Violetta (Vy) Armour is a first-generation American who cherishes her Bulgarian/Macedonian heritage. Vy visited Macedonia where she traced her family roots, met distant relatives and found the family home in Prelep where her maiden name, Bektesh, was engraved on the facing. Her grandfather immigrated to America in the 1920s and settled in Gary, Indiana, where she was raised. Her novel, I’ll Always Be with You, was heavily influenced by her cultural background and family dynamic. It’s the story of three generations of family who help each other heal through a devastating tragedy. It’s a testament to the power of family ties: how traditions passed from one generation to another with love can heal even the most broken of hearts. “Like some of the characters, I am a first-generation American with Bulgarian heritage and my family practiced meaningful traditions,” she said, “I value my Bulgarian heritage, but as a first-generation, I grew up often feeling inferior because my family was ‘ethnic.’ Now I appreciate the fact that they kept their European culture and traditions alive while becoming the best Americans they could be.” Less