Lilac City Local (Fall 2023)

CONTENTS

1 Welcome

2 Library Tours Spokane County Elections Office

3 Empowering Spokane’s Youth

4 Every Story Matters: Preserving Black History

5 Showcasing Spokane’s Creative Side

6 Delivering the Library

7 Featured Author: Poetry by Erin Schmidt

8 A Day in the Life at Central Library

12 Q&A with Spokane Is Reading Author Kim Fu

On the cover: Himes Alexander, guitarist in local band The Smokes, records in our Media Studios.

SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

All Spokane Public Library buildings sit on the traditional homelands of the four bands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians: sntútʔulixʷi, snxʷmeneʔi, s̓qesciłni, and slʕʷotéw s̓ i (Upper Band, Middle Band, Lower Band, and Chewelah Band).

Since time immemorial, the Spokane Tribe of Indians has lived and cared for these grounds. Identifying themselves as “sqélixʷ,” or “Flesh of the Earth.” We pay our respects to their Elders—past, present, and emerging. We show gratitude to the land, river, and peoples who have been fishing, hunting, harvesting, and gathering here for generations. May we learn from one another’s stories so that we may nurture the relationship of the People of the Spokane Tribe and all those who share this land.

Lilac City Local

A publication of Spokane Public Library

Editor-In-Chief

Amanda Donovan

Managing Editor

Alina Murcar

Copy Editor

Skyler Noble

Contributing Writers

Leonard Kransdorf

Sharma Shields

Shane Gronholz

Dana Bronson

Erin Schmidt

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the second issue of Lilac City Local, the Spokane Public Library publication that showcases our vibrant community and Library. This month we present a collection of stories that highlight the unique narrative of Spokane Public Library.

In this issue, we dive into the heart of civic engagement with Current Affairs Specialist Shane Gronholz on a tour of Spokane County Elections Office, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that uphold the democratic process. Learn about the intricate mechanics that make our elections possible and the vital role libraries play in promoting civic education.

Learn about our partnership with Spokane Public Schools, where we collaborate to provide increased resources to our community’s students and maximize the efficiency of public spending in delivering services.

In our commitment to diversity and preservation, hear about our upcoming partnership with the Carl Maxey Center in helping preserve local Black history. Join us as we delve into the crucial mission of safeguarding narratives that have shaped our community, celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of Black individuals.

Literature transcends brick and mortar in the story Delivering the Library, reaching those who may not have easy access. Experience the joy of bringing knowledge and stories directly to the doorsteps of those who need it most.

Executive Director

Andrew Chanse

Board of Trustees

Lara Hemingway

Gary Stokes

Mary Starkey

Danielle DeJaegher

Shelby Lambdin

spokanelibrary.org

Ever wondered what a day behind the scenes at the library is like? Walk with us through A Day in the Life at Central Library, written by our own Library Clerical Assistant Leonard Kransdorf, to gain a firsthand look at the dedicated individuals who make Central Library a safe and welcoming space for all.

And don’t miss our engaging Q&A with Spokane Is Reading author Kim Fu, who will be in Spokane on October 26 for appearances at Spokane Public Library and Spokane County Library District (SCLD).

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing the magic of Spokane Public Library with you for years to come.

Library Tours Spokane County Elections Office

BY SHANE GRONHOLZ

In his capacity as the Current Affairs Specialist at Spokane Public Library, Shane Gronholz recently had the privilege of visiting the Spokane County Elections office. Accompanied by two colleagues, they observed the comprehensive security measures and meticulous procedures in place to ensure the integrity of our elections.

Upon entry, a sign-in and sign-out process was mandatory for all visitors, reflecting a strong emphasis on maintaining a record of access. Pens and pencils were strictly forbidden to prevent any accidental or intentional marking of ballots. The seriousness with which they approached security was evident from the get-go!

During the tour, we were shown the machine responsible for sorting ballots, equipped to identify any irregularities such as duplicate ballots from the same voter. Notably, we learned that even if a voter fails to place their ballot in the designated security envelope—a mistake I have admittedly made—the ballot would still be valid. The staff also shared insights into common errors, such as mix-ups between spouses’ envelopes or the submission of outdated ballots from previous elections.

The tour included a visit to a large room where volunteers were verifying ballots. These volunteers undergo extensive training to ensure they can accurately verify each ballot. The room had a large window, allowing anyone to observe the process. In fact, representatives from both the Republican and Democratic offices were there during our visit.

One conversation with an election official particularly stood out. When asked about election security concerns, he shared that while people often call voting security into question, they rarely take up his offer to come and see the operations for themselves.

The visit left me with a profound respect for the work done by our County Elections office. The meticulous attention to detail, the rigorous security measures, and the transparency of their operations were truly impressive. As I reflect on the experience, it made me glad that I live in a democracy that has developed effective and well-functioning institutions. And readers should know; anyone can schedule a visit with the election’s office—it’s a great way to feel more connected to your community.

EMPOWERING SPOKANE’S YOUTH

Spokane Public Library and Spokane Public Schools’ Transformative Partnership

Public libraries and public schools share many of the same goals, but here in Spokane we have something extra special. We work closely together to bring about transformative change for the youth of Spokane.

One simple yet powerful initiative: we automatically provide every Spokane Public Schools student with a Spokane Public Library card. By arming students with library cards, we are removing barriers to access and sowing the seeds of a lifelong love for reading and learning.

Spokane Public Library also manages the library collections at all nine middle schools: Glover, Sacajawea, Flett, Salk, Garry, Shaw, Chase, Yasuhara, and Peperzak. The Library’s dedicated team curates the middle school collections, ensuring up-todate and relevant titles. Our collaboration lets educators spend more time engaging with students and allows the library to develop a diverse and relevant collection that can flex across all locations. Students and staff have access to the entire Spokane Public Library collection as well as the collection at all of the middle schools, ensuring equity of access regardless of ZIP code, and endless resources that can be delivered right to their middle school at the press of a button.

“LIBRARIANS SAVE LIVES: BY HANDING THE RIGHT

Additionally, Spokane Public Library and Spokane Public Schools have two co-located facilities allowing more immediate access to resources and a more efficient use of public funds. Hillyard Library is located on the Shaw Middle School campus providing easy neighborhood access to a vital resource. The Hive®, on Sprague Avenue across from Libby Center, houses Spokane Virtual Learning offices and teacher training facilities along with public meeting spaces and artist residency studios.

BOOK, AT THE RIGHT TIME, TO A KID IN NEED.”

- JUDY BLUME

As we look to the future, we envision even greater possibilities for this partnership. We are actively exploring opportunities to expand our support to high schools and beyond, as we firmly believe that an integrated approach to education is the key to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

On the third floor of Central Library, history comes alive. A collection of more than 18,000 unique items, the Inland Northwest Special Collections is a treasure trove dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the Inland Northwest, but one group is notably absent and a new partnership aims to change that.

BY DANA BRONSON

In the Inland Northwest Special Collections, we try to practice what Rachel Vagts, an archivist at Denver Public Library, coined as “radical welcome.” This challenges staff to design our policies and procedures through the lens of, “How can we make people feel they are welcome here?” Visiting the Special Collections can be an intimidating experience, and many people feel like they need to be a “serious researcher” to see some of our most valuable and precious materials. But in the Inland Northwest Special Collections, we celebrate people coming in simply because they want to feel inspired by our collections.

However, when you can’t see your own history and community reflected in these collections, we are failing as archivists to achieve our goal of providing a radical welcome. While the Black community in Spokane has been here for over 140 years and has made rich and meaningful contributions to the region, it can be challenging to find those stories across the archives and museums in town. Having representation in archives is one way to help honor and understand the past, and to have your community be visible, represented, known, and celebrated. This fall the Inland Northwest Special Collections is partnering with the Carl Maxey Center on a project to help promote and preserve these stories.

On October 14, we invite community members to bring their photographs, letters, printed materials, and small objects related to Black history in Spokane to the Carl Maxey Center so we can capture them for a digital archive. “One of the primary goals of the

Carl Maxey Center," says Jillisa Winkler, Interim Operations Manager and Program Coordinator at the Carl Maxey Center, "is to uplift and empower Spokane's Black community, through cultural outreach, economic development, equity, and justice. An important part of building is knowing where you've come from and the histories of people before you. We are excited to build an archive to begin telling the stories of the rich Black history in Spokane, to showcase all of the amazing people who have come before us who helped to establish and improve the lives of African Americans in the Inland Northwest."

With support from staff and students at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Eastern Washington University, and the Spokane Historic Preservation Office, we will scan or photograph your items on the spot, so you don’t have to part with them. Materials do not have to be old to be part of history, so whether the items are from last year or one-hundred years ago, we would love to see them. History is more than just the stories of famous and prominent people, and we want to emphasize that every story matters and would be a valued contribution to the digital archive. Whether you have casual family snapshots, postcards, or items related to Black-owned businesses, we hope you’ll join us. Help us bring this history out of family attics, basements, and boxes so it can be shared and celebrated!

Join us on October 14 from 10:00-4:00 at the Carl Maxey Center located at 3114 E. 5th Avenue.

One of the primary goals is to uplift and empower Spokane’s Black community.

For cousins Matt Slater and Himes Alexander, music is an integral part of how they share music, culture, and community.

Matt and Himes make up the local band, The Smokes, who’ve been jamming in and around Spokane for almost ten years. While they don’t define their band as any certain genre, they describe themselves as “Afro-Punk,” a musical movement celebrating the many Black people who play and create punk music.

“Black people have been playing punk rock since the beginning, and Afro-Punk highlights our culture and individuality within the genre,” said Matt.

The Smokes share their love of music with the community through different partnership experiences, such as the youth songwriting workshop they recently hosted with support from Spokane Arts Grant Awards (SAGA). To help make songwriting more accessible to kids, Matt and Himes worked with 20 children at Shaw Middle School (also home to our Hillyard

Since opening in July 2022, Spokane Public Library's Media Studios have been empowering local creatives as an avenue for self-expression.

Library) to explore the songwriting process, encourage improvisation, and share the importance of incorporating personal experiences into their art. At the end of the workshop, everyone came together and rocked out.

Matt and Himes have partnered with the library on multiple occasions, including for Olivia Brownlee’s album debut at Central Library where they performed the rock song, “You Belong Here” inspired by the Hillyard neighborhood and The ZoNE, an initiative housed at the Northeast Community Center dedicated to removing barriers for neighbors and creating an inclusive community.

Additionally, The Smokes recently recorded a music video for their cover of “She’s Not There” by the Zombies in the Recording Studio at Central Library with Music Education Specialist Andy Rumsey. Together, they utilized the library’s state-of-the-art equipment to produce a highquality, professional recording of this beloved 1960s hit.

“We love to use the library whenever we collaborate with other artists,” said Himes. “We feel it’s a great space to come together to co-produce ideas and music.”

You can also listen to The Smokes on Lilac City Records, Spokane Public Library’s free music streaming platform that amplifies local music. Visit records. lilaccitylocal.com to start listening.

So what’s next for this duo? They’re looking forward to a more relaxed fall and winter season as they write and create their next album that’s slated to come out next year. See more at thesmokesband.com.

If you or someone you know may be interested in using the Recording Studio at Central Library, you can see the variety of services and reserve time for free at spokanelibrary.org/recordingstudio.

Our staff visits more than 35 retirement residences, daycares, and other facilities each month, bringing print, audio-visual materials, and more to hundreds of residents and children. Find out how Jon and Sophie deliver these vital resources to the community.

remind Sophie of the significance of her work and how even a simple book can make a lasting impact on a young mind.

Diversity is a key aspect of the program, as Sophie ensures that children see faces and cultures different from their own. Exposing young minds to stories, words, and visuals they aren't familiar with fosters empathy, understanding, and a sense of inclusivity.

ophie and Jon, two dedicated library employees in our Outreach department, have made it their mission to bring the magic of books to every corner of the city. Their tireless efforts bring the love of the library to children and adults who cannot visit a physical location.

The team starts each day at their home base, Shadle Park Library, where they gather materials for their deliveries.

Sophie primarily works with youth, curating books suitable for children ages 0-10. Through Library Outreach, she provides books for 24 youth facilities including daycares, headstart, and many other places like The Isabella House, a six-month inpatient program serving women who have children and/or are pregnant and who suffer the effects of substance use and abuse.

Sophie's deep understanding of child development allows her to curate books that cater to specific age groups. From high-contrast pictures for infants to more complex plots for older children, every selection is thoughtfully made.

The impact of Sophie's curated book deliveries is magical. The children, sometimes lacking books in their homes, eagerly await the deliveries. In one touching moment, a little girl hugged Sophie's leg, expressing her gratitude for the books. These heartwarming interactions

Jon, on the other hand, dedicates his time to serving adults in various senior centers, long-term care facilities, and assisted living homes around Spokane. Coordinating with the activities staff, Jon delivers carefully selected books tailored to each individual's preferences. Through this monthly ritual, he brings joy and comfort to those who are homebound, lacking easy access to the library. For these individuals, Jon is more than just his job title; he is a ray of hope. His thoughtful selections and dedication have earned him heartfelt praise from the community. One community member left Jon a voicemail, commending him for going above and beyond the call of duty and for being a source of solace in their lives.

The Outreach Team also curates collections and keeps our Library Kiosks well stocked. The West Central Library Kiosk was installed in 2018 and four additional Library Kiosks are currently being installed, including one at the Gonzaga Family Haven and one at the Yoke’s in Latah.

Sophie and Jon's unwavering dedication and the success of Spokane Public Library's Outreach program exemplify the power of literacy and compassion. By connecting communities through books, they have touched countless lives, bringing the Library to some of our most vulnerable populations.

As the Outreach program continues to expand its reach, the legacy of Sophie and Jon will endure, inspiring generations to embrace the wonders of reading, celebrate diversity, and share in the joy of storytelling.

For more information on Mobile & Homebound Service, please email us at telref@spokanelibrary.org or call us at 509.444.5300.

A book delivery outside The Isabella House

FEATURED WRITER

Local writer Erin Schmidt’s writing is not published widely but is rather created (and sometimes gifted to friends) privately, a truly intentional form of artistic expression. She spoke with Writing Education Specialist Sharma Shields at the South Hill Library during Sharma’s Office Hours, where they discussed poetry, visual art, and boxing, and Erin shared some of her poetry. Sharma selected this poem to share in Lilac City Local because of its mindfulness, compassion for self and others, and celebration of a venerable Spokane institution. Sharma admires the movement of the poem and the way it urges us to engage with the immediate world around us. She also loved learning about the wonderful work Spokane Boxing Gym and founder Rick Welliver do in our community, including a program for at-risk youth. As the website writes, “Boxing isn’t just a sport. It’s not just fitness. For many, boxing is a pathway to hope.” You can learn more about Spokane Boxing Gym online at spokaneboxing.com.

Sharma hosts Office Hours allowing local creative writers an opportunity to ask an experienced and published author writingrelated questions and network with other area writers. Visit events.spokanelibrary.org to find upcoming office hours.

SPOKANE BOXING GYM by Erin Schmidt

I must lie down where all the ladders start In the foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart.

-William Butler Yeats, “The Circus Animals’ Desertion”

My skin drips, my eyeballs sweat. No, my skin is turned inside out, blood on the outside, and I’m shiny like a baby, like a new day, like a fighter.

In matching skull handwraps, this is what it’s like to run metal stairs: look down, see your own heart beating through your chest. Don’t be afraid of the shape of it. Don’t stop. Just go.

Boxes: feet quick hands up elbows in. Ladder: quick feet. Squats lunge plank bell. Speed drill, bags, mitts. Don’t think. Just go.

Perfect practice makes perfect. Work ethic. Lose the sass. Get up get out.

What will you do?

Think about change. Think about how you love every single person here. Think about why or think about how your own blood feels. Think about how the world would be better if it were more like a boxing gym.

Yesterday, I dreamed my hands were gone, missing. The next morning, my shoulders a row of shackles rise up. Now they feel of mercy and might.

My sweat is water. We are still. Listen.

There is a pattern to follow as I bend, through my nose and out, into the night’s raw air.

Erin Schmidt is a mother, teacher, fighter, and writer. Spokane Boxing is one of her favorite places.

The 7th Annual Spokane Writers Conference • October 27-28

The Spokane Writers Conference is an annual two-day event organized by Spokane County Library District and Spokane Public Library. All workshops are free and open to writers at all stages of their writing careers. Topics include self-editing, picture book queries, fact-finding for historical fiction, and much more. October 27 events will take place at Central Library. October 28 events will be at the Valley Library. Learn more at events.spokanelibrary.org.

A DAY IN THE LIFE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY

BY LEONARD KRANSDORF

Follow along for a day in the life at Central Library, the heartbeat

6 A.M.

As the sun rises, there are unhoused people camped out on the patio above the entrance to the deserted downtown parking garage.

It is those people on the patio who Kimberly sees as she begins her 6 a.m. workday.

“It’s disheartening to see them when I get here,” she reflects. “I feel for them.”

She arrives early because her work includes ordering materials, paying bills, and contacting vendors on the East Coast.

Meanwhile, the maintenance crew is beginning their routine down the hall.

Phillip, Andraia, and Anthony start their duties methodically by first checking the bathrooms.

“Some mornings are more work than others, but we want to do a thorough cleaning,” said Phillip. They then check the rest of the floor and make their way to the floors above.

6:15 A.M.

In the first-floor computer lab, Community Technology Specialist Peter walks around assessing each computer. “I

want to make sure each of these are working right,” said Peter. “Plus, I check all the mechanical devices to make sure everything is going well.”

6:30 A.M.

Through the silence of the first floor, the sound of a vacuum reverberates through the library. The maintenance team continues to clear nearly 40 tables and chairs of trash and other items left the day before by customers.

In the back maintenance room, Matthew prepares to deliver needed supplies and books to the other branches in his role as a Caretaker. He estimates that on an average day he could travel nearly 15 miles in his deliveries.

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.”

- Andrew Carnegie

of

Spokane Public Library and the nexus of activity in downtown Spokane, where there is never a dull moment.

7:00 A.M.

Rows and rows of carts line a large room filled with racks of books and other materials that are in processing for circulation. Many of these items will be dispersed among the different libraries while others are sent upstairs to be checked in. Library Clerical Assistant Toni estimates that on average the Collection Development department processes 100200 items daily.

scattered around the first floor while others beeline to the Computer Lab or flitter upstairs.

By the day’s end, 1,318 patrons will have visited the library.

One of these patrons, Jolee, is a 19-year-old frequent library visitor. She sits at a first-floor table reading and sipping a coffee. “I have been reading my whole life and I enjoy it here,” she said.

A few feet away is Chuck, 45, who just recently acquired housing. “I like to read a lot and it’s not bad here just to sit and read,” he said.

The Computer Lab is filling up as some patrons seek help from IT Intern Trevor, who sits at a desk just outside the room.

At New Leaf Café near the south entrance of the building, Oakley prepares coffee, pastries, and other food items. She estimates that she makes six pots of coffee before the library opens at 9am

About 15 minutes before opening, customers wait outside. Some sit on the concrete blocks in front of the glass doors wearing short-sleeve shirts in preparation for the hot, summer day while others are bundled up with blankets and other belongings. Another is reading a book, oblivious to a jogger who runs past or the morning traffic zooming by.

The first-floor Info Desk is one of the busiest areas of the library where employees provide answers to a multitude of questions. In the first hour, Quinn is asked to update an account, issue a new library card, and assist in printing a document. That morning, a patron from out of town wanted to use a computer to write a research paper on stoves and use a printer. He learned how to get a guest pass and log on at no

9:00 A.M.

The doors open and 10 people stream in. Some grab coffee at New Leaf Café or sit at one of the tables

charge.

By mid-morning, the Friends of the Library Bookstore has opened, and many patrons are still shuffling in.

The Security team of Abe, Josh, and Mitch check the three floors, provide bike locks, and wake dozing patrons.

Behind the scenes in the Administration area, outgoing Human Resources Director Alan is meeting with his replacement Samantha to outline her new responsibilities. One room over, Executive Director Andrew is completing a variety of tasks—from

reviewing an agreement with GSI (Greater Spokane Inc.) and determining the policy for cooling centers during the recent heatwave Spokane was experiencing, to preparing for a meeting with the City Cabinet and reviewing last month’s Board of Trustees meeting minutes.

Director of Marketing and Communications, Amanda, types on her keyboard in her office while finalizing her agreement to appear on a panel at a conference discussing how to navigate challenges libraries face today. The panel will include staff from Toronto Public Library, Sonoma County Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, St. Paul Public

Info Guides Ashley and Leonard hear a loud crash coming from the skywalk and rush over to see what happened. A man fleeing from Nordstrom security had rushed past, knocking over a security gate in his wake, which will cost the library nearly $1,500 to replace.

2:30 P.M.

Library, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Noon

On the second floor, there is ongoing activity at the Info Desk and in the children’s area.

“We like it here because there’s an area for the kids to play and many books for them to read,” said Sara, who brought her sons Ryan and Emmet.

Back down in Support Services, Cheryl is adding bar codes to new books as part of the processing responsibilities. Nearby, Youth Environmental Specialist Mason is planning upcoming programs. They are currently studying for their MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) degree from San Jose State University.

Meanwhile, a patron walks in with their large screen TV and tries to disconnect the back of the library’s digital message board so they can connect it to their TV instead. Staff and security inform the patron that this is not allowed. The patron places their television on their shoulder and walks out.

1:15 P.M.

On the third floor in the Inland Northwest Special Collections, author Eli Francovich visits to discuss his book, The Return of Wolves with Writing Education Specialist Sharma Shields.

Nearby, a patron, Maksim, is showing the old card catalog to his daughters Miia and Eva.

Peers Service Specialists Kayla and Justin hand out sandwiches and bottles of water to those in need. Within an hour, Kayla estimates she handed out 20 sandwiches. Peer Spokane partners with the Library to provide resources for patrons seeking help with housing, health, employment, mental health, and recovery.

6:00 P.M.

As the day winds down, Nola is reading on the second floor. He comes in at least once a week to record songs in the third-floor Recording Studio and read. “I like to read and this place has a nice feel to it. It is very much something magical,” he said.

7:00 P.M.

The lights are turned off as the last patron leaves and the library staff locks the doors to end another day at Central Library.

Leonard Kransdorf is a Library Clerical Assistant at Central Library. A former newspaper journalist, Leonard has written for newspapers in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, and North Dakota .

New 24/7 Library Kiosks Coming Soon

If you’ve ever had a late-night craving for a new book or movie only to find the Library isn’t open, then do we have a solution for you! The Library is installing four new Library Kiosks around town that are free to use and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Funded by the 2018 Library Bond, these Library Kiosks will provide library materials to neighborhoods around town that may be farther from one of our six traditional library locations.

Stay tuned for more information on when these kiosks open!

LIBRARY KIOSK LOCATIONS

- Logan Library Kiosk – located at Gonzaga Family Haven at 2828 N. Nevada St (Now Open)

- Latah Library Kiosk – located at Yokes at 4235 Cheney-Spokane Rd (Now Open)

- West Central Library Kiosk – 1603 N. Belt Street. Installed in 2018 and funded by Numerica Credit Union, Canopy Credit Union, Avista Foundation, and Walmart Foundation (Now Open)

- Two additional locations – TBA

AN INTERVIEW WITH

KIM FU, AUTHOR OF LESSER KNOW MONSTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, THE 2023 SELECTION FOR SPOKANE IS READING

By Sharma Shields

Kim Fu’s dynamic and wondrous story collection

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century is this year’s selection for Spokane Is Reading. Events will take place on October 26th at Spokane Valley Library at 1 p.m. and at Central Library at 7 p.m. Local novelist and Spokane Public Library’s Writing Education Specialist Sharma Shields sent some questions over to Kim Fu that the author kindly responded to over email.

Sharma Shields (SS): The presence of the metaphorical is profound in this collection: Can you talk about your relationship to metaphor and how it evolved in your work?

Kim Fu (KF): A lot of the writers I love are masters of figurative language and metaphor, like Heather O’Neill, Kevin Brockmeier, Karen Russell, and Ted Chiang. I remember reading, many years ago now, Brockmeier’s story “The Ceiling,” about the end of a marriage where the sky is literally falling, and feeling like this was the kind of story I’d always wanted to

write. But I try not to think about the metaphorical readings of a story until late in the writing process, particularly for stories with unreal elements. For example, in one story, a girl growing wings out of her legs is an obvious metaphor for puberty, but while I was writing the story I tried to think about the wings as straightforwardly and literally as possible: How would they work? How would these characters react? What would they do next? I try to let the real-world parallels emerge on their own at first, and only reshape towards them while editing.

SS: I love the tension here between the fantastical and the mundane, the playful and the serious; do you consider contrast and tension as you write? How do you achieve such a surprising and satisfying balance?

KF: I do try to vary the emotional texture of a story as I’m writing. I struggle to read a work of fiction that is, for example, relentlessly grim from start to finish. Even an action movie needs moments of peace that remind you what the heroes are fighting for. Little

ABOUT KIM FU

things like the length of sentences and paragraphs, or where you put dialogue or white space, can change that balance a lot. But finding levity in darkness, profundity in irreverence, magic in the banalthat’s also closer to how I think real life works. The night my father died, when my mother and sisters and I came home from the hospital, we suddenly all realized at the same time how hungry we were. We ate milk and cookies in the kitchen at three in the morning, and we laughed at ourselves, at how strange it was that we could even think of cookies during one of the worst nights of our lives. I think most stories have those cookies in them.

SS: It’s really difficult for me to choose a favorite story from this collection. What story was the easiest for you to write? What story proved the most challenging, and why?

KF: I can’t think of which one was the easiest to write. They all felt so challenging at the time! “Scissors” was probably the hardest to write in many ways. It first appeared in

Kim Fu is the author of two novels, a collection of poetry, and most recently, the story collection Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, winner of the 2023 Pacific Northwest Book Award and a finalist for the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize. Fu has been longlisted for the 2023 Joyce Carol Oates Prize for mid-career authors. Fu lives in Seattle, Washington.

Kink, an anthology of stories about desire and BDSM edited by Garth Greenwell and R.O. Kwon. I’d felt inspired by Garth’s essays and interviews on the often underutilized power of writing explicitly about sex and pleasure, as a site of personal, cultural and metaphysical meaning. In general, I’d mainly written about sex as awkward or traumatic, and pleasure was something to glide past with one abstract sentence or a section break. I was unprepared for how vulnerable and frightening it would feel to write this story, to even think about trying to capture embodied, erotic joy. I still have trouble looking at that story even now, or thinking about it being out in the world.

SS: There are such arresting images in this book and the prose glitters with so many breathtaking treasures. How do you approach and hone your writing on the sentence level? How has your work as a poet influenced your prose?

KF: This goes back to your question about metaphor - I think reading and writing poetry trains you to observe the world closely, to try to find new ways to describe familiar things, in language that feels fresh and precise. I also think poetry, more than other forms, tends to leave things unsaid and implied, trusting the reader to make leaps in logic and construct the world of the poem as much as the writer does. I find the moments where fiction asks the reader to do that kind of work are often the most powerful.

SS: What was the editorial process for this book? How did the stories grow and change as they moved from an individual form into a full manuscript?

KF: My editor at Tin House, Masie Cochran, was essential to helping each story find its final form within the collection. She pointed out echoes and throughlines between

stories, what felt unifying and what just felt repetitive. She was especially insightful about endings that weren’t quite right - a missing penultimate scene, an ending line that sounded pretty but didn’t feel earned. I remember one early phone conversation where her what-ifs and enthusiasm were so interesting and infectious, I hung up eager to return to the stories that needed the most work. I also credit her with the final ordering of the stories, which is very different from the original manuscript I submitted. It was her idea that “PreSimulation Consultation XF007867” should open the collection. In my mind, it felt risky to open with what is arguably the weirdest story. I worried that it would alienate readers, or alternatively, overpromise weirdness that the rest of the collection didn’t deliver. But she felt it would draw the right reader, the reader who would connect to the book as a whole. And now I can’t imagine it any other way.

SS: What books are on your nightstand right now? What’s the last book you read that you really loved and why?

KF: I’m in the middle of one of those rare runs where I’ve loved a lot of books in a row. Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022, edited by Rebecca Roanhorse, is full of unforgettable gems. I loved the exploration of disgust, cultural programming, and the idea of normalcy in Life Ceremony and Earthlings by Sayaka Murata, both translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori. I also finally got around to reading The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder, which had been on my nightstand for ages - at once an Orwellian nightmare and a haunting,

beautiful fable. I love Claire Fuller’s prose, and her latest, Unsettled Ground, was no exception. I just yesterday finished Yellowface by R. F. Kuang, and I was blown away by the audacious and painfully accurate depiction of the publishing industry.

SS: Do you frequent any public libraries? Which ones? Any public library memories and/or experiences to share?

KF: Oh, yes! The Magnolia branch of the Seattle Public Library is closest to my home, so that’s where I pick up my holds, but I wrote a lot of Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century in the Ballard, Fremont, and Central locations. There’s a writing group facilitated by Alma García that meets in the basement of the Fremont branch, and though I only went a few times, I found it so fruitful each time. I wrote the very first version of what would become “Bridezilla” there. The Seattle Central Library used to have a lunchtime “storytime for grown-ups” called Thrilling Tales, where librarian David Wright would do dramatic readings of short stories, usually older, pulpy stories in the public domain with great twists and turns. His selections and performances were hugely influential on Monsters

SS: Have you spent much time in Spokane?

KF: I haven’t! I moved to Seattle from Canada over ten years ago but I still haven’t gotten to explore nearly as much of the state as I would like. I can’t wait! Hear more from the author at Spokane Is Reading on October 26. Check out the book from any Spokane Public Library or SCLD location or buy a copy at Aunties.