Lorna Landvik's blend of homespun humor and eccentric characterization has led critics to compare her prose with that of Midwestern notable Garrison Keillor. Like Keillor, Landvik has an affinity for describing the vagaries of life in Middle America, and she displays an obvious affection for the offbeat characters that populate her fictionalized Minnesota towns. She uses her fiction to underscore the importance of strong community bonds, and her characteristic blend of comedy and tragedy illustrates, above all, that the darker moments of life are best navigated in the presence of good friends and supportive family members. Although her characters face their share of mishaps, Landvik is frequently optimistic and relies on humor to grant her characters reprieves from their troubles. This penchant for comedy notwithstanding, Landvik has a keen sense of the heartaches, both big and small, that can afflict American lives.

Landvik was born in Grand Forks...