Taste of Iceland: How Words Shape a City

Speakers

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  Einar Þorsteinsson

  Einar Þorsteinsson, the first Mayor from the Progressive Party, assumed office as Reykjavík’s Mayor in early 2024.

  Bio
  

  Einar Þorsteinsson

  Einar Þorsteinsson, the first Mayor from the Progressive Party, assumed office as Reykjavík’s Mayor in early 2024.

  Born on December 24, 1978, in Reykjavík, Einar grew up in Kópavogur, the son of Soffía Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir, a project manager at Landspítali Hospital, and Þorsteinn Einarsson, a former HR manager. Einar studied at Reykjavík Junior College and earned an MPA in political science and public administration from the University of Iceland, with exchange studies at the University of Miami. During university, he chaired Politica, the political science student association, and served on the board of Vaka.

  Einar joined RÚV in 2004, where he worked as a sports journalist, news reporter, presenter, and program director for “Kastljós.” He also led various elections coverage. In early 2022, he left RÚV to join the Progressive Party, leading their successful campaign in the March 2022 municipal elections, which secured four City Council seats.

  Einar lives with his family in Reykjavík's Seljahverfi neighborhood. He is married to Milla Ósk Magnúsdóttir, a lawyer and assistant to the Minister of Health. He has two daughters, Auður Berta and Soffía Kristín, from a previous relationship, and a son, Emil Magnús, with Milla.

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  Shin Yu Pai

  Shin Yu Pai is the 2024 Shelley Memorial Award winner. She is currently The City of Seattle's Civic Poet (2023-2024) and served as the former Poet Laureate of The City of Redmond from 2015-2017.

  Bio
  

  Shin Yu Pai

  Shin Yu Pai is the 2024 Shelley Memorial Award winner. She is currently The City of Seattle's Civic Poet (2023-2024) and served as the former Poet Laureate of The City of Redmond from 2015-2017.

  She is the author of 13 books, most recently No Neutral (Empty Bowl, 2023) and Less Desolate (Blue Cactus, 2023). Her work has received awards from The Academy of American Poets, Artist Trust, 4Culture, and The Awesome Foundation. Her poetry films have been screened at the Zebra Poetry Film Festival and the Northwest Film Forum. Shin Yu is also the creator and host of Ten Thousand Things, an award-winning podcast on Asian American stories that she produces for KUOW, Seattle's National Public Radio station.

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  Ragnar Jónasson

  Ragnar Jónasson is an international number-one bestselling author who has sold 4.5 million books in thirty-six countries worldwide.

  Bio
  

  Ragnar Jónasson

  Ragnar Jónasson is an international number-one bestselling author who has sold 4.5 million books in thirty-six countries worldwide.

  Ragnar was born in Reykjavík and entered the world of crime fiction publication at the tender age of seventeen when he began translating Agatha Christie's novels for the Icelandic market. Ragnar has written fifteen novels and won numerous international awards for his crime writing. He has recently received special recognition for his poetry writing from the jury of Iceland's leading poetry award. Ragnar has also worked as a reporter and teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University. He has recently written a novel with the Icelandic Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and his international bestseller The Darkness is currently being filmed for television by CBS, featuring Academy Award nominee Lena Olin in the leading role, directed by Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallstrom. Ridley Scott's production company is developing his standalone novel Outside as a feature film.

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  Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

  Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is the author of the internationally bestselling Thora Guðmundsdóttir crime series, the Huldar and Freyja series, several stand-alone horror novels and humorous children’s books.

  Bio
  

  Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

  Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is the author of the internationally bestselling Thora Guðmundsdóttir crime series, the Huldar and Freyja series, several stand-alone horror novels and humorous children’s books.

  Born and raised in Reykjavík, Yrsa is an engineer and works as a senior partner in one of the country's largest engineering consultancies alongside her writing career. Yrsa was the technical manager for supervising the largest project ever undertaken in Iceland, the Kárahnjúkar Hydroelectric Power Plant, in the Icelandic highlands. Yrsa’s work has been translated into over thirty languages, sold millions of copies, and won numerous awards, including the Icelandic Children's Literature Award and three times the Icelandic Crime Fiction Award. Her stand-alone horror novels I Remember You and The Undesired have been adapted for the big screen. Yrsa collects beautiful shoes and is currently trying to get over the fact that she does not own the most Christmas tree ornaments in the world as she had been led to believe.

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  Stesha Brandon

  Stesha Brandon is a long-time advocate for the literary arts. She is currently the Literature & Humanities Program Manager at The Seattle Public Library and acts as Program Manager and UNESCO Focal Point for Seattle City of Literature.

  Bio
  

  Stesha Brandon

  Stesha Brandon is a long-time advocate for the literary arts. She is currently the Literature & Humanities Program Manager at The Seattle Public Library and acts as Program Manager and UNESCO Focal Point for Seattle City of Literature.

  While Program Director at Town Hall Seattle, Stesha developed compelling programs focused on arts and ideas in partnership with national and community partners. During her long tenure at the University Book Store, she oversaw more than 500 events annually. Stesha conceived, edited, and produced 110/110: A Collection Celebrating the One Hundred Tenth Birthday of University Book Store. She has also worked as an acquisitions editor and a reader for a literary agent and served on numerous committees, including the Bumbershoot Task Force and the Washington State Book Awards jury. She currently serves on the board of Seattle Arts & Lectures. When she's not reading, Stesha likes to bake tasty treats.