Torq remembered the whale killers hunting the seals. The time they were on the ice with the seals and the whales came by was terrifying to him. Worse was the time the whale killers swam past their little boats chasing a seal. They caught it and tossed it in the air near them. Torq was […]
Spotlight on Alaska Books | Bonnye Matthews, ‘The SealEaters, 20,000 BC’ Read More »
“We were hiking down this trail outside of Anchorage, and we see a moose blocking the trail… Big animal, so we stopped and were thinking about cutting through the woods to get around… Then this guy walked right by and sort of sneered, as if to say, ‘Real men don’t fear moose.’ I was tempted
Spotlight on Alaska Books | Trucker Dude by John Foley Read More »
Like many others before me, I came to Alaska hoping to learn to live with and from the land, though I hardly knew all that it would mean. Over the course of years, I’ve felt my spirit flex as I gutted and skinned, or plucked or scaled, and ate more once-living things than I can
49 Writers: Spotlight on Alaska Books | The Giant’s Hand by Nick Jans Read More »
After Our Friends arrived, we took them to Burger King for the cinnamon-bun breakfast and along the way, showed them our skyscrapers and cars, several war zones and exploding beached whales, plus all that pollution and the Beijing women bending through morning exercises— the usual signs of a modern society reflecting upon itself, lamenting all
Spotlight on Alaska Books | Copper Mother by Alyse Knorr Read More »
Being Fishermen, my friends and I were all great liars. We fibbed about the monster perch we caught at the end of our street when none of the other kids were around. We jacked up the number of bullheads or sunnies hauled in on family vacations, far from the neighborhood. Fish that got away ballooned with each telling, like the river’s
Spotlight on Alaska Books | Liar’s Code by Richard Chiappone Read More »
I drank, forcing the Kool-Aid in between my tongue and the swelling log of sandwich. The Kool-Aid was like glue that attached the massive wad of sandwich. More if it ran out both sides of my mouth as I gasp for air. Wiping my chin on my sleeve, I was thankful for the extra seconds
Spotlight on Alaska Books | Secondhand Summer by Dan Walker Read More »
Juliet and Kanga watch me. Standing in lead at the front of the line, they turn and follow me with their eyes as I step onto the runners of my dogsled. For the past fifteen minutes they’ve been clamoring to go—yapping and singing for the night trail and the star-speckled sky. Now they tremble with
A vibration erupted beneath his feet and his mukluks slid from under him. There was a loud crack as he landed. Pete caught his breath and spread his weight out, staring at his reflection in the dark water beneath treacherously thin ice. Two red eyes stared back at him from a face white as the
Spotlight on Alaska Books: Treasures of the Night by Bruce Lee Bond Read More »
It was June 2009 at an inn on Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Donna, someone I had just met said, “Tell me about your camel.” My camel. I live in Alaska. She’s from Chicago, the wife of a poet, and it’s her first trip here. People ask me lots of strange questions. Do you have electricity? Running
Spotlight on Alaska Books: The Soul of My Soldier by Abigail B. Calkin Read More »
Long after dark, they got the last crab pot strapped down. Jim climbed over the load checking the lashings that held the stack, though it was dark already, the deck slick with sleet and more rain falling on the wind that rolled in off the Bering Sea. The lights of town pricked through the night.
