The Tempest

About the Book

In the fall of 1914 the German Armies were bearing down on Paris. The outcome seemed inevitable: the Germans would storm the capitol and France would surrender. But one morning a lone French pilot made an observation that turned the tide of the war. In a week the Germans were in disarray. In three weeks they were in retreat. Who was this man? What kind of man might he have been?

In Wings of Courage author Lee Kolesnikoff considers those questions in a compelling tale of heroism, compassion and dedication.

About the Author

Lee Kolesnikoff lives in Clifton Park, New York, with his wife and high school sweetheart Gena. The couple have two grown children, Joseph and Amanda, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and an Abyssinian cat. Lee was born in the Williamsburg Section of Brooklyn, New York. His father was a choirmaster at the Russian Greek Church of the Transfiguration. His mother, the daughter of a Russian priest, was educated and worked as a teacher. Lee attended Public School 17, Brooklyn Technical High School, and after graduating, received a vocal scholarship to Juilliard where he studied voice. Lee worked as a civil engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation while following his passion as a tenor soloist for twenty-five years. He is a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor. In addition to his Òday jobÓ and singing career, he also ran his own land surveying business during 1970s and 1980s. He holds a bachelors degree in General Science, Physics. If you asked him, Lee would say there was no single ÒepiphanyÓ that gave rise to his interest in writing or creative activities. Inspiration came from the Òeveryday peopleÓ around him who were dedicated to making life sweeter, not watching it pass them by. A Òpick-upÓ game of handball turned into a mentorship with a master player and role model, becoming the subject of one of LeeÕs short stories. So, too would a deli-owner in Brooklyn making him sandwiches to eat on the subway ride to Julliard influence his interest and approach to becoming an author. Or his own reactions to life in Brooklyn where he was the redheaded Russian kid in a neighborhood bordering on and competing with the Italian and Irish ones next to his. Find new things, new writings, new ideas, and better yet, create some of your own. Be Òin lifeÓ, and look for new writings from this Òeveryday manÓ.