Yaga M. Staretz — known around Chestnut Hill as Yaga Brady — intentionally chose to publish her debut novel under her maiden name. But Staretz’s decision to reach back to her origins is not the only surprising aspect of this story. For decades, she was the director of more than 40 productions at The Stagecrafters Theater. Now it’s her time to be in the spotlight.

The book, called “I Was a Willow,” a multigenerational tale about memory, identity, and survival, is set in war-torn Eastern Europe.

“[Staretz] is my name and how I started my life,” she said. “A person named Brady would not have known what all of these things are about. Brady just doesn’t go with the whole story of the Second World War and postwar era in Poland.”

Her shift to becoming a novelist might seem unexpected, but Staretz explained the progression was natural. “I’ve been writing in my head and on little pieces of paper, short stories and novellas, since I was a child,” she said. “Writing benefited my skills as a director.”

A long-term passion project

Staretz grew up in Warsaw, Poland, and first came to the United States as an exchange student through the University of Warsaw and Stanford University. Although she initially planned to return to Poland, she met her future husband, Steve Brady, at Stanford and decided to stay.

Staretz’s theater resume is extensive. She’s served as a director, producer, and even a general designer for Stagecrafters. She was a longtime member of the theater’s board of directors.

Staretz has been developing “I Was a Willow” since the 1980s. She said this long-term passion project required significant effort and discipline. “The easiest part is always writing. The most difficult part is disciplining yourself to work on it at a prescribed time and to keep to that schedule .…[Writing] is like a job. You have to focus on it. It can take decades to write something if you don’t do it every day.”

Last fall, Staretz began working with local writer Mary Ann Domanska as her editor.

“Having worked closely with Yaga on this project, I’ve seen how her sharp eye as a director translates beautifully to the page,” said Domanska, a teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. “‘I Was a Willow’ is not only historically resonant but deeply personal.”

A story based in reality

According to Staretz, “I Was a Willow” is “in some sense, historical fiction.” The settings and characters are invented, but the backdrop of the turbulent aftermath following the war is based in reality. Not only did Staretz draw from her experiences in Europe, but also the modern political climate.

“[There are] similarities between things that are happening now in this country and things that happened in Poland right after the war when Russia tried to take over during Stalin’s time,” Staretz said.

The book is told through the lens of Adam Czulartian, who lives in a secluded retreat on the outskirts of a capital city under the care of monastic brothers. He spends his days making masks in his private workshop and documenting his reflections on the past.

Another key character in the narrative is Adam’s niece, Nusia, whose childhood was tumultuous. Nusia and her family fled their home in Eastern Europe after bombings and betrayals. The poignant story touches on themes of historical trauma and the ways in which people mask their true selves — both figuratively and literally.

Resilience and history

The characters in “I Was a Willow” face many hardships amid political upheaval and sudden changes in fortune. Staretz was inspired by real people she knew.

“The politics were very ugly and lots of very terrible things happened, and my characters were touched by these things,” Staretz said. “During the war and after the war, they have to create, they have to cling to their faith about the future. Afterward, things changed in ways they never thought they would.”

Unlike some stories, “I Was a Willow,” much like life, is not intended to teach a neat moral lesson; it deals with ambiguity as well.

“It’s not that kind of book — like if you are good, you will be rewarded,” Staretz said.

Instead, Staretz’s hope is that readers come away with a deeper understanding of resilience and history after immersing themselves in the lives of her characters.

Yaga M. Staretz will discuss “I Was a Willow” at booked., 8511 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill, Sept. 27, 2-3 p.m. For more information, contact 267-900-2999 or hello@bookedch.com.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.