"It's about recognizing literature, or any other creative endeavor, as a part of a creative economy," said Seattle City of Literature Board President Pepe Montero. "It's recognizing that literature creates jobs, sustains families, supports artists, and that that's a very important thing for our cities and for our countries to recognize and to preserve."

Seattle has been part of the global network of Cities of Literature since 2017, its volunteer representatives meeting with their peers annually. This month, they're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the City of Literature designation in Edinburgh, Scotland, the first city to receive the title. There are now 53 cities with the literary distinction, and 350 in UNESCO's broader Creative Cities Network.

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Being part of the network gives those in the local literary scene opportunities in other Cities of Literature, not to mention international recognition.

But it's also become more important than ever, putting Seattle on the global front against attacks on free speech.