RSS 1.0UAA Bookstore
Recent Submissions
-
Letters from Happy Valley, Memories of an Alaska Homesteader’s SonFifty years after leaving the family homestead in Happy Valley, Alaska, Dan Walker unexpectedly received a shoebox full of letters penned in 1958 by his parents as they traveled from Sugar Tree Ridge, Ohio, to build a new life on the Last Frontier. In Letters from Happy Valley, Memories of an Alaska Homesteader’s Son, Dan Walker rediscovers and honors his Alaska roots and the life lived before his father's untimely death, which instigated his family to move to Government Hill. Dan L. Walker has over thirty years in education and his consulting work has taken him throughout Alaska from Anchorage to Barrow and Perryville to Sitka where he works with principals, teachers, and students. He was named Teacher of the Year for Alaska in 1999.
-
Translating the Novel Wake in Winter by Russian Author Nadezhada BelenkayaWake In Winter is set in the provincial town of Rogozhin, which is a driving distance from Moscow. It is a story about a talented graduate student, Nina Koretskaya, who finds an opportunity to earn money by translating and interpreting Spanish by working for an adoption agent named Ksenia. As Nina gets herself more and more involved in the adoption process, she becomes emotionally disturbed by the children she attempts to help, and finds herself involved in what looks more and more like an adoption mafia. Andrea Gregovich earned a MFA in Creative Writing from University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her translation of USSR, Diary of a Perestroika Kid, by Vladimir Kozlov has been widely acclaimed. Russian author Nadezhda Belenkaya, born in Moscow, has a degree in Hispanic studies and literary translation from the Gorky Literary Institute. Wake In Winter is her fist novel.
-
Circadian and Ultradian Rhythms and Cancer Control: Special Challenges for Alaskans and What to Do About ItThis series of lectures provides cutting edge research, information, and tips on how to improve your odds of recovery from cancer, of remaining in remission, or simply preventing cancer in the first place. Dr. Lyn Freeman is an Alaskan researcher and behavioral medicine provider who just completed six years of National Cancer Institute-funded research on overcoming the side effects of cancer treatments. The intervention she created and tested produced clinically and statistically significant improvements and is now a model of care for cancer survivors.
-
Living Peace NowLarry Merculieff was born and raised with a traditional upbringing on St. Paul Island. In 2003, Larry was instrumental in gaining both federal and state recognition of Alaska Native subsistence rights to harvest halibut throughout coastal Alaska. Recently he founded Seven Generations Consulting. His focus for the discussion is the process of connecting with others. Dr. Christine Gehrett is an associate professor in Education. She teaches foundation courses in education, serves on the advisory board for the Alaska Educational Innovations Network (AEIN), on the Chevak advisory board, and on the Center for Community Engagement and Learning advisory council. Her focus for the discussion is peace from within. Dr. Greg Kimura is President and CEO of the Alaska Humanities Forum. A fourth generation Alaskan from Chugiak-Eagle River, he holds a M.Div from Harvard University, where he wrote a thesis on Zen Buddhism and Western philosophical thought, and a PhD from Cambridge University in the philosophy of religion. His focus for the discussion is the ontological state of being.
-
On the Frontiers of an Inner Life: Thomas Merton's 1968 Journey to AlaskaAuthor Kathleen W. Tarr discusses her newly released book, We Are All Poets Here (VP&D House, 2018). Part memoir, part biography, with Thomas Merton as the spiritual guide, the quest to seek an interior life amidst a chaotic, confused, fragmented world is explored. Trappist Thomas Merton (1915-1968) lived as a sequestered monastic for 27 years. However he wrote over fifty books and hundreds of poems and articles on topics ranging from monastic spirituality to civil rights, nonviolence, and the nuclear arms race. Today, his 1948 autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, continues to influence millions of people all over the world. After his surprise sojourn to Alaska in 1968, Thomas Merton traveled to Thailand where he met his accidental and death by electrocution. Author Kathleen W. Tarr was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She came to Alaska in 1978 and lived in Yakutat, Sitka, and the Kenai Peninsula, and was Program Coordinator for UAA's MFA Creative Writing Program. She earned a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh and has writings published in several anthologies and in Creative Nonfiction, the Sewanee Review, Alaska Airlines Magazine, the Anchorage Daily News, TriQuarterly, Sick Pilgrim, and Cirque. In 2016, she was named a William Shannon Fellow by the International Thomas Merton Society. Currently she sits on the board of the Alaska Humanities Forum.
-
Active Galactic NucleiDr. Erin Hicks is an assistant professor in the UAA Physics and Astronomy Department and Director of UAA Planetarium and Visualization Theater. Dr. Hicks' research focuses on galaxy evolution and the role that supermassive black holes play in shaping galaxies into what we see today. Key to explaining the significance of supermassive black holes is understanding active galactic nuclei, galaxies in which a black hole is actively consuming the surrounding gas and dust. Through studying these galaxies, Dr. Hicks aims to solve the mystery of how the evolution of a black hole and its galaxy are intertwined. At this event, Dr. Hicks will discuss our current understanding of the importance of supermassive black holes in the evolution fo galaxies and will highlight our changing view of black holes thanks to the work of Dr. Stephen Hawking.
-
In the Shadow of Boone and CrockettIn his book In the Shadow of Boone and Crockett: Race, Culture, and the Politics of Representation in the Upland South, Ian Hartman explores American race theories concerning people of the upland South (southern Appalachia to the Ozarks.) While analyzing the southern stereotypes of there being a pure, superior "American race" with those portraying poor, debased, white "imbeciles," Ian Hartman describes how the eugenics movement "sought to regenerate and purify a once proud but now impoverished and degraded people through policies that included forced sterilization." Ian C. Hartman is an assistant professor of History at UAA. He completed his PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
-
Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: a Memoir of Alaska and the Real PeopleWillie L. Iggiagruk Hensley presents: Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: a Memoir of Alaska and the Real People, his memoir accompanied with a personal photo journey.
-
The Art of Myth-Busting: Barthes' "Plastic" and the Gyre Art ExhibitRoland Barthes' essay "Plastic" (1957) offers a framework for "reading" the stunning display of eco-artwork feature in GYRE: The Plastic Ocean exhibit coming to the Anchorage Museum. At this event, guest speaker Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor traces Barthes' admiration and skepticism about plastic, a then-new material, and links his insights to themes seen in the genre of found-plastic art. Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor is an associate professor of Women's Studies and English at Penn State. Her most recent book is Postmodern Utopias and Feminist Fictions.
-
Cracked Frog: Sharing Tradition and ArtJames Williams is an Alaska Native born in Sitka. His clan is Raven/Frog or Kiks.ádi from the Clay House. Besides being a renowned artist/carver, he is an accomplished blacksmith and knife maker. At this event, James will showcase examples of his work and discuss the art of carving. The Frog Feast Bowl Ceremony (unveiling Cracked Frog) was November 29, 2012 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
-
Let Your Memoir Be Your Resistance: How Booker Wright's Granddaughter Turned His Story, and Her Journey to Uncover it, into American HistoryIn 2011, Yvette Johnson traveled back to Greenwood, Mississippi–home of the Emmett Till murder and home of the man convicted of slaying Medgar Evers–to uncover true the story of her late grandfather Booker Wright. Booker Wright spent his evenings waiting tables for Whites at a local restaurant and his mornings running his own business. In the 1966 NBC interview and documentary *Mississippi: A Self-Portrait*, his remark, “Have to keep that smile,” sent shock waves throughout America. And what life was truly like for Black people of Greenwood, Mississippi finally received national attention. Four decades later, Yvette Johnson uncovered footage of the controversial documentary. Oddly, no one in her family knew of his television appearance. Even more curious for Yvette was that for most of her life she had barely heard mention of her grandfather’s name or stories explaining his murder. Due to this silence, and her own struggles with race and identity, Yvette Johnson decided to honor the memory of Booker Wright and write The Song and the Silence: A Story about Family, Race, and What Was Revealed in a Small Town in the Mississippi Delta While Searching for Booker Wright. Yvette Johnson currently works as the Executive Director of The Booker Wright Project. In this role, she creates and facilitates workshops on unconscious bias and privilege. This event is sponsored with the UAA Dept. of Sociology, UAA Student Affairs, and UAA Diversity Action Council.
-
It's Good to be the King: Advice and Statecraft in Early Modern EuropeIn 1543, before his departure from Spain to fight the French, Emperor Charles V left guidance for his 15 year old son, Philip. The detailed written instructions have been transcribed by Rachael Ball and Geoffrey Parker in a bilingual critical edition called Cómo Ser Rey. These secret letters include frank assessments of officials and instructions on how kings should comport themselves and treat their subjects. Charles V reminded his son of his many duties, including how to deal with his various kingdoms and peoples with diverse languages, customs, and regional identities--an issue that continues to resonate today in the Catalan Independence movement. Ray Ball is an Assistant Professor of Early Modern European and World History at UAA. She earned a doctorate in Early Modern European History from Ohio State University.
-
Facts of the Matter: Looking Past Today's Rhetoric on the Environment and Responsible DevelopmentIn his highly acclaimed book, Facts of the Matter: Looking Past Today's Rhetoric on the Environment and Responsible Development, Alaskan David Parish promotes a fact-based approach toward environmental stewardship, responsible development, improved public health, and the elimination of poverty. In it, he examines how the traditional approaches to natural resource development, with the "us versus them" divides, can be bridged. David Parish has worked around the globe as an independent business and nonprofit consultant, lobbyist, and entrepreneur. For over 30 years, Alaska has been his home base for his diverse set of local, national and international clients that include energy and mining industry leaders as well as environmental activists and Indigenous leaders. “His goal is to spearhead a real conversation about environment, economic growth, and the needs of our increasing global population.”
-
"Cinema, Aesthetics and Industrial Disappearance in ChinaThe Chinese economy in recent years has been shifting from a manufacture-based ("made in China") to a creativity-based ("created in China") model. How does Chinese cinema address the disappearance of factories? Professor Hai Ren's presentation will address the different kinds of cinematic engagements with the Chinese factory. Hai Ren is associate professor of East Asian Studies and Anthropology at the University of Arizona. This event is sponsored with the UAA Confucius Institute.
-
Snow ChildAt this event, Eowyn discusses her book snow Child, reads a passage or two, and is interviewed by David Stevenson (director of the CWLA/MFA program.) The event is sponsored with Alaska Reads.
-
Cultural Roots in Lithuanian and Jewish HistoryLithuanian history, music, poetry and culture will be highlighted at this special event. Guest speakers include classical pianist Edvinas Minkstimas, Rabbi Michael Oblath (Congregation Beth Sholom), Curtis Murphy (UAA Department of History), Leslie Fried (Alaska Jewish Museum) and Svaja Worthington (Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuanian). This event is sponsored by the Honorary Consul from the State of Alaska to the Republic of Lithuania, Congregation Beth Sholom, UAA Campus Bookstore, UAA Department of Music, UAA Department of History, Alaska Jewish Museum, Chilkoot Charlie's and others.
-
Human Health Impacts of and Public Health Responses to Climate ChangeDr. Kristie L. Ebi is an independent consultant (ESS, LLC) who has been conducting research on the impacts of and adaptation to climate change for more than a decade. Dr. Ebi has worked with WHO, UNDP, USAID, and others on implementing adaptation measures and adaptation assessments and has edited four books on aspects of climate change and has published more than 80 papers.
-
Snow In MayKseniya Melnik's book, Snow in May, introduces a cast of characters bound by their relationship to the port town of Magadan in Russia's far east, a former gateway for prisoners assigned to Stalin's forced-labor camps. Kseniya Melnik was born in Magadan, Russia and she moved to Alaska in 1998, at the age of 15. She received her MFA from NYU. Snow in May was short-listed for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and long-listed for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.
-
Seven Lucky StarsJana Meador's Seven Lucky Stars is a book for all ages. It tells the true story of a sled dog left to fend for himself only to find his second chance in life. Sveinn's incredible story began in the middle of the forested mountains, where he was eventually found. His journey takes him on an unexpected 2000 mile adventure, where he meets his seven lucky stars. Jana Meador is also author of three novels: Of Thorns, Roses, and a Devil's Lie; The Edward Hewitt's Story; Under the Magpie Wings; and two screen plays, "Road To Earl (adapted from the Edward Hewitt's Story) and the comedy Cul-de-sac. She is a recent graduate from the New York Film Academy's screenwriting program.
-
Mystery Author Stan Jones and Sepculative Fiction Authors Sterling Emmal and L. S. GouletSterling Emmal is author of the sci-fi fantasy The Executioner of Rawule and L. S. Goulet is author of the fantasy book Sword of Dragonblood. Tundra Kill is Stan Jones' latest Nathan Active mystery. His other books include White Sky, Black Ice; Shaman Pass, Frozen Sun; Village of the Ghost Bears, and the nonfiction classic, The Spill: Personal Stories from the Exxon Valdez Disaster, coauthored with Sharon Bushell.