Northern Light Media has been publishing nonfiction books about the history of Alaska and several other subjects since 2007. In that time we’ve produced books about the historic Alaskan roadhouses; the history of the Alaska Railroad; a ship surgeon’s journals aboard Alaska’s revenue cutters a century ago; the history of the 1935 Matanuska Colony Project, and an exploration of the Colony’s magnificent barns; histories of Alaska’s three major long-distance sled dog races: the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest, and the All Alaska Sweepstakes; and many more titles which bring the history of the North to life.
Details about all of our books can be found on the Northern Light Media website.
A new book to be published by Northern Light Media in September, 2024 is The Tender Life: 20 Years of Commercial Fish Tendering in Alaska, by Anne Winters. A brief excerpt: “Tenders are the ‘transporters’ of the Alaska commercial fishing industry. We don’t catch fish. We haul fish. We are hired by a processing company to go out to the grounds, pick up the fish from the fishermen and bring them back to the processing plant on the beach or to a floating processor nearby. This allows the fishing fleet to stay on the grounds during the peak runs of fish. Tenders act as grocery stores for the fishermen. We bring out parts, deliver mail, offer hot coffee and sometimes a hot shower. We act as the mother ship for the fishing fleet.”
The Tender Life: 20 Years of Commercial Fish Tendering in Alaska, by Anne Winters, illustrations by Jon Van Zyle, details coming soon!
Northern Light Media published The First Newspapers of Knik and Anchorage, Alaska: The Knik News and Cook Inlet Pioneer 1914-1916, by Helen Hegener, in June, from newspaper archives at the Library of Congress. An important era in the history of Alaska is preserved, from the founding of Anchorage, Wasilla, and other towns to the beginning of construction on the Alaska Railroad, this book captures the headlines and the full texts of news articles written at the time, with editorials, letters to the editor, photographs and more.
The Knik News and the Cook Inlet Pioneer and Knik News, which would in time become the Anchorage Times. 6″ x 9″ format, B/W, 298 pages, June, 2024, ISBN 9798325527074. $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping from Northern Light Media.
The greatest fish ever caught in Alaska was a king salmon hauled ashore by Les Anderson of Soldatna in 1985. The cover photo below is a larger-than-life carving of Les with his fish which stands in front of the Visitor Center in Soldatna, on the Kenai Peninsula. Award-winning writer Lew Freedman tells Les’ story and many other Alaska fishing tales with wit and humor in this collection of true stories about fishing in the Last Frontier. From salmon to halibut to trophy rainbow trout, with side trips for shrimp, clams, and an octopus (!), Lew shares dozens of adventurous fishing trips across the Great Land.
From fishing along the shores of Anchorage’s Ship Creek to some of the greatest remote fishing lakes and rivers to be found anywhere, with world-class lodges sporting stellar accommodations, Lew takes his readers on an inspiring journey across the North with these tales of fishing in Alaska.
The Greatest Fish Ever Caught: Alaska Fishing Tales, by Lew Freedman. 6″ x 9″ format, 266 pages, ISBN 979-8884786264, published in March, 2024 by Northern Light Media. $24.95 plus $5.00 shipping.
The History of Women’s Professional Bronc Riding 1904-1940, by Jody Ellen Meanus, shares the profiles and photographs of more than thirty champion women bronc riders who made history in the early days of rodeo. Available at a special price until further notice, just $29.95 postpaid! (Save $15.00!) For details about the history and the book, visit the Northern Light Media website.
Mushing History Quarterly is a new publication presenting the history of sled dogs and the mushers who drove them across thousands of miles of snowy trails, creating a legacy which has endured and grown and is celebrated today in a multitude of ways. From sled dog races—both sprint and distance—to expeditions, artwork, books, songs, murals, tourist destinations, museum exhibits—and entire museums, the history of mushing and sled dogs is alive and well, and informing and educating more people every day!
Each 64-page issue of Mushing History Quarterly includes articles about legendary dogs and mushers, excerpts from classic books, stories of people working to protect and promote the history of mushing, and photographs, maps, and other resources. An extended excerpt from a book published during the heyday of mushing will provide an in-depth look at the history and the men and dogs who shaped it.
Published January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. 64 pages, B/W 8.5” x 11” format. $12.00 per issue postpaid, or $40.00 for one year, four issues, postpaid (U.S. only). Issues 1 through 3 are available now. New subscriptions will begin with the current issue (No. 3).
Coming this fall: The World's Most Interesting Man, Alaska Big Game and The World's Largest Eskimo, by Lew Freedman, the former long-time sports editor of the Anchorage Daily News and the author of numerous books about Alaska, including titles from Northern Light Media of Wasilla such as “The Greatest Fish Ever Caught,” “Adventures On the Iditarod Trail,” “Northern Journey,” and “50 Years of Iditarod Adventures.”
Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed this free newsletter why not share it with others who might also enjoy learning more about Northern Light Media?
~Helen
Have enjoyed reading many of your books over the years!