Buy the Book

A Guide to Seattle’s Independent Bookstores

From Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill to the U District's Magus Books, Seattle's many indie booksellers keep the city well-read.

10/19/2022 By Stefan Milne With Sophie Grossman

Slaying Storytime

How a Seattle Illustrator’s Picture Book Ignited a Pizza Boycott

Levi Hastings's picture book is embroiled in anti-LGBTQ controversy after it was included in Pizza Hut's summer literacy program.

06/17/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Summer Reading

Orcas Island Lit Fest Draws Luminaries from the Puget Sound and Beyond

Seattle authors Nicola Griffith and Timothy Egan headline as panelists at this literary arts festival in the San Juans, which also includes a book fair.

05/18/2022 By Sophie Grossman

On the Page

Jane Wong Reads Between the Lines in How to Not Be Afraid of Everything

In How to Not Be Afraid of Everything, the Western Washington professor unearths buried memories and unspoken truths about China's Great Leap Forward.

04/04/2022 By Sophie Grossman

Love is a Battlefield

A Seattle Romance Brings the Bodice-Ripping Revolution to Netflix

Local author Julia Quinn gets a splashy adaptation from Shonda Rhimes on Christmas Day—and, finally, the respect her genre deserves.

12/21/2020 By Allison Williams

Essay

Seattle Is a City of Literature, But This Has Long Been a Place of Stories

"I have been taught by polite society never to publicly acknowledge the true story of the people who belong to this place."

09/11/2020 By Rena Priest

Culture Fix

Weekend What to Do February 22–24

An Oscar winner at MoPop, a Shakespearean PJ party, and a bebop legend.

02/22/2019 By Gwen Hughes

Theater Review

Death of a Salesman Remains Relevant in the Trump Era

Short Order Theatre Company's performance is a loud and painful success.

02/20/2019 By Haley Gray

Readings and Talks

Novelist Ayobami Adebayo Kicks Off Her First U.S. Tour in Seattle

The author of Stay With Me—one of last summer’s major books—finished her first novel on Whidbey Island.

07/26/2018 By Stefan Milne

Lit Fun

Spokane's Get Lit! Festival Hits Next Week

The drive to Eastern Washington's literature festival just might be worth it.

04/19/2018 By Stefan Milne

Going International

Seattle Is Now an Official UNESCO City of Literature

After multiple unsuccessful bids, Seattle finally joins UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

10/31/2017 By Darren Davis

Lit Hits

Hugo House Announces 2017–18 Season

A new season at Hugo House welcomes the "place for writers" back to its revamped Capitol Hill location, along with a local legend, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and many more.

08/16/2017 By Jaime Archer

Accolades

Seattle's Wave Books Now Has a Pulitzer

Tyehimba Jess's 'Olio,' published by the Seattle-based independent press, takes home the 2017 prize in poetry.

04/10/2017 By Darren Davis

Hot Take

Book Clubbers

In honor of the Rat City Rollergirls and Seattle Arts and Lectures, we've built an all-star roller derby team of female authors.

12/21/2016 By Seth Sommerfeld

Get Lit

Seattle Lit Crawl 2016 Guide

The fifth-annual bar crawl with books promises an expanded lineup featuring a little something for everyone.

10/25/2016 By Darren Davis

Get Lit

Hugo House Announces 2016–2017 Season

The “place for writers” throws a year-long housewarming party for its new First Hill location, featuring an exciting lineup of readings and discussions with local and visiting talent.

08/08/2016 By Darren Davis

Independent Lit

APRIL Fest Turns 5

The fifth annual small press festival promises a "literary buffet."

03/15/2016 By Darren Davis

Essay

Tear Through the World in Wild Disguise

Ivan Doig was a Northwest legend. Before he died this past spring, the Seattle novelist had one last message to share.

07/30/2015 By David Laskin