A Fish Out of Water; From Seattle Socialite to Commercial Fisherwoman, Hazel Stone’s Fishing Diaries from 1940s Alaska. She had never fished a day in her life, but newly married Hazel Stone and her equally inexperienced husband, Carl, headed off on the adventure of a lifetime–to earn a living fishing in Alaska. Accustomed to the easy life of a socialite in Seattle, Hazel adapted with amazing resilience to the harsh conditions, mentioning only in passing such extremes of her situation as cooking with icicles hanging in the galley, gutting and cleaning hundreds of fish, and endless rain. Oh, and her husband seems to drink quite a bit, too. Hazel’s niece, author Arlene Lochridge, interweaves fascinating insights and adds historical perspective, including the effects of World War II.

On the surface, this is Andrew Olson’s story of emigrating from Sweden in 1903, settling in Washington State and British Columbia, and mining precious metals in Alaska. But it is much more than that. It is a story of enduring hardships, all the while holding onto a dream and seeing it realized on a far grander scale than ever imagined. It is a story of risking all that is safe and comfortable and familiar for the chance to do better in a new world. And it is a story of holding firmly to what matters – family bonds, close friends, high ideals. All this, Andrew Olson did. Living in an age when choices were simpler, Andrew is no less an inspiration for us today in our more complex society.

The Alaska Pen: An Illustrated History of Unga is an extraordinary story about the last four decades in the life of a remote Alaskan village. Unga and its rich history were kept alive by The Alaska Pen, Unga High School’s monthly news magazine, and the only printed periodical in the entire Alaska Peninsula district. The collapse of the cod fishing industry, closure of the Apollo Mine, and the second World War all led to the decline of Unga and by the end of the 1960s the last few families were forced to leave, and Unga village ceased to exist. The Alaska Pen: An illustrated history of Unga’s editors, Thor Lauritzen, Peggy Arness and Edward Melseth, all spent their formative years in Unga. They tell a compelling story of a village that enjoyed a great community spirit. It is a story about a hardy people who eked out a living from the sea, whose lives were constantly challenged by the harsh environment in which they lived, whose isolation bred independence, whose joys were generously shared, and whose heartaches were felt by all. This is a story about Unga, told through the eyes of the children who once lived there, but a similar tale could be told about many of its Aleutian neighbors, which suffered the same fate.
Visit:  www.ungaalaska.com

Meet the native species of Alaska ­–the animals and plants that have been around for ages, as well as those that died out eons ago. How did these creatures manage to survive the extremes of Alaska’s environment? How were the Alaskan dinosaurs different from their counterparts elsewhere in the world? How have present-day animals and plants adapted to the harsh winters? Open up to Ron Smith’s world and learn that the answer is not just in what these creatures are –their size or color or type of skin covering–but also in what they do. Smith highlights the most interesting of Alaska’s residents­–the towering grizzly as well as the petite pika, the “coat-changing” ptarmigan and the ever-popular salmon–to reveal nature at its amazing best. This insatiably curious scientist asks questions we’d never think of to discover the wonder of this wild land. How can a ponderously slow-growing evergreen ever hope to survive when it’s surrounded by the rapidly growing deciduous trees? Building upon the discoveries of Alaska’s extinct dinosaurs and plants and the interrelationship of current species, Smith looks to the future. What are the trends? Which of these specially adapted flora and fauna are likely to survive or even flourish? Past, present, or future, our country’s final frontier continues to fascinate. Join Smith on his journey within and around Alaska for a truly unique tour of its incredible inhabitants.

Follow adventure photographer and deckhand Travis Arket as he takes you firsthand into the life of a Bering Sea crab fisherman. Travis brings you onto the back deck of a crab boat like never before, to meet the men who battle the notorious waters for adventure and fortune. From the breathtaking landscapes of the Aleutian Islands to portraits of the sea that only an insider could give you, this book comes to you years in the making.
Visit:  www.deadliestwaters.com