Leyna Krow's 'Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids' is the winner of the 2026 Washington State Book Award in fiction. Hear the Spokane author discuss her work in this virtual celebration.
Winner of the 2026 Washington State Book Award for Fiction, Leyna Krow’s Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids imagines the rules to be broken, choices to be made, and even crimes to be had for the sake of the people, and places, we love.
The Washington State Book Awards are a project of the Washington Center for the Book (an affiliate of The Library of Congress Center for the Book administered by Washington State Library).
This event is presented by the Washington Center for the Book and Spokane Public Library. Registration is required for this free, online event. The event will also be recorded and accessible on Washington State Library’s YouTube channel.
About the presenters:
Leyna Krow is the author of the books I'm Fine but You Appear to Be Sinking: Stories, Fire Season: A Novel, and most recently, Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids, which is the winner of the 2026 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award and the Washington State Book Award. She teaches fiction in the Eastern Washington University MFA program and lives in Spokane with her family and an obnoxious dog.
Sharma Shields is the author of a short story collection, Favorite Monster, and three novels, The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac, The Cassandra, and the forthcoming Duckling. Her books have received a PNBA Award, a Washington State Book Award, and other honors. She is currently the Writing Education Specialist for Spokane Public Library and is the recipient of a Humanities Washington Changemaker Award.
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Leyna Krow’s Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids is a stunning collection that transforms the mundane into the magical. Each story brims with wonder and the surreal, pushing the boundaries of reality while plunging the reader deep into human emotions. Krow, a masterful storyteller, captures the bizarre and beautiful in equal measure, making this collection both riveting and unforgettable. Sinkhole, and Other Inexplicable Voids is a dazzling testament to Krow’s talent, offering readers not just a captivating journey into the unknown, but a brilliant return to our everyday lives forever marked by what we had witnessed.”
—Morgan Talty, national bestselling author of Night of the Living Rez and Fire Exit: A Novel
“Krow explores forest fires, volcanoes, time travel, and the lives of octopuses with verve and wit...Even in the midst of familial or environmental tragedies, Krow’s prose maintains a playful spirit.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Sinkhole and Other Inexplicable Voids combine magical powers, enchanting worlds that determine the fates of its characters, all while dealing with bigger themes and issues.”
—The Spokesman-Review
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For all event information inquiries, email connect@spokanelibrary.org or call 509-444-5300.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Learning & Lectures | Book & Film Discussions | Arts & Culture |
| Mon, Oct 12 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Tue, Oct 13 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Wed, Oct 14 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, Oct 15 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Fri, Oct 16 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 9:00AM to 8:00PM |