Ray Nayler on Palaces of the Crow

Writer’s Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. What survives when a community is destroyed? We talk with Ray Nayler about his new novel, Palaces of the Crow, in which four young people survive World War II in a Lithuanian forest with help from extraordinarily intelligent crows. We explore how his years in Central Asia and the Balkans shaped the book, and why he turned to the Eastern Front to examine questions that still confront us. What happens when trauma becomes revenge? How do we preserve a community’s memory? And what kinds of intelligence do we miss in other animals? “I was trying to capture this memory of care…and also how much memory is under threat.” – Ray Nayler Nayler describes care as something passed between generations, across communities, and even across species. Our conversation explores how relationships, stories, and the examples of others can help us interrupt cycles of harm. Follow us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast. Love good coffee? Want to support Writer’s Voice? Head on over to Larry’s Coffee using this LINK, and you’ll earn $30 for the show! You might also like: Jacob Mikanowski, GOODBYE EASTERN EUROPE, Ray Nayler, THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA Read The Trancript Ray Nayler on Palaces of the Crow: Survival, Memory and Mutual Care Key topics: Palaces of the Crow and its World War II setting Lithuania, Vilnius, and the Eastern Front Jewish and Roma experiences of persecution Crow intelligence and relationships across species Cultural memory and the destruction of identity Trauma, revenge, and cycles of violence Mentorship and the transmission of care