Anthology of Alaska writers wins three awards
October 5, 2011
Marmian Grimes
907-474-7902
10/5/11
An anthology penned by writers from rural Alaska recently won three national book awards, while its co-editors, University of Alaska Fairbanks professors John Creed and Susan Andrews, were honored for their cultural journalism project.
“Purely Alaska: Authentic Voices from the Far North,” features stories from 23 rural Alaska writers. The anthology, published by Epicenter Press, won a bronze medal in Foreward Magazine’s 2011 Book of the Year competition, a second-place award in the nonfiction anthology category of the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Book Awards and an honorable mention in the Eric Hoffer Awards for Short Prose & Independent Books’ culture category.
“Purely Alaska” is a follow-up to “Authentic Alaska: Voices of Its Native Writers.” Both anthologies have their roots in Creed and Andrews’ cultural journalism project, Chukchi News & Information Service, which was founded in Kotzebue in 1988. The project works with UAF Chukchi Campus students and helps them get their work published in local newspapers and statewide news websites. The Alaska Professional Communicators recognized Creed and Andrews for their work on the project.
Contributors to “Purely Alaska” include Andrews and Creed, Steve Werle, Noatak; Iva Baker, Kotzebue; R.A. Dillon, Kotzebue; Nancy Berkey, Thorne Bay; Marcus Miller, Haines; Karl Puckett, Kotzebue; Burtov Haviland, Jr., Kotzebue; Amy Reisland-Speer, Denali National Park; Gina Pope, Kokhanok; Joli Morgan, Bethel; Sonja Whitethorn, Petersburg; Lucy Nuqarrluk Daniels, Golovin; China Kantner, Kotzebue; Steve Pilz, Ambler; Emma Snyder, Kotzebue; Robert Andrews, Haines; Kathryn Lenniger, Nenana; Wilma Payne, McGrath; Terry Wilson, Nome; Al Bowling, Deering; and Katie Cruthers, Kotzebue.
Creed and Andrews will be signing copies of their books Friday, Oct. 7 from 6-10 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on East Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: John Creed at jcreed@alaska.edu or Susan Andrews at sbandrews@alaska.edu.
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