This list includes all known Alaskan authors particularly with publications for children and young people. Information about Alaskan authors currently residing in Alaska (some may no longer reside in Alaska) is provided with known contact information. Alaskan authors are encouraged to submit a copy of a new publication for the District's preview program to:
| Author and contact information |
Description |
Cindy Lou Aillaud
Contact: Christine Belenski at Northwest Books
907-278-8838 |
A Disney teacher of the Year for 2004 and author as well as photographer of Recess at 20 Below. |
Michael Armstrong
e-mail: marmstrong12@genie.com |
|
Dianne Barske
fax 346-1791
e-mail: dbarske@alaska.com |
Writer/illustrator of children's books. Enjoys working with school age children. |
| Mary Giraudo Beck |
A writer and teacher from Ketchikan. |
Laurel Downing Bill
338-5736
e-mail: thebills1@prodigy.net |
Author of Alaska history series titled Aunt Phil's Trunk. Offers one-hour interactive talks about Alaska history for grades 4 and up.
$50 per hour. |
Stephanie Bodeen
e-mail: ssbodeen@yahoo.com |
Author of ALA Notable Elizabeti's Doll picture book series. Rate $1,000 a day but flexible if the travel costs are high.Fee break for multiple sites visit. |
Larry Dane Brimner
520-514-2445
www.brinmer.com |
Author of 150 books for children, grew up in Kodiak AK. $1,750 day, no travel $
Title: The Littlest Wolf |
Sharon Bushell
www.berniejones.com/Author/author.html |
Creator of The Trouble with Bernie series of children's stories from Homer. |
Nancy White Carlstrom
Fairbanks
|
Author of children's picture books.
Will speak to groups. |
Alden Carter
Wisconsin
715-389-1108
www.aldencarter.com |
Author of 9 novels, 20 nonfiction titles, 6 picture books. Winner of 6 ALA's Best Book awards and frequent guest in schools and at conferences of librarians, teachers, and writers worldwide. |
Richard Carstensen
Juneau
www.alaskavoyages.com/richard.html |
Author, naturalist, environmental consultant, artist, cartographer. Offers teacher workshops and student programs. Grades 3 and up. |
Ann Chandonnet
6415 Tarheel Drive
Vale, NC 28168
Contact: (704) 462-0961
e-mail: chandonnetvale@wildblue.net
|
Author; folklorist; culinary expert. Works with any age group. Offers lecture/storytelling, writing exercises, writing riddles, traditional Alaska Native legends. Now lives in Vale, North Carolina but is still available to visit schools anywhere, if transportation is provided. |
Kim Corral/Roy Corral
Palmer
|
Author/Photographer
Slide presentations on natural history, a writer's life, and the importance of writing with a vision. |
Loretta Outwater Cox
Contact: Christine Belenski at Northwest Books
907-278-8838 |
Author of The Winter Walk: A Century-Old Survival Story from the Arctic. Newest work is The Storytellers' Club. Born in Nome and raised in villages around the Seward Peninsula, Loretts is currently retired. She taught in Alaska for twenty-three years. |
Katherine Carson Crittenden
Anchorage |
Anchorage author of Get Mears, a biography of Frederick Mears, is available for book talks. |
Jack Dalton
www.ravenfeathers.com |
Alaska Native storyteller and author of the novel Gemini. Does both storytelling performances and workshops on storytelling. |
Julie Decker
Anchorage |
Artist |
Brett Dillingham
Juneau
phone/fax: 907-586-1643
brett@brettdillingham.com |
Brett does storytelling presentations ranging from traditional Alaska tales to Inuit legends. Has written the children's book, Raven Day. |
Mike Dillingham
Wasilla
907-357-4524
http://home.gci.net/~sleddog |
Author of Rivers, Diary of Blind Alaska Racing Sled Dog and a second book, Rivers, Through the Eyes of a Blind Dog. Mr. Dillingham, along with Rivers, will make appearances in the classrooms of any age. |
Ann Dixon
Willow
www.anndixon.com |
Librarian; author; storyteller
Preschool to 4th grade
Lecture, visuals, storytelling, hands-on arts or crafts, if requested. |
Mindy Dwyer
Saugerties, NY (but does come back for school visits!)
Web page |
Author/illustrator Grades 1-5
Integrates writing and illustrating in her presentations and involves children in activities. |
Judy Ferguson
Box 130 Delta Jct, AK 99737
907-895-4101
e-mail: outpost@wildak.net
www.alaska-highway.org/delta/outpost/ |
Judy Ferguson, a Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, free-lance columnist for Heartland Magazine, is a well-known writer to Interior Alaskans. Her books include Parallel Destinies, Blue Hills, and Alaska's Secret Door. Her latest work is Alaska's Little Chief, David Salmon, First Traditional Chief of Interior Alaska. Ms Ferguson is interested in doing story time in schools. |
Nancy Warren Ferrell
Juneau, Alaska |
Retired librarian who writes award-winning nonfiction books for children. Author of Alaska's Heroes:A Call to Courage. |
Pam Flowers
Talkeetna
www.pamflowers.com |
Arctic geography, social science, natural history, and dog mushing, co-author (with Ann Dixon) of Alone across the Arctic and Big-Enough Anna. |
Shelley Gill
www.shelleygill.com
sgill@xyz.net
P.O. Box 2364, Homer, AK 99603. |
Author of many titles including Danger, The Dog Yard Cat, Thunderfeet, Alaska Mother Goose, and Kiana's Iditarod. |
Jane Haigh
Fairbanks
|
Historian and author.
Presentations exploring children of the gold rush era, and process of historical research. All ages. |
Elizabeth (Libby) Hatton
8601 Sultana Drive
Anchorage, AK 99516
277-9968
e-mail: libbyh@alaska |
Alaska Geographic organization has published Pete Puffin's Wild Ride Cruising Alaska's Currents which I wrote and illustrated. It is of interest to K-4 students. Available for class visits in Sept. & Oct. and Feb.-May. I am very interested in promoting science education and do not charge for visits. |
Sue Henry
Anchorage
|
Mystery author, former teacher. Works with all age ranges. Lecture (45 min. to 1 hour); writing exercises; reading and writing skills presentation. |
Ben Higgens
Anchorage
e-mail: Higgins_Ben@asdk12.org |
A teacher at Bayshore and author or The Master of Disaster, an adventure novel for 3-6 graders. |
| Gary H. Holthaus |
Alaskan author |
Michael Horton
e-mail: sehorton@ak.net |
An Alaskan author and mental health alcohol & drug clinician for the remote villages on Kodiak Island. Author of A Life on the Line and Original Animals for young adults. |
Bruce Hougan
e-mail: bhougan@yahoo.com
258-1317 |
Author resides in Anchorage, Alaska with his wife. Wrote Wilderness of Strangers, a modern variation on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped. |
Karen Jettmar
2440 E. Tudor Road #1102
Anchorage, AK 99507
equinox@alaska.com |
Photographer, wilderness guide. Grades 1-6. Slide presentations and hands-on activities involving Alaska rivers, wildlife, and ecosystems. |
Larry Kaniut
Anchorage
www.kaniut.com |
Retired English teacher/coach and outdoorsman. All ages, esp. older students.
Presentations on bears, survival, the writing process and getting published. |
Sharon Kelly
Anchorage
907-272-8644 fax 907-274-8644
e-mail: aaatours@ptialaska.net |
Enjoys interaction with preschool-graduate level students as well as adult groups. Author/publisher of 14 "how-to" books on hot tubs, spas, swimming pools and more. Wrote Exercises for the Hot Tub, Pool and Spa and Food for Wet Fingers. |
Helen Ketteman
e-mail: helenket@flash.net
www.flash.net/~helenket/ |
The author lives in San Francisco, CA but travels anywhere! |
Steve Langdon
786-6848 |
UAA Professor of Anthropology, Metalsmith; writings on Alaskan anthropology. |
Karen J. Laubenstein
(907) 271-3318
e-mail: karen_laubenstein@blm.gov
e-mail: karenlaubenstein@gmail.com
|
Karen loves children and sharing about writing, researching, photography, and communication for all ages, sized groups, and time frames. Interactive workshops. Author of fictionalized prehistory and history books, ghostwriter for nonfiction and mystery. Winner of national Parent's Choice award. Karen is the Alaska Bureau of Land Management's State writer-editor.
|
Barbara Lavallee
Anchorage
http://evergreengallery.com/blavallee.htm
and
www.knightvisions@knightvisions.com/lavallee/lavallee.htm |
Artist, former art teacher All age ranges
Anecdotal presentation; storytelling with illustration demonstration. |
Steven C. Levi
Anchorage 337-2021
scl@parsnackle.com
|
Adjunct college instructor, historian, poet and novelist. Levi is available for high school history, English and writing classes. Levi’s latest books include: Boom and Bust in the Alaska Gold Fields, Cowboys of the Sky, A History of Alaska's Bush Pilots, Telling it All, My Life as a Con Man by Alabama Fats as Told to Steven Levi, Cadzow, O'Malley, The Human Face of the Alaska Gold Rush.
|
J. Patrick Lewis
440-247-0123
www.jpatricklewis.com |
A children's poet with over 43 books published. Enjoys visiting schools, averaging over 40 a year. |
Debra Lighthart, Ph.D
e-mail: ask@mtaonline.net |
Life After MPD, Rough Around the Edges, Vol. One, Too Big For Momma's Pocket, Parents, It's OK To:, Navigating Family Services, Raising Respectful, Responsible Children, Stimulating Your Marriage (907) 746-1804. |
Jim Magdanz
Nome
|
Photojournalist, licensed pilot, and author. Offers elem. grade presentations on weather, life in NW Alaska 100 years ago, and the process of making a book. |
Richard Manners
2601 Northrup Place
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
e-mail: m.manners@worldnet.att.net |
Richard is a retired business executive. He was born in England in 1929. His first years were spent in an orphanage. After a boarding school education he entered a Trappist Monastery and remained there 5 years. He now migrates between Alaska and California, staying with his children and telling stories to his grandchildren. |
David Marusek
2105 Yankovich Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709
www.marusek.com
e-mail: david@marusek.com |
Science fiction author published nationally and abroad. Winner of the 2000 Sturgeon Memorial Award for best short science fiction story of the year. Will lecture and answer questions. Grades 8 through college. An Alaska State Council on the Arts Tumblewords author. |
Amy Meissner
Anchorage
907-245-6680
www.amymeissner.com
e-mail:amy@amymeissner.com |
An illustrator of 6 children's books, Amy's 50-minute presentation (K-6) focuses on the narrative in children's book illustration. Through the use of slides and various visual aids, she discusses the many steps to publishing a book and offers applied exercises in both writing and art. Available for class visits and Artist in School residencies. |
Yvonne Merrill
www.hands-on.com and click on Alaska |
Alaskan author now located in Utah willing do story hours in Alaska. Yvonne used to work in the Imaginarium before moving to Utah. Author of Hands-on Alaska. |
Debbie Miller
Fairbanks
e-mail: dmiller@polarnet.com
www.ptialaska.net/~dcmiller/ |
Naturalist, teacher, and author, elementary grades
Slide shows, hands-on activities, discussions for children, and teacher workshops. Her topics include migrations, how a nature writer works in Alaska, and how a book is made.
$800/all day, $400/half-day all expenses included. |
Claire Rudolf Murphy
Spokane, WA
509-532-9566
cell: 509-954-8994
fax: 509-532-9568
e-mail:mail@clairerudolfmurphy.com
www.clairerudolfmurphy.com |
Author Grades 2 through 12.
Former Fairbanks middle and high school language arts teacher who has written books on the Gold Rush and Alaska, including Caribou Girl and Gold Rush Dogs.
Lecture and question & answer sessions; slide presentation. Rates: $500/half day or $1,000/all day, all expenses included. |
Eric Nichols
P.O. Box 56235
North Pole, Alaska 99705
907-488-0483
e-mail: k17aj@gci.net |
Author of Plasma Dreams, the truth, in an offbeat manner, about iconspheric plasma science.
He's available to speak about science and/or writing. His writing reflects on his years of work at KIPAS Observatory near Fairbanks, as well as HAARP near Gulkana. |
Margaret Nicolai
Anchorage
|
Author. Grades 1-8.
Presentations focus on the importance of sharing oral history and the process of book publishing. |
| Helen Nienhueser |
Author of 55 ways to the wilderness in Southcentral Alaska. |
Blanca Noriega-Echeverri
563-6866
4201 MacInnes Street, Anchorage |
Has written the book and sound recording, Little Angels - Angelitos. |
| Senshu Noriko |
Has written an Alaska children's book, Sonny's Dream. |
Wallace M. Olson
907-789-3311 (phone/fax)
e-mail: wmolson@ptialaska.net
|
Author of Through Spanish Eyes:Spanish voyages to Alaska, 1774-1792, selected to receive the 2003 Outstanding Alaskana Award.
Also author of The Tlingit: an introduction to their culture and history. |
Sara Peterson
P.O. Box 980
Homer, Alaska 99603
e-mail: saranjon@acsalaska.net |
Author of Alice,an Alaskan Pioneer and Alaska Meets Inupiat Eskimos. |
Michelle Renner
Eagle River
|
Free-lance writer, former teacher Grades 3 through 8. Does workshops/lectures; enjoys one on one with creative writing students. |
Herb Rhodes
2219 Lord Baranof, Anchorage, AK 99517
907-248-0925 |
Writer of Hungry for Wood, Rhodes tells his story from the Great Depression of the '30's through the Battle of Iwo Jima, to the settling of Alaska. |
Douglas Reger
e-mail: d.reger@worldnet.att.net |
Archeologist; writings on Alaskan archeology. |
David Rubin
Ketchikan
www.ketchikanarts.org/rubin.html |
Artist, will work with all ages
Process of creating art for books; painting landscapes and portraits. |
Rose Ruley
Anchorage, Alaska
907-333-8240
|
Author of Quest for a moose, a legend of two friends searching for a moose. A story of friendship, believing in one's dreams and not giving up. |
Megan Mallory Rust
www.meganrust.com/intro.html |
A former professional pilot in Alaska, Rust entwines her own aviation experience into Taylor Morgan's fictional exploits. |
Lynn Schooler
Juneau |
Juneau author of The Blue Bear: A true story of friendship, tragedy and survival in the Alaskan wilderness. |
Joe Senungetuk
e-mail: innuq@aol.com |
Writings on Alaskan native perspectives |
Robert Dane Shaw
e-mail: shaw@alaska.net |
Archeologist, historian, metalsmith. Writings on Alaskan archeology, Alaskan history and curriculum units in Alaskan native culture; offers interesting slide presentations. |
Bill Sherwonit
Anchorage |
Author and outdoorsman. Grades 3 and up. Author of Denali, a literary anthology and many other books on Alaska nature. Topics: nature writing, journals, Alaska's wildlife, and bear/human co-existence. |
Susan Woodward Springer
Now resides in Sun Valley, Idaho
Contact: Christine Belenski at Northwest Books
907-278-8838 |
Author of Seldovia Sam series -Seldovia Sam and the Very Large Clam; Seldovia Sam and the Sea Otter Rescue; Seldovia Sam and the Wildfire Escape; and Seldovia Sam and the Blueberry Bear. |
Dana Stabenow
Anchorage
e-mail: dana@stabenow.com
www.stabenow.com |
Author, all age groups
Beginning writer workshops (First lines, settings, characters, plots, etc.) for 4-6 grades; business of writing for HS students. |
Bruce E. Steringer
brucesteringer@publishedauthors.net
bruce_steri@yahoo.com |
Author of Return to Alaska, a book geared for ages 13 and up, lives in Oregon. |
Beverly Stevens
bevgonedogs@hotmail.com |
Author of This Dog Team Lives in the House, a children's picture book which uses actual photographs of sled dogs combined with watercolor painting. Will bring dogs and truck to school. |
Beth Taylor
taylor_beth@asdk12.org |
One of our teachers, Beth Taylor, has illustrated a new Alaskan book in beautiful watercolors, Little Dragonfly's Quilt, Alaskan Animals Solve a Color Puzzle. She and author Katharine Adams are available for author visits or you can purchase through Beth via e-mail. |
Jim Tilley
Anchorage
|
Author, enjoys working with all ages in groups of up to twenty
Is in the process of putting a book together. |
Lesley Thomas
www.lesleythomas.alaskawriters.com |
Author of award-winning arctic novel "Flight of the Goose"
You can see many reviews by Alaskan writers and readers, among others, at my Web site. |
Ray Troll
www.trollart.com |
Author and illustrator |
John Van Zyle
Eagle River
688-2020 (fax)
www.epicenterpress.com/jonvanzyle.html |
Artist; book illustrator
Contact goes through publisher or by fax to home. |
Marcia Wakeland
Eagle River
800-750-8166
www.schoolenrichment.org/plans/k-6plans/k-6plan26.htm |
Author; publisher. All age groups
For young children discusses books with artwork. With older, discusses book-making process. |
Deb Lehmann Vanasse
P.O. Box
222451
Anchorage
,
AK
99522
907-388-9303 FAX 907-770-1351
debv@gci.net
www.DebVanasse.com |
Totem Tale, Under Alaska’ Midnight Sun, and Alaska’s Animal Babies; forthcoming middle grade nonfiction Amazing Alaska, and young adult novels Out of the Wilderness, and A Distant Enemy. $500 per day for school visits plus travel expenses; details are on my Web site. |
Velma Wallis
Fairbanks
contact: info@epicenterpress.com |
Books include Two Old Women and Raising Ourselves, winner of a 2003 American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation |
Willy Lou Warbelow
Tok
883-2881
http://tokalaska.com/willylou.shtml |
Alaskan pioneer and author living in Tok. |
Richard Jesse Watson
2305 Ivy Street
Port Townsend, WA. 98368
www.richardjessewatson.com |
Author, illustrator, speaker has been doing school presentations since 1984. His most recent book, Magic Rabbit, is released through Blue Sky Press/Scholastic. |
Colleen Madonna Flood Williams
P.O. Box 3492, Homer, Alaska
colleen.williams@acsalaska.net |
I love to do library visits. The visit is free of author fee charges, but asking for travel expenses. One way to help raise funds would be to purchase some of my books at a 50% discount and sell them prior to my visit. Schools can do this by ordering my books through orders@windstormcreative.com contact person is Zach. Just ask for a list of my titles and terms for ordering by schools. |
Evon Zerbetz
P.O. Box 8943,
Ketchikan, AK 99901
225-8212
evon@evonzerbetz.com |
Artist/illustrator Grades 1-12
Hands-on sessions on printmaking; completed projects expanded to classroom publishing efforts. |
