I bought my first Alice Munro story collection over 25 years ago, shortly before I applied for graduate school in creative writing. I was a woman with literary dreams and a young daughter, and Munro’s stories of the lives of women and girls made me feel understood and empowered.

In a video interview that I watched as I painted this gouache portrait, Munro was asked how her environment inspired her. She said she didn’t need inspiration because she thought stories were so important in the world. I love the clarity, the confidence, and the reminder that this is true. (This is a belated contribution to

’s Alice Munro memorial!)