Interview for Prairie Books NOW

Bruce Symaka from Prairie Books NOW interviewed me on some frequently asked questions about Belinda's Rings. If you're curious about the theme of crop circles or the novel's open ending, you might find this interesting!

Bruce Symaka: A mother-daughter relationship is at the heart of your novel. What interested you about that kind of relationship?

Corinna Chong: I’m fascinated by the complex role of the mother. Mothers are often viewed by their children as everything and nothing at the same time – primary caregivers, protectors, and beacons of strength, but also subservient to their domestic duties – which puts them in a position to be both admired and loathed by their daughters, who see their mothers as future versions of themselves. But my interest in mother-daughter relationships also stems from my personal experience. I feel that who I am today has been shaped largely by my relationship with my mother, which continues to evolve in unpredictable, mystifying ways. As I grow older, it seems that the image of my mother in my memories is shifting. Just before I wrote the novel, I saw a long-lost home video from my childhood. The video is aimed to capture us – the kids – but my mother appears very briefly, looking into the lens of the camera and through to my father’s eyes. I saw a profound sadness there that I had never recognized as a child. The hidden piece of my mother that I had glimpsed in those few seconds was part of the inspiration for exploring Belinda’s perspective.

Read More