Reading & Conversation: An Evening with Tricia Brown
October 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us for an evening with Tricia Brown in Honor of The Queen of Fairbanks
featuring moderator Carol Sturgulewski
Sponsored By: 49 Writers, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Friends of Wasilla Public Library, Wasilla Public Library, Alaska Center for the Book,
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Location: Wasilla Public Library (500 N Crusey St., Wasilla AK)
About the Book: Irene Mary Sherman (1911-1995) was America’s northernmost bag lady for decades, walking or pedaling the streets of the town she loved while spreading her unique brand of friendship. Born into a pioneer gold-mining family, Irene was terribly burned in a cabin fire at age five, and she bore those scars—physically and mentally—for life. A picture of resilience as she marched around town in many layers of old clothes, Irene was warmly applauded on her three-wheeled cycle in the annual Golden Days Parade. In this frontier town known for its individualism, Irene’s story embodies the grace and goodness of its people. Elsewhere she may have been institutionalized for her non-conformity, but there she was free to live independently, surrounded by watchful, helpful friends. The Queen of Fairbanks is full of mysteries, among them why a city lovingly adopted this woman in the margins.
About the Author: Tricia Brown has specialized in writing and editing Alaska stories for adults as well as children for the last forty years. Bestsellers include The Alaska Homesteader’s Handbook, The Itchy Little Musk Ox, Patsy Ann of Alaska, Bobbie the Wonder Dog, Groucho’s Eyebrows, and Charlie and the Blanket Toss. Brown holds a BA in journalism from UAF and an MFA in creative writing from UAA. She is a frequent speaker at schools, libraries, conferences, and community events, and was chosen in fall 2023 for a CLIA Award (Contributions to Literacy in Alaska). For this book, Brown received a 2021 Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist fellowship. A former Fairbanksan, she now makes her home in Anchorage.
This event is free and open to the public; pre-registration is encouraged.
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