An Austin, Texas, transplant and lifetime environmental advocate, Kay Smith-Blum has called Seattle home since 1981. A former high-end fashion retailer who also served on the Seattle School Board, Smith-Blum spends her mornings writing stories that debunk the tropes of the mid-20th century and defy genre. Winner of the Black Fox Lit 2023 Short Story contest, Smith-Blum's other short works have garnered Pushcart and Best of the Net nominations. In the afternoon, she works out her writer's block in her three sons' gardens or the nearest lap pool. For more, visit www.KaySmith-Blum.com and follow her on Instagram @discerningKSB