Tricia Brown Books

A flurry of readings ahead!

ReadAlaska and Police Navidad on the horizon!

It seems I’ve just returned from Southeast, and I’m packing again to head back north. This time, I’ll be traveling to Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, Fairbanks, North Pole, and as far as little Salcha, Alaska.

First on the schedule is the annual READALASKA BOOK & CRAFT FAIR, a Thanksgiving holiday weekend tradition held at the Anchorage Museum for many years. On Nov. 25, 26, and 27, you’ll find me signing and selling my books at the Tricia Brown Books table upstairs in the atrium.

I’ll be joined by four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, who’s selling his newly released second edition of Cold Hands, Warm Heart, a wonderful collection of his adventures on the trail (which I edited, by the way). He’s added three new stories to this expanded edition, along with dozens of new photos.

Another big event scheduled for Sat., Nov. 26, is POLICE NAVIDAD, a free, family-oriented gathering at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Center on 7th. There’s Breakfast with Santa, entertainment, games, food, and lots of kid activities. Jeff King and I will break away from ReadAlaska for a reading at Police Navidad. We’ll be on stage from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., so please make it a date!

Jeff and I also will be reading later that day (at 1 p.m.) at the Anchorage Museum auditorium. The Museum Gift Shop is hosting our reading and will supply lots of books for the signing that follows immediately after the reading.

In the weeks that follow, I’ll be visiting schools and libraries all along the railbelt. Click on “The Places I’m Headed” to see where we might be able to meet each other during my winter book tour! See you soon!

From Musher's Night Before Christmas; illustrated by Debra Dubac

Jeff King's new book!

Designed by Patrick McDonegal, Juneau Public Libraries

I’m traveling to Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, and onward to Juneau in the coming weeks, with a full schedule that includes visits to a dozen schools and libraries. I’m sure looking forward to it! Check “The Places I’m Headed” to see if our paths might cross. I had to show off this promotional poster for our event at the Juneau Library Public - Downtown. I love it. And, this is a rare opportunity to meet both the author and illustrator (Jim Fowler) of Patsy Ann of Alaska.

Next month, I’ll be touring schools, libraries, and bookstores in Anchorage, the Valley, Fairbanks, and North Pole. And let’s not forget ReadAlaska Book & Craft Fair at the Anchorage Museum—it’s during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Hope to see your there, too. Stay tuned!

Sled dogs to the rescue!

Rudolph’s nose light is worn out, and Nome, Alaska, the last stop on Santa’s round-the-world delivery run, is socked in with a bad snowstorm.

Learning about Alaska at Gold Beach, Oregon

Ready to Visit YOUR School or Library

This summer, I’ve been busy working on some book editing projects for a couple of publishers, but I’m also working on new books for coming seasons.

I’m excited about three fresh-off-the-presses books to share, and I’d love to visit your favorite bookstore, school, or library for a reading or signing. I have multi-media presentations for each of these books:

The World-Famous Alaska Highway: A Guide to the ALCAN and Other Wilderness Roads of the North (Fulcrum Publishing, 2011). For those of you who are planning a trip up the Alaska Highway this summer, it’s not too late to pick up the 4th edition. And now is the time to begin your planning for a trip in 2012.

Patsy Ann of Alaska: The True Story of a Dog (Sasquatch Books, 2011). This is a fun read-to-me book for pre-K to 2nd- or 3rd-graders. It’s a wonderful tale of a dog that belonged to a whole community in Depression-era Juneau.

Musher’s Night Before Christmas (Pelican Publishing, 2011). I’m setting up Fall visits now all over the country for this new version of an old classic.

So drop me a line and let me know when you’d like me to come. Things are shaping up now for September through December! Write me at triciabrown49@hotmail.com to set up a visit!

Illustrated by Jim Fowler

We just got some good news on this brand-new book! The Alaska Association of School Librarians has selected Patsy Ann of Alaska as a Battle of the Books choice for K-2 readers in the 2011-12 school year. If you want a head start on your reading, it should be in bookstores in about another month, and it’s available for pre-order today, so you can reserve a copy now.

Also, do contact me if you’d like me to visit your school or library, please! I’d be happy to share this or any other of my children’s books with your students. Just drop me a line at triciabrown49@hotmail.com.

I got another good report along with that news of Patsy Ann. One of my other kid books, The Itchy Little Musk Ox, was picked as a Battle of the Books alternate! I’m always happy to hear from teachers, parents, and grandparents, who report how often they’ve read the story with their favorite children. That one was beautifully illustrated by Debra Dubac of Anchorage.

Coco, not Kotzebue

-20 IN FAIRBANKS

But the temps didn’t seem to both Coco at all. She and her handler Opal Welton came over to my sister’s place for a visit, and we took turns taking pictures, of course! Coco started digging in the snow and snacked on some of that tasty grass.

The experience turned bizarre and wonderful when Coco came into the house for a walkabout. Opal said just make sure she doesn’t see any mirrors or her window reflection, or Coco’s natural curiosity might get a little too aggressive. Reindeer ankles make a fascinating clicking sound with each step. I’ve heard that those who’ve been fortunate to witness a caribou migration are blown away by the sound. We just sang, “Up on the house top, click-click-click!”

Winter guest

Illustration by Alan Stacy

Alaskan Night Before Christmas

(or how one selfish caribou almost wrecked Christmas for all of us!)

If you’ve read this Christmas story, you know about how Kotzebue the Caribou lands on the naughty list—for a short time, at least—for making Christmas an “all about me” proposition. It’s also the story of how Star the reindeer shows the spirit of Christmas better than Kotz. Alan Stacy painted the illustrations for this cute story of one crazy Christmas Eve in Alaska.

Right now, I’m packing for a flight to Fairbanks/North Pole and a series of school visits that are bound to be fun. This year, I’ll be stopping by University Park Elementary, Ticasuk Brown Elementary, and Nordale Elementary. I’m looking forward to meeting all those great kids!

Meeting my readers is a pleasure that I can’t describe. Most often, I write alone, and read and reread alone. (There’s a lot of mulling over in writing a children’s picture book.) But when I get to read to a big group of kids, their interest and energy feeds me and inspires me to get busy on a new batch of stories. I love visiting schools! Let me know if you’d like me to come to your school this winter, or next spring. Meantime, Merry Christmas to all!

A famous dog from Depression-era Alaska

Heaven on a Highway

TIME TO PACK!