Left Bank Books, in downtown Belfast, invites the public to a free talk on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m., by Maine writer Robert Klose who will tell behind-the-scenes stories of his two books about adopting young boys from Russia and Ukraine: Adopting Alyosha: A Single Man Finds a Son in Russia and Adopting Anton: A Single Man Seeks a Son in Ukraine.

At age thirty-nine, Klose, a faculty member at the University of Maine, Orono, began a three-year journey through a labyrinth of adoption agencies in the U.S. and abroad, most of whom were unsure how to respond to a single man’s application, according to a Left Bank Books news release.

"Happenstance finally led him to Russia, where he found the child of his dreams in a Moscow orphanage—a climax that reads like a thriller," said the release.

Seven years later, Klose and his Russian-born son jointly decided they wanted to add another member to their family. Thus began a second odyssey through the international adoption network, which ended with the adoption of Anton in Ukraine.

Both of Klose’s memoirs have received widespread praise:

Klose teaches Biological Sciences at UMaine in the Honors College. He is a regular contributor of essays to The Christian Science Monitor, and his work has also appeared in Newsweek, The Boston Globe, and various literary magazines. Adopting Anton was a finalist in the Maine Literary Awards.

Reservations for the free event are strongly recommended as seating is limited. To reserve, call Left Bank Books at 207-338-9009, or email: info@leftbankbookshop.com. Ample free parking is available in front of the shop and in an adjacent city lot.