Khaya Ronkainen is a poet, writer, editor, and micro-press founder. She is the author of a full-length poetry collection, The Sheltering (2022), as well as two poetry chapbooks, From the Depth of Darkness (2019) and Seasons Defined (2018) published via her imprint, QuillInInk Press. Her poems, essays and reviews appear in various international journals, such as Brittle Paper, Literary Korner Publishing, Kalahari Review, Spillwords Press and others. Notably, her essay “I am Beautiful” won a third place in the 2022 Body-Positivity Essay Contest hosted at Navigating the Change, a platform for women in their menopausal journey. Khaya is a regular contributor and editorial team member at LIT eZine. She also pens a newsletter, Project Finding Beauty, to encourage an appreciation of everyday beauty.
She holds a business degree. But her academic path has taken her through different disciplines, and it was her participation in the English Philology study programme that sparked her dedication to writing. In her spare time, and as a hobbyist photographer, she immerses herself in nature, trekking through the wilderness and capturing its wonders through her camera lens. Born and bred in South Africa, Khaya now considers Finland her home and where she lives with her husband.
A BIT ABOUT MY CREATIVE PRACTICE
Hiking is my faith and I'm its devotee. Photography is my means of exercising soft fascination and a closer look at the natural world. Poetry is my prayer and a church I teeter on the threshold of. Personal Essay is my attempt at expressing, and Fiction my truth.
Though my work is largely influenced by the natural world and the duality of an immigrant life, it also explores themes of ageing, friendships, navigating loss and healing.
Learn more about me and my work from these meaningful conversations:
CONVERSATIONS + FEATURES
On Sheltering, Writing and Life Influences with Mona Soorma @LIT eZine
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On Making of ‘The Sheltering’ with writer, social scientist & self-confessed wanna-be visual artist Anu Hirsiaho. Music by HarumachiMusic from Pixabay
LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION
On October, Seasonal Duality and Language with musical artist Laura Bruno Lilly (Part III)
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On October, Seasonal Duality and Language with musical artist Laura Bruno Lilly (Part II)
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On October, Seasonal Duality and Language with musical artist Laura Bruno Lilly (PART I)
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Introduce Yourself with Yecheilyah Ysrayl for PBS Blog
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Life of a Poet with Sherry Marr for Poets United
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CONTACT
Reach me via email: contact [at] khayaronkainen . fi
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