At the Emerald City Writers’ Conference in October, the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America (GSRWA) named our very own Adult Services Librarian Misha Stone their Librarian of the Year, citing Misha’s commitment to promoting the romance genre and uplifting traditionally marginalized voices.
Misha has been a librarian in the Seattle area since graduating from the UW’s Information School almost 20 years ago. She regularly appears on local television programs promoting books and library programs, and has hosted everything from Karaoke and pop culture conventions to literary readings and writers workshops. One constant is the passion she brings to fostering the love of reading and learning and to helping people find their next favorite book.
We had the opportunity to speak with Misha recently about her introduction to the romance genre and support for local authors, developments in speculative fiction, the importance of representation and diversity in literature, and so much more. Our conversation is below.
How were you introduced to the Romance genre and what were some of the first books in that genre that you read?
I grew up reading lots of Horror and Gothic fiction and thought that my vampire novel obsession meant I had read romance! I fell for the tortured love affair trope at the time. But it’s not a romance unless it’s got a Happily-Ever-After (HEA) or Happy-For-Now (HFN). I credit learning more about romance from Nancy Pearl’s Genre class at the University of Washington where King County Library System’s Alene Moroni presented on her love of romance with memorable enthusiasm. Jayne Ann Krentz’s Bowling Green Keynote speech also stayed with me from that class as she defends beautifully the reasons that romance is looked down upon and why it is so beloved — because it offers us a deep, affirming belief in the power of love.
I also credit librarian Claire Scott, who worked here at The Seattle Public Library, for introducing me to Courtney Milan — she was my gateway drug to romance! Milan’s character-driven romances, both historical and contemporary, are diverse, witty and utterly delightful!
Congratulations again on your Librarian of the Year Award from the GSRWA! Can you tell us about some of the ways you and the Library have helped support local Romance authors?
One of the perks of my job has been hosting author events. I have had the good fortune to meet and host so many authors I admire over the years from Ursula K. Le Guin to N. K. Jemisin to Samuel R. Delany to Joe Hill to Rebekah Weatherspoon. That I get to meet my idols and watch them connect with Seattle’s readers remains an abiding joy of this work.
I have noticed, though, that most literary author programs in libraries tend to focus more on the literary authors with fewer authors in genres like Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Romance featured. This is changing over time, fortunately.
For many years, Tracy Timmons-Gray hosted LGBTQIA+ authors and readers here in Seattle through the Gay Romance Northwest/Read With Pride conference. Through this conference, I learned about the robust, diverse indie romance communities and how many queer voices and stories thrive there outside of mainstream publishing. When that conference concluded, I was inspired to do what I could to keep promoting diverse local and national romance that centers and celebrates BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ stories. I hosted some events with local, queer romance and speculative fiction authors like Guardians of the Gaylaxy.
Old Growth Northwest, the nonprofit that supported Read With Pride, made a donation for a small series of programs which is how Conversations Hearts: A Love Fest for Romance Readers and Writers came to be! With the help of community curators Robin Bradford, Claire Scott, Jasmine Silvera, Tracy Timmons-Gray, and Olivia Waite, I have worked to bring an inclusive and celebratory approach to romance literary programs.
This year’s Conversation Hearts: Bisexual romance panel, envisioned by local romance writer and New York Times columnist Olivia Waite, and hosted in partnership with Third Place Books and the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America, was the panel of my dreams with Alexandria Bellefleur, Alyssa Cole, Katrina Jackson, Casey McQuiston, and Rebekah Weatherspoon!
I also appear fairly regularly on KING5’s New Day Northwest to talk about books. When I learned that the show’s new host, Amity Addrisi, was a huge paranormal romance fan, I asked local paranormal romance author Jasmine Silvera to join me to sing its praises!
What other genres are you passionate about and why?
I love Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror – aka Speculative fiction. I love books that make me see the world we live in differently, that upend my sense of what’s possible. Speculative fiction, like literary fiction, also explores existential questions and speaks to the complexity of our lives and experiences. In Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown said: “Science fiction, particularly visionary fiction, is where I go when I need the medicine of possibility applied to the trauma of human behavior.”
I serve on the Clarion West Writers Workshop board, a Seattle nonprofit founded originally by Vonda N. McIntyre whose 6 week writing workshop brings 18 writers together from around the world with a new instructor each week. Through the workshop, I meet the incredible writers who write teach in the field — Connie Willis, Stephen Graham Jones, Karen Lord, and Nalo Hopkinson, for example — and meet the students whose innovative work I then follow with pride and admiration — authors like Margaret Killjoy, Daniel Abraham, Cadwell Turnbull and E. Lily Yu.
It’s an exciting time for romance, sci-fi and fantasy literature, with many fresh new voices and perspectives emerging. What are some of the ways you see these genres evolving?
I attended FIYAHCON this year (FIYAH magazine publishes Black speculative fiction), its second annual con, and let me tell you, the future is bright. There are more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color writers, more LGBTQIA+, trans, and non-binary writers, and more disabled writers in the speculative fiction field than ever before, bringing fresh perspectives to the genre and to the publishing world. Samuel R. Delany and Octavia E. Butler remain ground-breakers and guiding lights because they wrote science fiction featuring Black and queer characters in a white cis het male dominated field. Like so many readers, I too want to read more inclusive, diverse, and status quo-challenging stories that expand my perspective, uplift marginalized voices, and entertain, but that also offer vistas of more equitable, decolonized futures.
Romance is a genre that also continues to thrive and grow with more diverse writers envisioning HEAs in a more inclusive way. I would be remiss, though, if I did not mention that romance has had many implosions and reckonings around being more welcoming and reflective on white supremacist defaults in publishing. You can read more about some of the recent issues here and here and here. The genre is breaking out from its white cis het default in some beautiful ways, and libraries can be a part of supporting and marketing inclusive voices in the genre.
What are some of your favorite recent titles you want our patrons to know about?
In romance, I cannot say enough good things about Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, Olivia Waite’s Feminine Pursuits series, and Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series. Some other favorites: Band Sinister by KJ Charles is an M/M historical centering enthusiastic consent, Alexis Hall’s Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, a witty British bake-off themed love triangle romance featuring a bisexual character, is an utter delight, and Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Rafe serves up male nanny hotness.
In the speculative fiction realm, this year I loved Daryl Gregory’s Revelator, Cadwell Turnbull’s No Gods, No Monsters, Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon, My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, Vita Nostra by Sergei and Marina Dyachenko, and On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu.
I also loved Danielle Evans The Office of Historical Corrections and Malibu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I cried in public finishing Evelyn Hugo in the most embarrassing way—that ending is a beautiful heart-breaker!
Any last thoughts?
Library staff are eager to help you find a good book to read! We want you to know you can come to us to find more reading suggestions anytime! Also check out our Your Next 5 Books service for a personalized reading list.
~ posted by communications
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