadness and despair, yet it is punctuated by peaks of resilient hope even in the face of relentless tyranny. As a young teenager, she confronts an avalanche of loss that abruptly thrusts her into the realm of adult responsibilities far sooner than she should have ever known. Over the span of just a few harrowing years, she is shaped by the brutal hands of tragedy, molding her from a carefree child into a steadfast survivor. Amidst this turbulent transformation, Oksana clings to a fragile thread of faith and hope. This inner strength becomes her beacon, guiding her through the darkest times and helping her to not only endure but also find a sense of purpose and the will to forge ahead. Her journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit to persist and adapt in even the most dire circumstances.
Q: Researching the Holodomor cannot have been easy, but it was certainly necessary for this book. How did you go about gathering information for your story?
A: As I delved into the harrowing history of the Holodomor, reading numerous survivor accounts enriched my understanding with vivid, firsthand perspectives. I also engaged directly with several Ukrainian survivors, whose stories added depth to the historical narrative.
My research, spanning several years, included a wide range of non-fiction works about the Holodomor, the Bolshevik Revolution, the Gulag labor camps and Stalin’s mass deportations. These accounts provided a comprehensive view of systemic oppression and resilience.
Additionally, resources like the Holodomor Research Museum in Canada and the Holodomor Museum in Ukraine were invaluable. Their extensive archival materials and exhibits enhanced my understanding and ensured accuracy in portraying these complex events.
Q: Your author bio mentions how a near-death experience gave you a unique perspective to her storytelling that you bring to your work. Could you tell us about how this experience influenced your writing?
A: Enduring a near-death experience and the prolonged challenge of weakened health profoundly reshaped my perspective. This ordeal pushed me to lean on my faith and nurture a steadfast hope despite the encompassing hardship. Through this deeply personal journey, I found the inspiration to authentically depict Oksana, her neighbors, and her family in my writing.
Drawing from my experiences, I infused these characters with a genuine sense of faith and hope that mirrored my own. This added depth to their personalities and allowed them to resonate more profoundly with readers, illustrating how individuals might cling to hope and faith to navigate life’s storms. Through Oksana and her community, I portrayed the power of these virtues in fostering resilience and courage amidst adversity.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from A Grain of Hope?
A: I hope readers will understand this historical tragedy through Oksana, gaining insights into the profound impact of tyranny on communities. By following her story, readers can observe the mechanisms of oppression and their societal effects. I believe understanding how tyranny has manifested throughout history is crucial in preventing its recurrence.
My aim for this novel is to connect past and present, illustrating not only the personal costs but also the societal implications of authoritarian rule. Through Oksana’s experiences, readers can learn about resilience and the importance of awareness in combating oppression. Ultimately, I hope this story inspires people to recognize historical patterns and work towards ensuring that such dark chapters do not repeat themselves.
Q: Is there another writing project on your list?
A: I am currently in the editing phase of my historical fiction novel, Chains of Fates. Set in eighteenth-century London, it follows Thomas, a street urchin abducted and shipped to colonial America. There, he becomes an indentured servant on a Virginia tobacco plantation.
As he matures, Thomas is swept into the American Revolutionary War, joining the fight against Britain. The novel explores themes of injustice, forced servitude, and the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and dignity.
Chains of Fates vividly depicts the harsh realities of colonial America and the turbulent onset of independence, emphasizing the deep impacts of hardship and endurance. It is slated for release this November.
About Melissa Cole:
Melissa Cole is a writer renowned for her deep commitment to historical research. Inspired by the forgotten victims of the Ukrainian famine known as the Holodomor, her debut historical fiction title, ‘A Grain of Hope,’ captivates readers with its poignant portrayal of human suffering and resilience.
As a survivor of a life-altering heart attack in 2018, she brings a unique perspective to her storytelling, infusing her work with resilience, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to providing her readers with tales of survival.
Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Florida, Cole’s 25-year career has seen her excel as a writer and editor at international advertising firms and textbook publishing companies. Additionally, she has made her mark in the publishing world by launching her own family-focused magazine.
Beyond her literary achievements, she is a passionate advocate for animal welfare, dedicating her time and energy to tirelessly championing the rights of animals in need. When she’s not immersed in writing or spending cherished moments with her family, she can often be found indulging in her other passions, including reading, plant-based cooking and baking, as well as caring for her rescue cats.
Melissa Cole currently resides in Florida, USA, with her husband, children, and beloved feline companions.
