Kelly Link Announced As Boston Book Festival One City One Story Author

Image of Kelly Link Provided

If you’re one of the many fans of Massachusetts author Kelly Link’s slightly-eerie-but-always-delightful short stories, you’re about to feel pretty proud of one of your favorite authors. And if you’re not familiar with her, that’s about to change: Link’s short story, “The Faery Handbag” is the official choice for the Boston Book Festival’s One City One Story program.

The program is an important part of the festival. Every year, after the story is announced, thousands of copies are distributed around the city for residents to read. Once the festival rolls around, the author is interviewed during a special session that’s orchestrated “town-hall” style, so plenty of people can attend. Link will be interviewed by writer Alicia Anstead, but according to a press release, “Community events focused on the city-wide read will be announced shortly.”

If you’re interested in reading the story, you can download a PDF version here (English and Spanish versions are currently available, with more translations set to come) or pick up a physical copy for free in a number of locations around the city. Any branch of the Boston Public Library will have it, but you can also get it at a few events over the course of September and October, including the Taste of JP on September 15 and South End Open Studios on September 25.

Link is a 2016 Pulitzer finalist for her short story collection Get in Trouble, as well as a Hugo, Locus, and Nebula award-winner. “The Faery Handbag” tells the story of a young woman whose grandmother’s handbag contains an entire village in it (as well as a few other things, depending on how you open it). There’s also a cameo by the Garment District. Ready to read it now?