Picture a Korean-born storyteller who spun grief and dark humor into a literary gem—meet Patty Yumi Cottrell! Her debut novel, Sorry to Disrupt the Peace, took the literary world by storm, blending raw emotion with a quirky, unforgettable voice. A private soul with a knack for crafting stories that linger, Cottrell’s work dives deep into identity, loss, and the absurdities of life, making her a standout in contemporary fiction.
Born in South Korea in 1981 and adopted by a Midwestern family, Cottrell’s unique perspective shapes her narratives, offering a fresh lens on the human experience. Her journey from a reserved college student to an award-winning author is as compelling as her prose, inviting readers to explore the messy, beautiful chaos of her world.
The Making of Patty Yumi Cottrell
Patty Yumi Cottrell’s story begins in South Korea, where she was born before being adopted by a family in the American Midwest. Raised in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Milwaukee alongside two unrelated Korean boys she came to see as brothers, her upbringing was a tapestry of cultural intersections. This blend of identities later fueled her writing, which grapples with belonging and estrangement. After earning an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012, Cottrell honed her craft under the guidance of mentors like Jesse Ball, who encouraged her to find joy in the creative process. Her early years were marked by quiet observation, a trait that evolved into the sharp, introspective voice of her fiction.
Moving from New York to Los Angeles, Cottrell juggled uninspiring day jobs while experimenting with her writing. Her persistence paid off when she began penning Sorry to Disrupt the Peace, a project that crystallized her distinctive style. This period of transition and hustle set the stage for her emergence as a literary force.
Patty Yumi Cottrell’s Unforgettable Stories
Cottrell’s debut novel, Sorry to Disrupt the Peace (McSweeney’s, 2017), is a dark comedy that follows Helen Moran, a Korean adoptee investigating her adoptive brother’s suicide. Described as a “stylized contemporary noir” and an “anti-memoir,” the book blends humor and heartbreak with a voice that’s both manic and precise. Its compressed timeline—spanning just a few days—mirrors the urgency of Cottrell’s writing process, much of it completed during a two-week spring break in 2016. The novel’s repetitive, rhythmic prose, influenced by authors like Thomas Bernhard and Robert Walser, creates a haunting yet hilarious narrative that earned her a 2018 Whiting Award.
Beyond her novel, Cottrell’s short stories, published in outlets like BOMB, Gulf Coast, and The White Review, showcase her knack for absurdity and emotional depth. Works like “In the Room of Fathers” explore her adoptee experience with a surreal twist, reflecting her ability to transform personal pain into universal art. Her guest-edited issue of McSweeney’s Quarterly dedicated to queer fiction further highlights her commitment to diverse voices. Cottrell’s style—curdled realism laced with bleak humor—sets her apart as a writer who embraces the grotesque strangeness of the human soul.
Her influences, from Jane Bowles to Fiona Apple, infuse her work with a playful yet poignant edge. By prioritizing voice over plot, Cottrell crafts stories that feel alive, spiraling into unexpected corners of the psyche. Her refusal to over-control her narratives allows for moments of raw, surprising beauty that resonate long after the final page.
Why Patty Yumi Cottrell Matters
Patty Yumi Cottrell’s impact lies in her fearless exploration of identity, grief, and the absurdity of existence. As a Korean adoptee, she brings a vital perspective to contemporary fiction, challenging readers to confront the complexities of belonging. Her work resonates with those who feel like outsiders, offering solace through its unflinching honesty and dark wit. Awards like the Whiting and Barnes & Noble Discover Award underscore her influence, while her teaching roles at the University of Denver and institutions like Columbia University inspire the next generation of writers.
Cottrell’s legacy is one of courage—writing from desperation, as she puts it, to create stories that are both deeply personal and universally affecting. Her ability to balance humor and horror opens new lines of questioning about family, loss, and self, making her a vital voice in modern literature.
- Born: 1981, South Korea
- Key Work: Sorry to Disrupt the Peace (2017)
- Awards: 2018 Whiting Award, 2017 Barnes & Noble Discover Award
- Fun Fact: She wrote most of her debut novel in just two weeks!
Snag Sorry to Disrupt the Peace and dive into Patty Yumi Cottrell’s darkly funny, soul-stirring world!