Exploring teh Supernatural adn the Strange in Leyna Krow’s “Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids”
Imagine a portal where broken furniture and cracked picture frames are magically repaired. what if you could step inside? This is just one of the manny surreal concepts in “Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids”, the latest short story collection by Spokane author Leyna Krow. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the book weaves together themes of motherhood, family, and climate change through a lens of magical realism, humor, and heart.
Krow, who lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and two children, draws inspiration from the region’s unique geography and culture. “The Northwest is what I know,” she says. “It’s a strange place, and it’s fun to write about.” Her stories are set in familiar locales like Mount Rainier, the Oregon coast, and cities along I-5, blending the mundane with the remarkable.
The collection features characters grappling with the real-world challenges of climate change while encountering magical elements like portals, superpowers, and ecological wonders. “This is a region that’s really fascinating,” Krow explains.“Spokane, in particular, is culturally unique—it’s the largest city on the east side of the Cascades, surrounded by rural areas, and it’s just so strange.”
Readers can dive into these tales of the weird and splendid as “Sinkhole” is now available in bookstores. For those eager to meet the author,Krow will be hosting an event at Powell’s Books in portland on February 24th.
| Key Highlights of “Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids” |
|————————————————————–|
| Setting: Pacific Northwest, including Spokane, Mount Rainier, and the Oregon coast |
| Themes: Motherhood, family, climate change, and magical realism |
| Magical Elements: Portals, superpowers, ecological wonders |
| Author Event: February 24th at Powell’s Books in Portland |
Krow’s work invites readers to embrace the strange.As one character puts it, “Hey, let’s get weird with it.” This collection is a testament to the power of storytelling to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, offering a fresh outlook on the world we live in.don’t miss the chance to explore these captivating stories—pick up a copy of “Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids” today or join Krow at her upcoming event to hear more about her creative process and the inspiration behind her work.
Leyna Krow’s “Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids”: A Magical Lens on Climate Anxiety
Spokane author Leyna Krow’s latest short story collection, Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids, masterfully blends the fantastical with the real, offering readers a unique perspective on pressing issues like climate change and motherhood. Rooted in the Pacific northwest, Krow’s stories explore the strange and surreal, using magic as a tool to confront the anxieties of our time.
Magic as a Fractured Lens
In an interview, Krow describes her approach to storytelling as using the fantastical as a “fractured lens” to examine real-world issues. “By filtering the real through the unreal, we can take a step back and say, ‘Oh, I’m not so personally invested in this. This isn’t true,’” she explains. This detachment, she believes, allows readers to engage more deeply with arduous topics like climate change.
The collection features a mix of realism and fantasy, with some stories directly addressing climate disasters such as wildfires and heat waves, while others introduce magical elements to soften the blow. “It’s my hope that the unreality, the magic of it gives readers both a break from the horrors of climate change that we’re all always thinking about now,” Krow says.“But also lets us look at it in a truthful way without necessarily having to look at it dead on.”
The Role of Humor
Krow’s signature dark humor also plays a crucial role in her storytelling. “For me, it’s pretty darn vital,” she admits. “I’m always entertaining myself in my own writing, and so if I don’t think something is fun or funny, at least a little bit, I’m just not going to be able to access it.” This humor serves as an entry point for both the author and her readers, making the exploration of heavy subjects more approachable.
Her stories frequently enough balance the grim with the whimsical, creating a dynamic narrative that keeps readers engaged. “It’s looking at some pretty dark subjects, but still funny,” Krow says. “It’s really just me having a good time where I can.”
Pushing the Boundaries of Storytelling
Krow’s work is characterized by a desire to push the boundaries of storytelling.“There’s this desire on my part, I think, to see where I can push the envelope,” she shares. “How strange can it get before it takes over the story and the narrative gets lost? Where’s that boundary at?”
While some stories in the collection lean toward realism, Krow’s heart lies in the weird and wonderful. “There’s some straight realism in the collection, but that’s never where my heart lies,” she says. “I want the weird.”
Themes of Motherhood and Climate Anxiety
Motherhood and climate anxiety are recurring themes throughout the book. Krow’s characters navigate these challenges in worlds that grow increasingly strange, reflecting the surreal nature of the issues they face. The fusion of the real and the fantastical allows readers to explore these themes in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Genre | Magical realism,short stories |
| Themes | Climate change,motherhood,dark humor |
| Author’s Approach | Uses fantasy as a lens to examine real-world issues |
| Tone | Dark humor,whimsical,surreal |
| Setting | Rooted in the Pacific Northwest |
Why You Should Read It
Leyna Krow’s Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids is a must-read for fans of magical realism and those looking for a fresh perspective on climate anxiety. By blending the real with the fantastical, Krow creates a space where readers can confront difficult truths without feeling overwhelmed.
Ready to dive into Krow’s strange and wonderful worlds? Grab yoru copy of Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids today and experience the magic for yourself.What’s your favorite way to explore heavy topics through fiction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!The Intersection of Motherhood and Writing: A Deep Dive into Krow’s Reflections
Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, anxiety, and profound self-reflection. For author Krow, this experience has become a cornerstone of her creative process. in a candid conversation, she reveals how her role as a mother of two has deeply influenced her writing, shaping her narratives and themes.
“Tremendously,” Krow responds when asked how motherhood has impacted her work. “I am now a mother of two children, so I think of this book as the book of that period, of early child caring. So much of those stories is infused with that, of the anxiety of parenthood and the questions of what it means to be a good mother, and what it means to be somebody’s child.”
Her writing is a mirror to the complexities of parenting. the joy,loneliness,and anxiety of raising children filter into her work,creating stories that resonate with authenticity. “Every day I’m with my kids and it filters into my work,” she shares.
But the relationship between writing and motherhood is not one-sided. Krow also reflects on how her craft influences her parenting. “I do think that there’s a reflective circular quality to it,” she explains. “You have an experience and you think about it and you put it on the page in fiction and it bears out in the story,and then does it go back into my life in some way? Maybe.”
Writing about parenting, she notes, has made her more thoughtful in her approach. “I’m not sure that it makes me a better parent,” she admits.“I think you kind of are who you are when you’re with your kids, but it is an engaging thing to think about for sure.”
This interplay between life and art highlights the profound connection between personal experience and creative expression. For Krow, motherhood is not just a role—it’s a wellspring of inspiration and introspection.
| Key Insights | Details |
|————————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Motherhood’s Influence on Writing | Infuses stories with themes of anxiety, joy, and the complexities of parenting. |
| Writing’s Impact on Parenting | Encourages reflection and thoughtfulness, though it may not change core behaviors.|
| Circular Relationship | Experiences shape writing, which in turn influences personal perspectives. |
Krow’s reflections offer a poignant look at the dualities of motherhood and creativity. Her work serves as a testament to the power of personal experience in shaping art, and vice versa.
For more insights into the intersection of motherhood and writing, explore the collection In (M)other Words, which examines the oppressive and empowering dimensions of mothering and motherhood [[1]].
What are your thoughts on the relationship between personal experience and creative work? Share your reflections in the comments below.