An author from Hay-on-Wye has collaborated with a designer in Ukraine on the creation of her book, ‘My Mother and the Curate’.

Mykyta Panichevykh, a designer living in Ukraine, designed the book’s covers while drones were striking and many flats in Kyiv had no heating.

The book was written by author Bridget Ashton.

Bridget, who grew up in Hay-on-Wye, has written many books. Her latest explores two diaries of life in the town: one from 1953 by her mother, Mrs Eileen Ashton, and one from 1870 by Revd Francis Kilvert.

After a few weeks of waiting, Mykyta received a copy of the book which Bridget had sent from her home. Upon arrival, Mykyta emailed Bridget a message of thanks. He said: “I finally received the book. It looks even better than I expected. On screen, everything looks not as good as the real thing. I'm happy that I worked on it and now can hold the result of my work in my hands.

“Thank you very much for it, for the job and that you sent me this book. I didn't know you were going to sign it and when I saw it, it really melted my heart. Now it's not just a book, it's an artifact that will remind me of our work, and the opportunity to create something beautiful.”

Throughout the process of working with Bridget remotely from his home in Ukraine, Mykyta has learned all about Hay and the town’s history, as well as the green Welsh borders, so different from the flat arable lands of Ukraine. He has also improved his English language skills

Mykyta says he plans to read ‘My Mother and the Curate’ once he finishes his current book. It will be his first in English, which he says will be ‘an interesting experience.'

A huge fan of Mykyta’s design work, Bridget said: “I had no idea he hadn’t read books in English before. As well as English, he had to deal with Welsh! On the maps he wrote names like Cwmbythog, Gwernfydden and Cefn y Blaen. Imagine us trying to write in Ukrainian, a totally unknown language and a different written alphabet! I’d be bamboozled. He is such a clever lad.”

She added: “Also, he wove together the little nature drawings from my mother’s notebook into colourful frames around each chapter heading. And he improved the photos, all from the 1870s or 1950s. I’d really recommend his work.”

Mykyta can be contacted for work via: [email protected]

The book alternates chapter by chapter between the daily lives of the diarists in 1953 and 1870, revealing intimate personal details as well as stories of both the rich and the poor around them. It features more than 70 historic photographs and illustrations, many of which are being published for the very first time.

Bridget’s book is available in Hay bookshops or direct from the author via her email: [email protected]

There is a reduced price of £15, down from £20, for B&R readers.