Summer Stories 2026: The Big Race

Now in its 13th year, The Spokesman-Review's Summer Stories series highlights the Big Race. The Race will feature works by acclaimed regional writers Carla Crujido, Shann Ray, Mery Smith, Lisa Gardner and Shawn Vestal. This year's series, which runs through the end of August, will feature two first-time Summer Series participants: Erin Schmidt and Kailie Knutzen, both Eastern Washington University master's of fine arts creative writing students.