Clarion West

Octavia Butler’s birthday is on June 22! We hope you’ll join us for our upcoming Earthseed event on June 25th celebrating her and her legacy.

The event will feature readings from PNW writers Amber Flame and Imani Sims, and an open mic so you can share your work, too.

Additionally, we will reveal new bus stop artwork created by artists Eileen Jimenez and Andrea Marcos, and there will be original music based on the Parable of the Sower, performed by guitarist Asha Neely.

This event has been made possible, in part, by the King County 4Culture Public Free Access Grant.

Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4ntaE1v

Please note that the Clarion West offices are closed today, Friday, June 19, in commemoration of Juneteenth. We hope you find a great book to read in honor of this important day!



Image description: Clarion West Upcoming Event. Earthseed 2026: Honoring the Past and Future of Feminist Science Fiction. Celebrating Octavia Butler and her legacy. Readings, Open mic, Music, Art. June 25, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Third Place COmmons. Brought to you by: Third Place Commons, Clarion West, Two Hour Transport, The Bushwick Bookclub, Third Place Books, Terry Morgan, King County Metro, and the Lake Forest Park in Action Book Club/Lake Forest Park Climate Hub.

Ultra-short. Ultra-focused. Ultra-readable. You love flash fiction and so do we! If you missed this year’s sign-ups for Flash Fiction Groups, why not take a course from one of the previous years?

Our on-demand classes are designed to be taken when you feel like it—so you get your writing in, in your own time. Try out Tara Campbell’s 2023 intensive—a six-video course that will challenge flash writers to do more (with less).

Get started penning your next flash masterpiece here: https://bit.ly/4vf9Dxq



Image description: Over an abstract background of feathers and wings in teal and pink, the words: "Clarion West On-Demand Courses. Flash Fiction Intensive with Tara Campbell. An 80-minute on-demand class to explore flash fiction writing, including openings, characterization, plot, and closings. Lectures are accompanied by prompts, writing exercises, and recommended reading. Please note, as this is an on-demand course, the instructor is not available for questions or feedback, nor is there an organized group story/feedback exchange included. You can begin watching as soon as you register." There is also a photo of instructor Tara Campbell.

A big congratulations to Stephen Graham Jones (CW Instructor ‘12, ‘16, ‘19) and Amal El-Mohtar (CW Instructor ‘19), who each took home a Nebula Award last week! They were among a list of TEN Clarion West alumni and instructors who were nominated for this year’s prize!



Image description: Over a teal background with abstract circles, the Nebula Awards logo over the words, "2026 Nebula Awards. Congratulations from Clarion West."

Is your summer TBR a little lacking (or overwhelming)? We’ve got a suggestion to navigate that stack of books waiting to be read.

We’re launching Story Oracle later this month—a choose-your-own-adventure game that ends in a personalized list of book recommendations every time you play.

All suggestions are curated by Clarion West instructors like Stephen Graham Jones, Martha Wells, and Cory Doctorow!

Sign up for the newsletter so you’re the first to know when Story Oracle launches. The link is in our bio.



Image description: Beside a crystal ball, the words: "Story Oracle: a game by Clarion West. ...is nearly here. Story Oracle is a LitRPG written by friends and alumni of Clarion West. Make a donation during the campaign, and be transported to a narrative labyrinth where you'll be invited to make a series of fantastic (or romantic, mysterious, terrifying...) choices. Your decisions will generate a recommended reading list curated just for you by some of your favorite SFFH authors!"

Last week, the finalists for this year’s Ignyte Awards were announced! A round of applause for the CW alumni and instructors: Ibi Zoboi (CW ‘01, CW Instructor ‘19), Somto Ihezue (CW ‘24), Champ Wongsatayanont (CW ‘24), M.L. Krishnan (CW ‘19), and Christopher Caldwell (CW ‘07). Voting is now open.



Image description: Over a teal background with abstract circles, the words, "Clarion West News: Clarion West alumni and instructors honored: 2026 Ignyte Awards. Christopher Caldwell (CW '07), Somto Ihezue (CW '24), M.L. Krisnan (CW '19), Chanon Wongsatayhanont (CW '24), Ibi Zoboi (CW '01, Instructor '19). Congratulations!"

From the Clarion West archives: Revisit a previous year's Summer Reading Series—like our 2024 talks with Carmen Maria Machado, Ruoxi Chen, Sarah Pinsker, Cadwell Turnbull, Brenda Peynado, and Usman T. Malik.

These talks are available in full, for free, on YouTube, along with many others.

Here’s a link to the 2024 playlist so you can get your fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QetKLCk-Dzw&list=PLeX8k9Uv4SYZQY2mExZNpHWEVjhorcib0



Image description: From the Clarion West archives: A screenshot that says "Six Summer of Science Fiction & Fantasy 2024 with the author names, followed by Clarion West and sponsor logos." At the bottom, the words: "Revisit the conversations."

Earthseed 2026 is just 10 days away! If you haven’t RSVPed yet, there's still a little bit of time.

We'll have readings from PNW writers Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith (CW ‘05), and Imani Sims, and an open mic so you can share your work, too. Plus, we'll reveal new bus stop artwork created by artists Eileen Jimenez and Andrea Marcos, and there will be original music based on the Parable of the Sower.

See you there? https://bit.ly/4ntaE1v



Image description: Over a teal and pink background of abstract circles, the words: "Earthseed 2026: Honoring the Past and Future of Feminist Science Fiction, celebrating Octavia butler and her legacy. Event includes: original music, open mic, and featured readers: Amber Flame, Rashida J. Smith (CW '05), and Imani Sims. June 25 | 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at Third Place Commons. Brought to you by: Third Place COmmons, Clarion West, Two Hour Transport, The Bushwick Bookclub, Third Place Books, Terry Morgan, King County Metro, and the Lake Forest Park in Action Book Club/Lake Forest Park Climate Club."

Locus Awards Correction — we missed a few awards 🔥🔥!!

We’re thrilled that Rebecca Roanhorse will be joining Clarion West this summer in Seattle as an instructor at our Six-Week Workshop, as well as giving a talk at The Seattle Public Library Central Branch.

On July 23rd, she’ll be sitting down with writer Tara Campbell for a conversation about writing, editing, teaching, and more.

See you at the library? RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4u8IX0w



Image description: Over an abstract background of teal wings, the words, "Clarion West presents: Rebecca Roanhorse in conversation with Tara P. Campbell. July 23, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Seattle Central Library." There are labeled photos of Rebecca and Tara, along with the logos of The Seattle Public Library and Third Place Books.

“In the full of the Moon, a fire blazed between the horns of the mountain. The Moon rose over them in a night sky black and clear and deep, and paved in stars...."

So begins The Curve of the World, Clarion West founder Vonda N. McIntyre’s final novel. Did you miss our virtual launch party last month? Good news: we’re hosting a reading and conversation live and in-person in Seattle on July 16!

Joining us is Nisi Shawl and Theo Downes-Le Guin, head of the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation. Attendance is free. Just RSVP to let us know you’re coming: https://bit.ly/3RPO4Vb



Image description: "Clarion West presents: Reading & Conversation - The Curve of the World by Vonda N. McIntyre. With Nisi Shawl and Theo Downes-Le Guin. July 16, 7:00 P.M. Pacific Time, Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122." The image also features photos of Nisi and Theo, as well as the cover of the book.