Alaskans are Mystery Lovers
Alaska was fortunate to host the Left Coast Crime mystery writers'
conference this February. Many well-known mystery authors were kind
enough to spend time visiting Alaska libraries and schools following
the conference. The benefits of this were immense for all of the
participants and all reveled the shared joy of reading and writing.
At the Public Libraries Roundtable meeting in Sitka in March, librarians
from around the state shared their stories of the author visits
to their libraries. This sharing was an inspiration to everyone
present, despite the early hour. Unfortunately, we did not have
a tape recorder on at the time. The narratives that follow represent
some of the stories that were shared. Everyone agreed that we would
love to have the mystery writers return to Alaska again!
Haines and Klukwan
Riley St. James, a mystery writer from California visited Haines
and Klukwan. He fell in love with the students at Klukwan who were
excited and enthusiastic to have an author visit their school. In
Haines he visited the elementary, middle and high schools as well
as presented an evening program at the public library for adults.
Ann Myren
Haines Public Library
North Slope (Kaktovik, Barrow, Anaktuvuk Pass)
Here on the North Slope we were fortunate enough to have three author
from the Sisters in Crime conference visit our district. Gerald
A. Schiller a mystery and children's author from California worked
with kids both in Barrow and in Kaktovik. Jeri Fink a techno/thriller
writer from New York worked with our elementary kids at Ipalook
Elementary school here in Barrow and audio playwright Hal Glatzer
visited our K-12 school in the interior village of Anaktuvuk Pass.
Mr. Shiller spent an entire week on the North Slope and was able
to snow mobile, take a dog sled ride, and attend one of our largest
native festivals (Kiviq). While in Kaktovik Mr. Schiller worked
with kids from age 3 through high school and kept them entertained
with his skills as an amateur magician as well as working with the
kids on developing their writing skills.
Tuzzy library our community/college library in Barrow held an authors
reception and both Mr. Shiller and Ms. Fink gave readings of their
work and answered questions from the audience. Everyone I have spoken
with agrees that this was a wonderful experience for all the kids
and the community at large. We had a great time and I believe the
authors did as well.
Jacque E. Peterson
District Librarian
North Slope Borough School District
Dillingham:
Dillingham was pleased to host Lauren Henderson and Bill Fitzhugh.
Our advisory board arranged their entire visit and chaufferred them
from place to place. They each got to drive a dog team and were
here for our winter festival, Beaver Round-up. They watched the
Beaver Round-up parade with us. They each visited the school and
University campus. They also put on writing workshops here at the
library two evenings. The advisory board had a luncheon with them
at our local pizza restaurant, Ricardo's. Lauren was able to steam
with some local ladies but I believe Bill didn't get to because
the steam he was going to visit had burned the night before! Chris
O'Connor
Dillingham
Ketchikan:
Donna Andrews, author of "Murder With Puffins" and "Murder With
Peacocks" visited Ketchikan. She had a very active four days in
town that included visits to the Junior High and High School to
talk about the writing process, a reading and book signing at the
Public Library and a roundtable discussion about writing at a local
coffee shop. While in Ketchikan, she also did some sightseeing,
dining and socializing.
Charlotte Glover
Ketchikan Public Library
Pedro Bay and Lake Iliamna/Newhalen
Elizabeth Gunn and her husband spent four days in the Lake Iliamna
area visiting the communities of Pedro Bay and Iliamna/Newhalen
following the Left Coast Crime Conference.
Elizabeth is the author of the Jake Hines Detective series. Jake,
a small town Minnesota detective who has worked his way up the police
force ranks, has a great sense of midwest humor-much like that of
the author. Elizabeth does extensive research for her mystery books
which she types as "police procedural" rather than "cozies".
Elizabeth spent time with students in the schools, which inspired
many questions from the audience about writing. She also spoke to
the community of Pedro Bay folks during a potluck and book fair
event. Elizabeth is quite the adventurer-a pilot, SCUBA diver and
sky jumper. Years ago she flew to Alaska so was thrilled to be back.
She enjoyed the flight through Lake Clark Pass, was a real trouper
about hiking over a very rough, icy trail to see a bit more of Pedro
Bay and adapted very well to the "you never know" travel spirit
when up and down fog delayed the flight to Iliamna for a day.
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Roz Goodman
School Library & Technology Services
Box 47001
Pedro Bay, AK.
907-850-3011
Gustavus
Mystery and Music came to Gustavus on February 19th with a visit
from Ann Cleeves, British mystery writer, and her traveling companion,
Meryl Sharp, a Welsh folksinger and folklorist. Ann Cleeves is from
Northeastern England and has written many of her mystery novels
around the world of "birding". Her husband is an ornithologist and
the two of them have lived in bird sanctuaries all around England
and Wales. Within a few moments of their arrival, Ann and Meryl
saw three moose in the school playground and were thrilled to view
eagles at our lovely beach. One of our local charter boat captains
took Ann and Meryl on a cruise up into Glacier Bay, where they saw
birds, otters, seals and sea lions. The next day, an NPS naturalist
took them on a nature hike.
Monday evening, our guests met with the local writers' group and
provided some much welcome advice about writing and publishing.
Tuesday morning, the students at Gustavus School benefitted from
workshops by Ann in writing and editing, while Meryl taught Welsh
folksongs and shared Welsh history and folktales. Tuesday evening,
Ann gave a talk and slide show to the community about the bird sanctuaries
where she and her husband have lived, the birds which have inspired
her novels, and the lovely countryside in rural England. Meryl read
passages from Ann's novels. In true Alaskan form, our guests got
weathered in by a snowstorm and spent an extra night in Gustavus.
On Thursday, they flew out early in the morning to Juneau, where
Ann gave a writing workshop at the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility.
She regularly provides writing workshops to inmates of the prisons
in England.
Before leaving our community, Ann left with us a copy of a play,
"Murder in the Library", which she wrote as a fundraising activity
for libraries. The play requires 4 people, 2 men and 2 women, and
can be performed as a reader's theatre. If any other libraries are
interested in a copy of the script, please contact Lynne Jensen
at Gustavus Public Library, P.O. Box 279, Gustavus, AK 99826. Ann
Cleeves only asks that she be credited with writing the play.
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