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Hi {{first_name | friend}},
This week feels especially significant. A Polish Girl in Siberia is finally out in the world, and in just a few days, we’ll gather in Austin to celebrate its launch.
Moving from Big Tech into storytelling and entrepreneurship has been a profound pivot. Over the past year, I’ve spent time unlearning parts of a previous life while learning entirely new ones.
One of those lessons has been discovering just how complex the book industry really is. Writing the book is only the beginning. The publishing process itself typically takes 12–18 months and moves through many stages: editing, copyediting, proofreading, fact-checking, marketing, distribution, publication (when the book becomes available for purchase), and finally the launch.
A book launch is essentially a moment for an author to honor the completion of that long journey. Some celebrate quietly with intimate gatherings; others open the moment to the public.
My babcia’s story is deeply personal. But it is also shared by many overlapping communities. In a time shaped by the war in Ukraine, repeating patterns of history, and the erosion of many humanities and ethnic studies programs across universities, I felt called to make this launch a public community gathering.
In many ways, storytellers are increasingly becoming the keepers of historical memory - not to keep us trapped in the past, but to help deepen our shared humanity. In doing so, I believe this helps evolve us as a human race. My dream is that we evolve to a point where we never see war again, and if you share that dream with me, then I invite you to come celebrate with us this week ❤
Join Me in Austin
The Book Launch, in Person
April 10 | Book People @ 7pm
I’ll be at BookPeople this week, in conversation with Dr. Rachel Merrill Moss, followed by a signing.
It feels truly meaningful to mark this moment in a room together with the Austin Polish Society and DotDotDotConnect. Not just as a book, but as a shared community story being spoken, heard, and shared during similarly turbulent times. If you’re in Austin, I would love to see you there.
Have You Read the Book? Leave a Review!
A Moment of Gratitude
I also want to take a moment to thank Anne Ahola Ward & Emily Olman for sharing and supporting this work on YouTube.
There’s something powerful about this story reaching beyond my own voice into new spaces and conversations led by badass women. I’m really grateful for that.
In the Press
Over the last few weeks, the book has been featured in a few places, which feels surreal. It’s powerful to see this story land and resonate in different spaces.
My Latest Substack
Wars Are Not Illusions
The consequences of war have a real, lasting impact on human beings.
Denying the sanctity behind the human being and the messy human experience is the illusion that starts wars in the first place.
If you already got your copy of the book, thank you. If you’re planning to, I’m glad it’s finding its way to you.
Isabella ‘Iza’ Skrypczak
Published Author & Healer
Soulful healing practices combining energetic and somatic methods to reconnect with your truth and inner peace.
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