books

People browse at the Hearthside Books branch in the Nugget Mall on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Hearthside Books and Toys finishes No. 8 in USA Today’s ‘10 Best Independent Bookstores’ poll

“I didn’t believe we were really going to make it,” owner says about newspaper’s Readers’ Choice Awards list.

 

Jim Duncan, a longtime local Juneau legislator and statewide executive leader, is now retired and living in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of Jim Duncan)

Former longtime Juneau lawmaker Jim Duncan reenters the political ‘Sausage Factory’

Book revisits decades of history at Alaska’s Capitol and issues that remain much the same today.

 

Olga Lijo Serans, owner of Hearthside Books, discusses its inclusion in USA Today’s voting competition to determine the “10 Best Independent Bookstores” in the U.S. at her Nugget Mall branch on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hearthside Books and Toys among 20 contenders in online vote for 10 best independent bookstores in US

USA Today contest that ends June 2 also includes famous stores such as Strand Book Store in NYC.

 

Tessa Hulls, an author who moved to Juneau during the winter, at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday after her graphic novel “Feeding Ghosts” won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in the Memoir or Autobiography category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau author Tessa Hulls wins Pulitzer Prize for graphic memoir ‘Feeding Ghosts’

Book entwines grandmother, mother and author on journey of politics and identity from China to points worldwide.

Tessa Hulls, an author who moved to Juneau during the winter, at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday after her graphic novel “Feeding Ghosts” won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in the Memoir or Autobiography category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau author W.R. Kozey holds his book “Tall Tales of Alaska, The Red Dog Saloon: Stories from the Gold Rush & More” in front of the Red Dog Saloon on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

First book published in series on Juneau’s history explores ‘Tall Tales’ of the Red Dog Saloon

Author W.R. Kozey’s stories come from folklore, his experience as a bartender at the saloon.

Juneau author W.R. Kozey holds his book “Tall Tales of Alaska, The Red Dog Saloon: Stories from the Gold Rush & More” in front of the Red Dog Saloon on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
An image from the cover of the book “Sah Quah.” (Courtesy Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Neighbors: SHI publishes book on slavery in Alaska that endured after federal abolishment

Book explores Haida man’s quest for freedom that ended slavery in Alaska

An image from the cover of the book “Sah Quah.” (Courtesy Sealaska Heritage Institute)
The Patsy Ann statue at twilight on the downtown cruise ship dock. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Brown)

‘Patsy Ann of Alaska’ finds a new home after being left astray

Children’s book from 2011 about famous Juneau dog gets new publisher after being discontinued.

The Patsy Ann statue at twilight on the downtown cruise ship dock. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Brown)
Felicia Price, an employee of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, hands a copy of the Lingít-language book “Kuhaantí” to her son, Brayden, 8, while staffing the distribution table for the book with co-worker Genevieve McFadden during its release party Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Landmark Lingít-language children’s book is an ‘orphan’ with a very large family

“Kuhaantí,” first release of its kind in decades, part of nine-story collaborative tribal project.

Felicia Price, an employee of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, hands a copy of the Lingít-language book “Kuhaantí” to her son, Brayden, 8, while staffing the distribution table for the book with co-worker Genevieve McFadden during its release party Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Carlos Boozer, a former Juneau high school basketball player and retired NBA all-star, talks with a student at his basketball camp in Juneau in 2017. (Nolin Ainsworth/Juneau Empire File)

Carlos Boozer memoir includes full life story, Juneau years

NBA star and hometown hero pens “Every Shot Counts”

Carlos Boozer, a former Juneau high school basketball player and retired NBA all-star, talks with a student at his basketball camp in Juneau in 2017. (Nolin Ainsworth/Juneau Empire File)
Photo of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis, date unknown. (Courtesy of Jack Hunter/ All Present and Accounted For)

Of things Jarvis, heroic men and reindeer

Author Steven Craig giving a talk on David Jarvis and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis

Photo of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis, date unknown. (Courtesy of Jack Hunter/ All Present and Accounted For)
Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)

A commercial fisherman who knows her way around salmon and essays

Author Tele Aadsen signing book of essays at Hearthside downtown

Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)
Tibetan Buddhist Lama Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche on a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier in 2018, his last visit to Juneau. He is returning for a talk on Sept. 14 at Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. (Photo courtesy Karin Dvorak)

Buddhist lama to teach in Juneau next week

Rinpoche is author of “Power of Mind”

Tibetan Buddhist Lama Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche on a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier in 2018, his last visit to Juneau. He is returning for a talk on Sept. 14 at Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. (Photo courtesy Karin Dvorak)
Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Nick Jans goes back to ‘Romeo’

Author returns with follow-up to best-selling book about Juneau’s most famous wolf

Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
This image shows the cover of Kate Troll’s new book, “All In Due Time: A Memoir of Siblings, Genealogy, Secrets and Love.” (Cirque Press)

New book tells story of growing family and admiration

Kate Troll’s memoir details discovery of siblings and new appreciation of her mother.

This image shows the cover of Kate Troll’s new book, “All In Due Time: A Memoir of Siblings, Genealogy, Secrets and Love.” (Cirque Press)
In this October 2018 photo, author John Straley prepares to sign a book for author Heather Lende after the Alaska Literary Festival at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building in Juneau. They were both speakers at the event. Straley is a former Alaska State Writer Laureate, while Lende is the current State Writer Laureate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Starting a new chapter: Author talks forthcoming book, impending move

“I don’t think I’ll ever find a group of communities that interest me as much as Alaska.”

In this October 2018 photo, author John Straley prepares to sign a book for author Heather Lende after the Alaska Literary Festival at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building in Juneau. They were both speakers at the event. Straley is a former Alaska State Writer Laureate, while Lende is the current State Writer Laureate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Betsy Longenbaugh sits at the table she spent the majority of her time writing her debut book, “Forgotten Murders from Alaska’s Capital” which recounts 10 long-forgotten murders that occurred in the Juneau-Douglas area between 1902 and 1959. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Digging up the past: Local author releases book about 10 Juneau murders buried in the past

True crime in capital city.

Betsy Longenbaugh sits at the table she spent the majority of her time writing her debut book, “Forgotten Murders from Alaska’s Capital” which recounts 10 long-forgotten murders that occurred in the Juneau-Douglas area between 1902 and 1959. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows “Old Woman With Berries in Her Lap,” a poetry collection, by Wrangell writer and poet Vivian Faith Prescott. She recently released two books, the second being "My Father’s Smokehouse,” a combination of recipes and stories. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Southeast author releases foodoir and book of poetry

The prolific author and poet has been working for years on the two books.

This photo shows “Old Woman With Berries in Her Lap,” a poetry collection, by Wrangell writer and poet Vivian Faith Prescott. She recently released two books, the second being "My Father’s Smokehouse,” a combination of recipes and stories. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small. (Courtesy Photo)

Children’s author is back with a whale tale

First there was “The Bear in the Blueberry.” Now, there’s “The Humpback in the Herring.”

Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small. (Courtesy Photo)
The Baby Raven Reads-published book Shanyaak’utlaax̱ – Salmon Boy will represent Alaska at the 2021 National Book Festival, held by the Library of Congress. (Courtesy art / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Baby Raven Reads book is Alaska’s selection for National Book Festival

It’s the first time a book from the early literacy program has been selected.

The Baby Raven Reads-published book Shanyaak’utlaax̱ – Salmon Boy will represent Alaska at the 2021 National Book Festival, held by the Library of Congress. (Courtesy art / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Local author Lindy Miller Ryan’s new book “Aloha With Love,” has been turned into a movie that will be released next year. She’s planning on writing a Christmas romance based in Juneau. (Courtesy photo/Meryl Moss Media Group)

Local author pens love story

Rainy days inspire tale set in Hawaii

Local author Lindy Miller Ryan’s new book “Aloha With Love,” has been turned into a movie that will be released next year. She’s planning on writing a Christmas romance based in Juneau. (Courtesy photo/Meryl Moss Media Group)