Water Mask and Be-Hooved: Two New Books from Essayist Monica Devine and Poet Mar Ka2

Abstract

Essayist Monica Devine and poet Mar Ka discuss their recently published books, which explore their personal journeys through Alaska in memoir and poetry. Monica Devine's new book, Water Mask, is a collection of essays that chronicles her interactions with Alaska's land and its people. Her work is an "adventurous memoir that reflects on family, place, memory, work, perception and culture in a land that both beguiles and rejects." Monica worked as a speech/language therapist for many years, traveling to dozens of villages across Alaska. She has authored five children's books, including Iditarod: The Greatest Win Ever, which was a nominee for the celebrated Golden Kite Award. Her other awards include first place in the Alaska State Poetry Contest, a Pushcart nominee for her story, Mission of Motherhood, and a first-place award in creative nonfiction from New Letters journal for her story, On The Edge of Ice, about accompanying whalers on a spring hunt. Mar Ka's new poetry collection, Be-hooved, is a layered spiritual memoir structured along the seasons and framed by the migration of the Porcupine caribou herd. "Entrancing, profound, and startling, this book is a testament to hope before change, persistence before confusion, and empathy before difference." Poet Mar Ka, aka Mary Kancewick, traveled throughout Alaska during her years as an indigenous rights attorney. Her poetry has been published in national and international journals and on occasion has been set to music. The recipient of an NEH grant and the Midnight Sun Poetry Prize, she has long served as a poetry judge for the UAA/ADN Statewide Creative Writing Contest. She presently teaches poetry workshops at the Eagle River Nature Center. Water Mask and Be-Hooved are published by University of Alaska Press.