They had many differences, but all of the authors gathered at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum on Thursday had one important thing in common: They are Alaskans.<\/p>\n
In honor of Alaska Day, there was an all-Alaska literary festival at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff building featuring writers and illustrators of different ages, genders and backgrounds, who work in a number of genres.<\/p>\n
“I hope everyone feels rich this afternoon,” said Ben Huff, Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum board member, who emceed the event. “I know I do.”<\/p>\n
Susi Gregg Fowler and illustrator Jim Fowler, Ishmael Hope, John Straley and Heather Lende each took time to read to a small crowd gathered in the lecture hall, answer questions and provide some information about their process and the background of their selected works.<\/p>\n
The authors stayed after for a book signing. In some cases, it was more of a book exchange. Some of the authors bought each other’s books from the APK store and had them signed.<\/p>\n
Combined, the disparate creators read everything from slice-of-life nonfiction to spleen-venting poetry to mischievous haikus to children’s stories.<\/p>\n
The Fowlers talked about writing and illustrating children’s books, and the difference between being an author and an illustrator.<\/p>\n
“When Susi gets a manuscript accepted, she gets a check,” Jim Fowler said. “When I get selected for an illustration, I get a deadline.”<\/p>\n
They showed examples of their work, and read from, “Arctic Aesop’s Fables,” an adaptation of classic parables changed to include local fauna.<\/p>\n
“I read lots of fables,” Susi Gregg Fowler said. “I had stacks of books and papers. I had to think, ‘What is going to work?’”<\/p>\n
Hope read a few poems and discussed his influences, including Tlingit language, and a recent fascination with epic poetry.<\/p>\n
“South Slavic poetry is mind-blowing,” Hope said. “I put some of the South Slavic Stuff over Homer (the Greek poet, not Alaska).” <\/p>\n