Chapter Break with Karol Lagodzki

Bio: Karol Lagodzki, a native of Poland, is an English-language author of fiction. His stories have appeared in numerous journals, and he has won Panel Magazine’s Ruritania Prize for Short Fiction. Controlled Conversations is his debut novel.

He holds an MFA in creative writing and buys more books than he can read or afford. Karol’s non-writing careers have ranged from fixing stucco while dangling from roofs to developing medical devices for the critically ill.

Karol lives halfway down a Southern Indiana ravine with his wonderful, unconventional family, a scurry of squirrels, a passel of possums, a gaze of raccoons, a descent of woodpeckers, and a large dog.

Synopsis: In 1982 Soviet-controlled Poland—a time and place of suspicion and mistrust—when geopolitical forces and violent men descend upon her little town of Zygmuntowo, Emilia must decide if she’s willing to risk prison or worse for self-respect and for her unexpected lover. 

The only daughter of a local Communist Party apparatchik, Emilia has enjoyed a sheltered life, but with the advent of martial law, her mother’s influence can no longer shield her. She faces choices she never expected to make when she discovers her best friend’s and lover’s involvement with the resistance. With new allies and enemies in town, the time to choose a side is now.

Links & Events:
Website: klagodzki.com 

• August 29, 7 PM EST, Tomorrow Bookstore, Indianapolis, IN: a book release celebration, including a reading followed by a Q&A and a signing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-release-karol-lagodzkis-controlled-conversations-tickets-906243277037 
• September 7, 1 PM CST, Rubber Rose Books and Print in Kankakee, IL: a reading, discussion, and signing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-event-karol-lagodzki-tickets-995660867457
• September 20, 6:30 PM EST, Second Flight Books, Lafayette, IN: a discussion and signing; in conversation with the author, Agata Brewer. https://main-street-books.com/events
• September 28, 2 PM EST, Indy Reads, Indianapolis, IN: a reading, discussion, and signing. The event benefits the Indy Reads literacy not-for-profit and is part of their Banned Books Week programming. https://indyreads.org/event/author-reading-karol-lagodzki/
• October 18-19. Louisville Book Festival, Louisville, KY. Time slot TBD (an update will be provided on the author’s website, klagodzki.com). https://www.louisvillebookfestival.com/
• October 28, 6 PM EST, Busboys and Poets Takoma, Washington, DC. A book discussion with Lee Feinstein, a former US Ambassador to Poland, followed by a book signing. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/controlled-conversations-a-busboys-and-poets-books-presentation-tickets-978855823117
• November 2, all day. Kentucky Book Festival, Lexington, KY. https://kybookfestival.org/2024-2/