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Fall 2026

English

Fall 2026

Annie Lampman on The Origin of Ava

The Origin of Ava (2026, Torrey House Press) features a trio of unlikely but compelling characters who are linked by their losses. They flee in order to face and heal from their trauma. Their carefully crafted story offers commentary on the climate crisis as well as the current state of higher education while, most of all, examining the human condition.

Native American mythology—specifically surrounding the revered Raven, creator and cunning trickster—threads through the entire tale along with bits and pieces of Pacific Northwest history and vivid description of remote landscapes recognized by those who have spent time exploring the Palouse and the regions around … » More …

Black and white headshot of Alex Kuo in front of bookshelves
Spring 2026

Memories of Alex Kuo

Longtime Washington State University professor Alex Kuo, a distinguished Chinese-American poet and novelist whose heritage figured prominently in many of his works, died June 11, 2025.

Here, friends and former students remember the writer.

‘One-of-a-kind’

Alex was on a Fulbright in Beijing when he reached out to me and a few other former students about teaching positions at a nearby program there. His letter said something like, “Quit your job and come right away. You’ll have plenty of time to write.” I did quit my job and, within a month, was teaching English at the Beijing Forestry University. Alex was working at an adjacent … » More …

closeup of an older woman with short gray hair and black shirt
Summer 2025

A pursuit of answers: Q&A with author Joan Burbick

Joan Burbick spent 30 years searching for her mother-in-law. The result is a spellbinding fictional memoir about sifting through family secrets and lies, unearthing the truth, and seeking justice. Erased is her second novel. Here, the retired Washington State University professor of English and American studies discusses her relentless and perhaps obsessive pursuit for answers.

When did you decide to turn your search for answers about your mother-in-law into a book—and a fictionalized version at that? What made you want to share the story?

At first, all I wanted was answers. What happened to Katherine Lin? It wasn’t until I sensed that the search … » More …

Buddy Levy
Spring 2023

Empire of Ice and Stone: A chat with author Buddy Levy

The treacherous Arctic is the setting of a harrowing true story of shipwreck, disaster, and survival in the early twentieth century. Acclaimed adventure writer Buddy Levy, also a creative writing and English professor at Washington State University, talks with Washington State Magazine associate editor Adriana Janovich about his latest book, Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk.

The second of three nonfiction historical narratives by master storyteller Levy about survival and exploration in the Arctic wilderness, this book tracks the voyage of the Karluk to the Bering Sea and its destruction in the ice, leaving crew, Inuit guides, and … » More …