Click here to go to my Flickr page and look at three maps of Kate Shugak’s world. 
I love maps, 
and it is my invariable habit always to begin my novels with a clear vision of the place I’m writing about (Ellfive, the asteroid belt, Mars, interior Alaska, southwest Alaska, Mnemosynea). Then I figure out who lives there, and then I figure out what kind of trouble they’re up to. The Kate Shugak series was different, in that when I wrote A Cold Day for Murder, I was just exercising my writing skills between science fiction novels. My sf editor liked it so much that she talked her publisher into buying it and more, and I was in such a scramble to meet my delivery dates that I never phonied up a map as a guide. This has created a few problems, as I’m sure alert readers are going to point out to me. (It may also have something to do with Chopper Jim’s various heights.)
Here also is another photograph of ‘maniacs with books. This photograph is kinda cool, ’cause they’re standing in front of the welcome sign to Homer, Alaska. Which is where I live. Peggy Wiederick writes, “The attached .jpg is of my husband, Walter, who is also a dedicated Dana fan, holding three of the earlier Kate books that we bought on our recent trip to Alaska. We bought them to replace ones in our library that we have worn out rereading and lending to friends. The location is the viewpoint at the entrance to Homer, AK – the final stop on our four week trip before we turned for home. We used Dana’s ‘Quick-and-Dirty Alaska’ itinerary column as a guide during our trip. I had the best Reuben sandwich of my life at the Sourdough Express.”
LOVE MAPS!!!! Always follow them in novels if included. Going to Alaska 8/10. I actually checked the Shugak novels to see if I would be “in the park”! Looking for a Baleen Basket-Any native-real native-you know who makes them? 612-590-2411 phone 8/10-8/17. Thanks
AN ARDENT FAN!!??!!
Wow! The maps are great! Thank you!
Thanks, Brigid. It’s all Cherie Northon’s work. She is terrific.
Dana,
I just finished “A Taint in the Blood” it was great. I grew up in Alaska, and graduated from West High. I live in San Diego now, but your story sure brought back many wonderful memories. Crow Nest..lol
Thank you,
Steve
Thanks, Steve.
I just got started on the Kate Shugak series. About halfway through “Cold Day for Murder” I found the map of “the Park.” The map doesn’t seem to fit with the description in the story. I read the passage several times and didn’t change my confusion.
For instance, on the second trip to the roadhouse, Kate & Jack left Niniltna and had to cross Last Chance Creek Bridge to get there. Accordning to the map, that bridge is about 100 miles N of town and the Roadhouse is avout 35 miles S of town across a different unnamed bridge. Then when they wanted to go to Park HQ, the story said they would have to cross Last Chance Creek Bridge again so they chose to fly. On the map, HQ is NE out of town and heading NW to crossg the bridge wouldn’t make sense.
Did the area geography change later in the series?
Thanks!
Yes, it did. This is what happens when you don’t have a bible and you’ve written 16 in the series and you draw a rudimentary map for a professional cartographer. Mea maxima culpa.
Where do we leave copies of your books to get signed now that Twice told tales is now gone? I buy the latest and greatest and donate it to the Wasilla Library. Thanks
Dana, The Kate Shugak is my fovorite mystery series. Read them, but your most recent book. I own a few, but borrowed most of them from our library. How may I purchase an autographed copy? I traveled in Alaska for two weeks, which helped me enjoy Kate all the more.
L A Spikes, Helen, you can call or email the Homer Bookstore (http://www.homerbookstore.com/) and they will call me to sign it and then mail it to you.
And thank you both!
Hello Dana! Congrats on the 16th Kate book – I’m anxious to read it soon. Can you tell me when it will be available in the Kindle format from Amazon? I’ve been checking for it every day since your release date, but its not available. Or are you not going to release it as an ebook? Thanks.
The Kindle edition was supposed to be published the same day as the hardcover, and I’m sorry to say that my publisher screwed up the data transfer or whatever it is.
It should appear on the Whisper to the Blood Amazon page soon. Let me know if it doesn’t and I’ll get my agent to beat up on my publisher even more.
Fabulous! I was hoping it was only delayed. I’ll keep checking. Thank you!
Dana,
I’ve been meaning to get ahold of you, always a day late, the MSN site is kapoot. Have enjoyed reading your books over the years.
Then, all in one day, my husband asked if I knew you lived in Homer, I ran into a friend at the Ninilchik library who worked with you on the slope, while another friend was trying to remember if she’d read your last book yet! Nudge, nudge.
Thanks for posting, Deidre! If you’re interested in joining up with the ‘maniacs, they’ve moved to Facebook. If you go to Facebook and search for The Danamaniacs, their page will pop up and you can ask to join. I know they’ll be glad to see you again.
Had been to AK tour, was in Seattle Barnes & Noble (2001?)and woman in black (tall, curly hair) suggested Stabenow books to read. She said read them all but begin with “Breakup”. I loved them since and spread the word. Wonder if that might have been Dana who told me since a book signing was set up for that day in downtown Seattle?
Not me, I would have told you to start with A Cold Day for Murder. My thanks to the mystery woman!
Dana, I am having so much fun reading A Cold Day for Murder. I was fortunate to live in Alaska for a glorious summer back in 1997. My then-husband & I volunteered for the park service and lived in the Potter Section House south of Anchorage. It was a wonderful time, with a wonderful man, that I reflect upon fondly. This is the first Alaska-based book that has inspired me with such vivid memories of those happy days. And, the added mystery story line is a huge bonus. Although I’m only on Chapter 3 (reading on Kindle for Android), I think I can safely say I’m a Kate Shugak AND Dana Stabenow fan. : ) Thank you, thank you!
Thank you, thank you, Nadeane!