Author Stephen Evans Jordan with audio book Narrator Larry Gorman

Author Stephen Evans Jordan with audio book Narrator Larry Gorman

It all began with history.

Thank you for visiting my website as I embark on my publishing debut with Tatiana and the Russian Wolves.

I’ve always been fascinated with Russian history, especially the Revolution’s futuristic promises that devolved into a sinister despotism lasting seventy years. The Revolution’s casualties are incalculable and include the many émigrés who fled Russia and fell into penury and despair, as did Tatiana’s family. Tatiana, Alexander Romanovsky’s mother, suffered from depression that became insanity (the Russian Wolves) and led to her suicide—leaving Alexander fragile and vulnerable. The primary story deals with Russian business intrigue, family origins, collaboration with the Nazis, and an unconventional relationship that provokes blackmail.

Today’s headlines have prompted a renewed interest in Russia; the back story’s characters, plot development, and themes are distinctly Russian. The fulcrum between the back and primary stories includes Tatiana’s secrets and Alexander’s attempts to unravel them.

Three friends from my college days committed suicide; I’m still dealing with the irresolvable sadness. Suicide can run in families as loved ones face the bewildering jumble of frustration, depression, guilt, and subliminal anger that can trigger self-loathing. Tatiana and the Russian Wolves deals with questions left behind in that agonizing aftermath.

I’m in my seventies. Septuagenarians making their literary debuts are quite rare; the exceptions are usually memoirs. Tatiana and the Russian Wolves is not a memoir, but rather a work of fiction.                            

© Chris Guillen Photography

© Chris Guillen Photography

About Stephen

Stephen Jordan’s fiction is often inspired by living and working overseas combined with a passion for history. He grew up in California’s Napa Valley in the 1950s in a family of readers—dinner-table conversations often centered on books. Of his parents’ gifts, the love of literature is his most cherished.

While at Stanford University, Stephen discovered art history and considered a career in the arts. But practicality prevailed, and he opted for business school and joined Bank of America’s International Department. Speaking good Spanish at the time, he was bewildered—but not entirely surprised—when he was assigned to the Asia Division and later transferred to Indonesia. His banking career involved assignments in Jakarta, Singapore, London, East Africa, and Chicago. He describes Chicago as the most dangerous and Singapore as the cleanest.

Despite his initial misgivings, Stephen found living in Asia fascinating, frustrating, and life-threatening at times. Inspired by Paul Theroux’s Asian collection, The Counsel’s File, Stephen has written a collection of short stories centered in Southeast Asia. “A Complete Overhaul” and “Raju” were published in 2014 in EastLit, the online journal promoting English literature on South and South East Asia. “Snake Charmed” was published in Gem Street: Collector’s Edition, a print-only anthology by Labello Press in Ireland; Stephen received Labello’s Excellence in Contemporary Narrative Award. He also won an award from Negative Capability for “Prince Charles and the Texans,” set in Singapore. He has been a regular contributor to Keystrokes, and selected works of the Oak Park Writers Group. His commentaries have appeared in the Chicago Daily Observer and the Western Neighborhoods Project (San Francisco).

Stephen enjoys French bistro cooking, long walks, and reading. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Elmhurst—just west of Chicago—with their cats Lucy and Muffin.