What we leave behind can still shape what moves us forward. This idea is at the core of Kayla Maiuri's poignant debut novel, Mother in the Dark.
In this quietly captivating story, readers follow Anna, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads as her complicated past converges with the present. As Anna's family life unfurls, we meet various characters who inspire deeper reflection about what it means to be a daughter, sister, and friend.
For Kayla, fiction is a lens to understand reality, and her book is a powerful reminder not to turn away from the people we love. In this interview, Kayla shared more about the origins of this story, her relationship with nature, and what she's learned about family, leaving, and time. This episode also opens with a story by Kate Litterer.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/kayla-maiuri
Learn more about Kayla's work: https://www.kaylamaiuri.com/
Purchase MOTHER IN THE DARK: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mother-in-the-dark-kayla-maiuri/20078457?ean=9780593083291
Follow Kayla: https://www.instagram.com/kaylajosefine/
Learn more Kate's work: https://katehenry.com/
Purchase TEND TO IT: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tend-to-it-a-holistic-guide-to-intentional-productivity-kate-litterer/16072031?ean=9781735802206
Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/thetendingyear/
Jordan Taylor — ”The most meaningful learning comes from deeper experiences.”
Jenn Tardif — ”You get to define what success looks like and how it feels.”
Sophia Amoruso — ”The only way to know is to see the results that come of people’s lives.”
Sanaë Lemoine — ”There’s something that’s almost unlocked when I begin writing on paper.”
Suleika Jaouad — ”Focus on cultivating a practice.”
Ali Kriegsman — ”It’s on us to take that pause.”
Dianna Cohen — ”Everything is so much better when it’s low and slow.”
Vanessa Barboni Hallik — ”We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Julia Hunter — ”If we could be more honest about what’s hard, there would be more vulnerability.”
Eryn Danielle — ”Whose voices are going to be highlighted and amplified?”
Emily Schildt — ”I am looking for trusted perspectives.”
Stephanie Danler — ”Compassion depends on being able to pay attention and feel.”
Nichole Powell — ”There is tremendous power in the pause.”
Brandy Pham — ”We don’t need more of more.”
Fran Hauser — ”When we slow down, we can be kinder to ourselves.”
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