I love visiting Sasquatch Books in Seattle. They’re always upbeat, positive, and focused on the market. Alaskan titles debut in the spring, but the fall list includes plenty of books of interest to Alaskan readers, including a re-release of The Encyclopedia of Country Living, Bretz’s Flood (what Alaskan can resist a subtitle that includes the words “rebel geologist”?) and, perfectly timed for our roller-coaster stock market, Good Drinks for Bad Days. I also got to see the beautiful cover of Picture This, Alaska.
Also here in the Pacific Northwest is a fine opportunity for writers in the form of the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA in Creative Writing Program. It’s the nation’s first MFA program offered by a writing organization instead of a university. What a concept: it includes practical coursework on matters like evaluating a publishing contract, finding an agent, and understanding copyright.
Today I’m off to Portland for my first-ever visit to the legendary Powell’s Books, and to visit my daughter in grad school at PSU. I’m eager to browe the Alaska collection at Powell’s.