Tricia Brown Books

Story of a Champion Musher

A new book for Iditarod 2010!

The Lance Mackey Story:

How My Obsession with Dog Mushing Saved My Life

By Lance Mackey; Foreword by Joe Runyan; Edited by Tricia Brown

ISBN 978-0-615-34423-2

This is the seventh mushing book I’ve edited, and what an inspiration it is to work with these great mushers!

Lance Mackey made mushing history in 2007 when he won both the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest, and then just a few weeks later, ran and won the 1,100-mile Iditarod. Back-to-back wins in the same year?! Everybody thought it was impossible. But he proved himself again in 2008, and then neatly won the Iditarod AGAIN in 2009. Lance shares the story of the rocky road that led him to championship-level racing with his superstar leaders—Larry, Zorro, Lippy, Hobo Jim, and Maple.

Mackey’s race record is amazing in itself. But consider this: he made history in mushing AFTER emerging from addiction, and AFTER surviving cancer, taking on the trail while hampered by aftereffects of neck surgery and intense radiation. Think of this guy as the “other” Lance—a super athlete and incredible animal trainer who’s in love with every one of the 60 to 70 dogs in his kennel. And that’s why they’re in still top shape they pull him over the finish line in first place. You’re gonna love this book.

You’ll find more about Mackey’s Comeback Kennel at www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com

Check out this video of Lance Mackey in support of Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4itoaTozjg

Illustrations by Alan C. Stacy

I can’t believe it’s almost here!

I’m out and about reading “Alaskan Night Before Christmas” and meeting kids (and big kids) all over. Take a look at “The Places I’m Headed” and let me know if you’d like me to visit your school with this great book and my other popular children’s books. Click on School Visits to learn more or drop me an email at triciabrown49@hotmail.com.

How Kotzebue the caribou almost wrecked Christmas!

A bad hair day for one musk ox!

The Itchy Little Musk Ox is on the program at Missouri State University’s Literacy Awareness event, coming up October 4-8 at West Plains. I’m so excited to hear of a university that’s involved with its community in this dynamic way. MSU and corporate sponsors CenturyTel and Caterpillar helped make this year’s visit possible, so a big thanks to them. Each year, as many as 4,500 local students get to hear presentations by children’s book authors. I’m speaking during the first two days of the event, on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 5-6, at the Civic Center. My groups of students are all Pre-K to 3rd-graders (my favorites!), and they’ll be coming from the following area schools: Howell Valley, Koshonong, Dora, Bakersfield, Gatewood, Couch, Birchtree, Thayer, Southfork, Winona, Mt. View, Glenwood, Junction Hill, Fairview, WS Elementary, and Headstart. It’ll be fun to talk about Alaska and read from my books, Alaskan Night Before Christmas (in October!), Groucho’s Eyebrows, and of course, The Itchy Little Musk Ox. Can’t wait to meet you kids! See you soon!

Here’s your invitation the the Kankakee Public Library’s Author Fair!

What’s up? I’m going to be reading The Itchy Little Musk Ox to fairgoers and their favorite kids. A musk ox craft is going to follow, so all little artists are invited. There’s a full schedule, and I’ll be reading at 10 a.m. Afterward I’ll sign this and other books at my table, so do drop by! Click on “The Places I’m Headed” for other upcoming events.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2009 (I’ll be reading and leading the craft from 10-10:30 a.m.)

Where: Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street, Kankakee, Illinois; phone 815-929-4564. The fair will be held in the fourth floor auditorium. Many authors to meet, and lots of workshops for adults as well as children.

AK Div. of Tourism photo

A FUN FACTOID: When musk oxen are in danger, the males stand shoulder-to-shoulder, putting the females and young behind them for protection. Learn more about this fascinating Arctic animal during my talk at the Kankakee Public Library’s Author Fair.

I had to write an Iditarod update, especially for you students at Otto H.H. Petersen School, who seemed to catch the dog-mushing bug when I was there visiting earlier this month. Guess what, kids? Remember how I told you to keep an eye on Lance Mackey? Well, he did it again…win number three, and without using any clever tricks on his sleep-deprived opponents. He just blasted down the trail and won that race. So congratulations, Lance!

And thanks Principal Kelly Powell and you 4th- through 6th-graders at Petersen School. It was a full day and I loved meeting all of you.  Check out www.iditarod.com to see the results and running times.

A future leader

Who can resist a puppy? Not me! I was privileged to cuddle this pup last March during the pre-Iditarod events in Anchorage, when four-time champion Jeff King brought along an armful of little furballs from his Denali Park kennel, the Husky Homestead. No question, I’m a big fan of dog-mushing and of Jeff King in particular. Jeff and his wife, Donna Gates, hired me to edit their bestselling book, “Cold Hands, Warm Heart,” last year. Then they invited us to join their table at the Musher’s Banquet in Anchorage, held the night before the race start. Traditionally, the Iditarod begins on the first Saturday of each March…so that’s March 7 this year.

We loved every minute of it, from sniffing that sweet smell of puppy breath, to losing my own breath watching the mushers leave the starting line in downtown Anchorage. Jump on the Iditarod’s website and follow the mushers yourself. You’ll get hooked in no time. And drop me a line—I’d be happy to visit your favorite school to talk about sled dogs, mushers, winners and losers, and/or any other aspect of writing or editing a book.

MUST READS:

“The Iditarod Fact Book” (Epicenter Press, 2006; Edited by Tricia Brown)

“Sled Dog Wisdom” (Epicenter Press, 2005; Edited by Tricia Brown)

“Cold Hands, Warm Hearts” (Husky Homestead Press, 2008; by Jeff King and Donna Gates King) Visit www.huskyhomestead.com

Jeff King and Donna Gates with their editor at the 2008 Musher's Banquet.

A Good Read!

Thanks to all the folks at Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, where we launched “Alaskan Night Before Christmas” in late September!

We found Santa engrossed in reading his copy of the book at Santa Claus House, where the motto is: “It’s Christmas every day!” Visit their website at www.santaclaushouse.com.

After Santa introduced me, I read to lots of children and their moms, dads, grandmas, and friends. We even has a sled dog visit that day!  Click on “The Places I’m Headed!” to see details about upcoming visits to schools, events, and bookstores in Oregon and Alaska!  –Tricia