North of Anchorage, there’s this sweet bookstore set in Palmer, home of cabbages that grow to gigantic proportions thanks to the Midnight Sun (a closely followed competition at the Alaska State Fair, also in Palmer). Thank you, Fireside Books, for having me in during one of your busy Saturdays. I brought along my print titled “Miss Irene” from the original painted in 1976 by Janet Kruskamp. It depicts Irene Sherman posing by her unique living quarters in Fairbanks and holding her ever-present Olympia Beer mug.
And so begins another busy season of visiting stores and making presentations to community libraries and schools, both here in Alaska and in the Lower 48. If you live in Alaska along the Parks Highway, I invite you to any of three upcoming opportunities:
Tues., April 15 – I’m visiting the students of TriValley School (Healy, Alaska) during the day and reading my children’s books as well as hopefully exciting kids to explore creativity in their lives.
Grown-ups are invited that evening at 6 p.m., for my talk and PowerPoint presentation at the TriValley Library, 269 Suntrana Ave., Healy. I’ll uncover Irene Sherman’s unique lifeline and the evolution of my dogged work on her biography. Irene saw Healy as her second home and the railroad builders and miners as her “gang.” Irene’s father, J. P. Sherman, first came to Fairbanks in 1903, and later was a gold miner and trapper in this region. Today a power plant for Golden Valley Electric Assocation is situated on land that was once J. P.’s homestead.
Wed., April 16 – The next day, I continue up the road to Fairbanks for an in-depth presentation of the story behind The Queen of Fairbanks as I speak at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ continuing education program they call OLLI classes. I Zoomed with an OLLI group last year, discussing the secrets and rumors about Irene that were shattered with my research. This time, I’ll be speaking in person and sharing how all of my fact-finding and various revelations resulted in the decision to write a book…and then what? If you’ve ever jumped into publishing, you’ll understand this exquisite agony and anticipation. The class will be held from noon to 1:30 at Raven Landing, 1222 Cowles Street, in the dining room. Drop-ins can purchase soup and bread for $5. And I’ll be signing my books, the biography as well as an assortment of children’s books.
Later that day, from 2:30 – 5:30 p.m., come round to the Great Alaskan Bowl Company, 4630 Airport Road, where I’ll be greeting readers and signing books, the Irene Sherman story and several popular children’s books. They have been so supportive. If you can’t make it in, browse the books on their website and you can order by mail.
Finally, on Thursday, April 17, I’m lingering in Nenana, another boomtown built on the backs of railroad workers and planners in the early twentieth century. The Nenana City Library is having me in at 6 p.m. for my Irene presentation, because here, too, is a place that was dear to her. Irene’s parents lived in Nenana off and on, and several of Irene’s siblings were born at St. Mark’s Mission Hospital, which is no longer standing. But this little town is rich in history, beginning with the First People, the Athabascans, followed by the appearance of the non-Native explorers, riverboat captains, missionaries, traders, and railroad gangs. This is a beautiful little river town, well worth exploring. The Library is on the corner of E. Second and Market St. Come and say hello!