Karen Allman has worked as a bookseller for over twenty-five years, first at Seattle’s pioneering Red and Black Bookstore Collective, and at Seattle’s highly regarded Elliott Bay Book Company since 1999. She co-directs Elliott Bay’s internationally-renowned author reading series, which includes writers from around the world, many reading in original languages, and a good number from South Asia. She is also nationally recognized for her work in noting and promoting excellent literary writing of a culturally diverse nature. She has served on numerous jury and award panels for Hedgebrook Writer’s Retreat, the Washington State Book Awards, and the Kiriyama Prize, a major international award recognizing literary work from the Pacific Rim and South Asia. She is a member of the Asian American Writers Workshop, and has taught for Washington state’s Artist Trust, Richard Hugo House Writers Center, and the International Examiner, a pan-Asian newspaper.