"Mechanic Shop Femme" book tour comes to Seattle

The author of a new how-to book on car ownership is taking a tour of a different sort, stopping not at bookstores but queer- and women-owned car repair shops around the country.

Why it matters: Cars can be one of the most expensive and consequential purchases for many people and making the right choices can save thousands of dollars, said automotive journalist Chaya Milchtein, who wrote the " Mechanic Shop Femme's Guide to Car Ownership ."

• Milchtein, who was named one of Out Magazine's most influential LGBTQ people in 2021, told Axios she wanted to share practical information with people who are outside traditional, often male-dominated, car spaces.

What they're saying: "I wrote this to arm women and queer folks with the knowledge and power to make educated car choices," she said, noting the book is not a textbook or a traditional DIY guide.

• "It's chock-full of a decade of automotive experience and insights, written for the regular car owner."

Driving the news: Milchtein will be at Repair Revolution on Sixth Street South in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood on Monday at 6pm .

• The queer-owned shop started by ASE-certified Eli Allison in 2011 rose "out of necessity and a desire to revolutionize the automotive industry," per the company's website .
• Tickets are $5 and go to support the Jill Trotta Scholarship , which helps women and queer people pay for the tools, training and certification needed to break into the automotive industry.

Fun fact: Milchtein, who lives in Milwaukee, said she has deep ties to the Seattle region since her Jewish Russian refugee grandparents settled in Tacoma after World War II.

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