A London-based author with a Ukrainian grandpa, a Siberian grandma, and a Belarusian dad—basically, my family tree looks like the cast list of a very complicated historical drama.
Back in school, my Literature teacher told me I’d never become “the next Dostoevsky.” Honestly, that was fine—I never dreamed of being Fyodor Mikhailovich anyway. My secret ambition? To be a little more like Stephen King (minus the haunted hotels, hopefully).
My books tend to wander between genres, but there are a few things you can always count on: a pinch of horror, a dash of romance, and a healthy scoop of folklore and history.
I wrote my first detective stories in school—handwritten, stapled together, and passed around like contraband. Later, I flirted with histo
Stuart’s story ideas come from his vivid imagination, but his inspiration draws from world travel and fascinating careers: from US military medic to hairstylist, then Washington D.C. Police officer to NYC photographer.
Later, he converted a chicken coop in the woods into a live-in studio and taught himself metal sculpture. That rudimentary craft expanded into the fine arts. Sculptures in bronze and fiberglass led to shows in the US, England, and Thailand.
Stuart’s passion for all arts segued into: costume design (top 100 designers in the book, Fashion: 2001); modeling agency art director; fashion show designer; water feature designer, computer illustrator, and a top sculptor for special effects, sets and props in the entertainment industry wi
