Ruth Zernova was an author of many short stories and several novels. Her writing career started in the former Soviet Union, where she published her first short story 'Skorpionovy Yagody', which appeared in the early 60's. This first publication signified the end of a long and hard journey through two wars, marriage, two children and imprisonment, but also some good times during Khrushchev's 'Thaw'. It also signified the beginning of a fruitful writing career.