Charlie Hunts, co-owner of Charlie’s Queer Books chatted with Seattle City of Literature board member Kalani Kapahua about what makes Seattle a uniquely literary city and what he’s reading right now.
Kalani Kapahua: Seismic was a collection that asked writers to consider what the UNESCO designation means for our city and how literature might be an agent of change; curious your thoughts on what being a bookstore owner in a City of Literature means to you?
Charlie Hunts: The designation as a City of Literature demonstrates the strength and camaraderie that bookstores in Seattle have. When our store was starting out, not only were the bookstores we reached out to answering our questions, but other shops were asking if we needed help. I was moved by the authentic sentiment that a rising tide lifts all boats.
KK: What does the addition of Charlie's Queer Books bring to the Seattle literary community?
CH: Having a bookstore that only carries books by and for queer people allows us to explore so many more ways of being in the world. We carry every genre you would expect to see in a general bookstore, but from this lens. So you know that whether you’re reading fantasy or about car repair, the author shares some understanding of this lived experience. It also gives much more space for intersectionality and nuance.
Like any bookstore, we’ve become a third space for our community. There are so few LGBTQ+ spaces that don’t center around nightlife or alcohol, so we offer events like author signings, crafting workshops, and drag performances to bring people together in creative, joyful ways.
It’s been nearly 20 years since Seattle had a queer bookstore. It felt like the right time to bring it back. Today, Seattle ranks no. 1 in households that are same-sex couples and on par with San Francisco in terms of residents who identify as LGBTQ+. We’re trying to serve this population as well as anyone who is interested in great literature.
KK: Charlie's Queer Books has been open for a year and half now, what has been the biggest surprise? The biggest challenge?
CH: The biggest surprise has been learning what our customers are interested in. Luckily we were able to pivot our inventory early on and had enough support to double the size of our Sci-fi/Fantasy, Poetry, Horror, and (of course) Romance sections.
The biggest challenge has been space! It’s amazing how quickly we’ve outgrown our store, especially when it comes to author events. Thankfully, we have some great partners that help us with larger venues. I wish we could carry every queer book! But alas, we curate our selection to fit our space.
KK: What has been the greatest reward, and/or, what has been a hidden joy or running Charlie's that you would've never predicted?
CH: The amount of emotion we see from customers has been a hidden joy. Our location in Fremont means we get so many tourists who say “We could never have a queer bookstore where we’re from,” or “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” They get to have that even if it’s just for the day. We’ve had readers cry in the kids' nook because they wished they had these stories when they were young. There’s a lot of healing that happens every week.
KK: Have there been any individuals or organizations that have been particularly instrumental in helping Charlie’s in its initial couple of years?
CH: Oh boy, that’s quite the list! Michael Wells from Bailey/Coy and the Office of Economic Development, Karen Maeda Allman from Elliott Bay and Red and Black Bookstore Collective, Spencer Ruchti and Rosa Hernandez from Third Place Books, Lee Hooyboer from the ABA, and so many more.
KK: What are you reading/recommending right now?
CH: Right now I’m recommending Woodworking by Emily St. James. It’s got a little bit of everything - heart, humor (reminded me a bit of the show English Teacher), and fabulous writing. As a trans man who is read as male, it really nailed the feelings and complexity around the line between blending in and disappearing.
KK: Describe your preferred reading setting.
CH: I’m a night owl, so I read for a few hours in bed. Nothing better than reading with my cats acting as a weighted blanket.
