Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

The Finesse of Chaos: Miriam Gershow’s Novel CLOSER

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A Shattering Portrait of American Life In CLOSER, Miriam Gershow tackles a stunning breadth of social issues—race, religion, class, sexual identity, disability, infidelity—with remarkable finesse. She deftly navigates six distinct points of view, each belonging to wildly different characters, all rooted in a single community that could be anywhere in America. Messy, Human, … [Read more...]

Marriage, Blisters, and the Great Blow or Suck Debate

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Because nothing says “I love you” like arguing about cleaning the garage in 99° heat Every couple has moments that test the strength of their union. Ours came on a hot summer afternoon in the form of dried leaves, cobwebs, and a mysterious piece of pipe. When I was a kid, no one in our suburban cul-de-sac could match my mother's cleaning skills. Spring cleaning meant washing walls. She even … [Read more...]

Review: Sky Daddy by Kate Folk: A Weird, Empathetic Descent

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Love, Loneliness, and Planes Unapologetically weird and strangely believable, Sky Daddy flies on the strength of vivid detail and the origins of a bizarre obsession. Author Kate Folk gives us Linda, a woman consumed with longing for a Boeing 737, “the sky’s narrow-bodied workhorse.” She affectionately calls a particular N92823 her first love. Their relationship began when she was thirteen … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Author Jann Alexander

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From brushstrokes to backstories, Jann Alexander shares her stories and inspiration. What: I’m an author who specializes in time travel. My first novel, Unspoken (The Dust Series), stars historic Texas and a female character who faces down her fears in a story that's as close-to-true as fiction can get.  Why: I’ve been a creative spirit for as long as I … [Read more...]

Using Fiction to Process Real-Life Tragedy and Family Secrets

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The emotional and creative journey behind In the Context of Love—a novel inspired by unspoken truths. How do we make sense of tragedy? We live every day knowing that bad things happen--on a global and personal level. Fires burn down houses, people are laid off, friends have tragic accidents, loved ones develop addictions and get diseases we've never even heard of. How do we carry on when … [Read more...]