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Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum was born in Chicago and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a BA in English and writing from Pacific Lutheran University and an MA from the fiction writing program at the University of California, Davis. Her short fiction has appeared in Calyx and Willow Springs, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her first book, This Life She's Chosen (Chronicle, 2005) was named a Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” title. The New York Times Book Review calls the collection "An impressive debut from [...] a promising young writer."

During the interview, which took place at the Palm Court Grill in Spokane, we discussed the role of faith in creative work, how family reacts to the autobiographical elements of fiction, and the pressure of being considered a “poster child” for a young writer's success. Lunstrum currently resides in South Bend, IN with her husband, the photographer Nathan Lunstrum, and teaches English at Saint Mary's College and Indiana Univesity, South Bend.