Hometown Alaska: Telling Alaska's story

Hometown, Alaska - Alaska Public Media

This week Hometown Alaska hosts three writers telling significant parts of Alaska’s story.

The idea for our show began with the hope of bringing Alaska’s current writer laureate, Heather Lende, to the mic, and picking her brain for what we should be reading this winter. We called, she agreed, but we have ended up with so much more.

Since Heather took the state writer mantle for 2021-23, she has made her mission to bring forward other voices from Alaska. When I called to invite her to Hometown Alaska, all we talked about were other writers she wanted to share.

We have two such voices with us today: journalist and writer Laureli Ivanoff of Unalakleet – whose essays and reflections have appeared in The New York Times, High Country News, Alaska Dispatch and elsewhere; and Leigh Newman of Connecticut, author of a memoir about growing up in Alaska, and her new book, a short story collection called “No One Gets Out Alive,” about women navigating male-dominated Alaska.

HOST: Kathleen McCoy

GUESTS:

Heather Lende, Alaska's Writer Laureate

Laureli Ivanoff, author

Leigh Newman, author

LINKS:

• Heather Lende author website
• “Heather Lende, whose memoirs chronicle life in Haines, is named Alaska State Writer Laureate,” ADN, May 13, 2021
• Laureli Ivanoff writing portfolio website
• Laureli Ivanoff, “The Bearded Seal my Son May Never Hunt,” NYTimes, 10.20.2018
• Leigh Newman, author website with details on her memoir, “Still Points North,” and her short story collection, “No One Gets Out Alive.”
• Leigh Newman talks about “Still Points North,” on The Rumpus Interview