Calling All Kids! Alaska On the Go Needs YOU!

I'm so almost there. Just a few more places, a few more tweaks, a few more long nights, and this thing is on its way to Editor.

In an effort to make this not only an informative exploration of Alaska with kids, but a fun read, I've decided to add one more cool feature - voices from kids, themselves.

Called "KidSpeak," and similar to to the ParentPoints concept provided by willing grownups, KidSpeak will be real-life, honest, and hopefully endearing accounts by kids about their favorite Alaska stuff. Any stuff is acceptable; activities, restaurants, clothes, airplanes, fishing.....my only requirement is that it comes from their precious little hearts and mouths. There is NO age limit; any child who can utter a sound is welcome to contribute (although mom or dad may have to translate for me).

Specifically, I need KidSpeak about the following subjects: 

Favorite activities when it's summer, winter, and in between

Fishing quotes

Wild animal quotes (favorite/non favorite)

Weather

Driving on road trips (strategies/tips from big kids would be great, too)

Favorite restaurants (anywhere in AK)

Cruising (day cruising, and multi-day cruises)

Interested? Send me your kids' quotables, their first names and ages, to: togoak@gmail.com. 
Deadline to contribute is Friday, September 28.

Danke!

EK

Perma-Wrinkles and My Support Staff

Nobody told me writing a huge book would translate into permenant wrinkles upon my forehead and around my eyes. In fact, nobody told me that when I write, I frown and squint and purse my lips as if I were sucking on a straw filled with sour lemonade. It would still be a mystery to me, and quite an acceptable one, in my thinking,  had my husband not taken a sneaky photo while I wasn't looking last weekend.

This past month has been full of words, and with an end of the draft manuscript of Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th State With Children in sight (I still can't believe I actually wrote such a volume of information about Alaska), I'm pounding the keys in an effort to ship this book to the prospective publisher by December 1.

Anyway, back to the perma-wrinkles. Our family took a few extra days off over the Labor Day weekend holiday to explore the way-back wilds of McCarthy and Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark, a long, long way from Anchorage. After eight hours of driving along first the Glenn, then the Richardson, then the ancient Edgerton highway(s), we arrived at a surreal example of how Alaska probably looked when miners and saloon owners held claim to much of the settled landscape. It was fabulous. We hiked, we mountain biked, we ate a lot, then we slept. Surprisingly in the midst of all this recreation and rest I found time to work, especially one rainy, cold day when I kicked my family out the door and spent a few hours with laptop, coffee mug, and an exceptionally personal view from the living room of Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

I was so involved in my feverish desire to finish "just this section" that I failed to notice my husband lurking near the doorway, bike helmet on head and smartphone in hand, repeatedly hitting buttons.

"Did you know you're cute when you're working?" he casually asked, flipping through photos he'd taken, like a talent agent perusing a portfolio. A muffled giggle from behind the door signaled an appearance by our son, 7, who is just beginning to think it weird that his mom and dad actually say things like that to each other. Ick. And Hardly.

Don't even ask to look.

A Touch of Nature

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?" - John Green 

I cannot imagine better motivation for a travel writer than time aboard a small boat exploring the previously unexplored. In a most intimate way, our family was blessed to have this opportunity - we'd been to southeast Alaska, of course, but had never seen Alaska from this perspective.

Our wide-eyed 7 year-old witnessed Alaska's raw wildness. Orcas thrashing a sea lion around, humpback whales cooperatively feeding, a young and slightly scrawny brown bear obviously new at the game of fishing. My husband entered a kayak for the first time since a bike accident nearly took his life a year ago. And me? For seven days I hiked through rainforests with no trails other than those I created with my XtraTufs, paddled around coves shared only by my cohorts and a raft or two of sea otters, and woke up every single morning to sit on the top deck of the boat, lifting a coffee cup of salute to the day. It was good. Really, really good.

Some days, I write out of sheer willpower. I know I have to do it; it's on my schedule, and to finish on time (hell, to simply go to bed without a guilty feeling in my gut) I must write, at least at little. Every once in a while, though, mother nature tickles my muse, and things are so incredibly right that I cannot imagine this book not being successful. Or, at least, completed.

Of course it helped to meet with the potential (probable?) publisher the night before I left to share a beer and talk about Alaska, kids, and the way this whole dance of bookdom will progress over the next year.  I boarded the Wilderness Discoverer with a desire to relax and rejuvinate, and disembarked last Saturday with a clearer head and a sense of Alaska's undeniable ability to amaze me.

Remarkable.

In My Own Little World....

Both husband and son were away this week at their respective destinations. Hubs was visiting older son in Denver, CO, and younger son was immersed in the wilds of cub scout camp. Which meant, friends, I had an entire house to myself. 

Late nights, lots of coffee, endless dog jogs, and my favorite music went a long way toward four solid days of writing bliss. I understand with complete clarity why many famous writers became somewhat reclusive. When one reaches the halfway point of a book, just when things are flowing along and word counts are positively flying from the fingers, a distraction comes along and stomps on the muse. For better or worse, it does. 

Not all distractions are negative; heck, the incredible weather of last week jockeyed for position with my desire to finish the Denali National Park section. I usually don't mind, but the ability to cancel out the background noise without having to leave my own cozy office was an incredible gift this week, especially when I'm due to meet with the potential publisher on Thursday. 

We leave on Friday morning for a week exploring the inner coves of southeast Alaska, from Ketchikan to Juneau and everywhere in between. I look forward to more opportunities for fingers to keyboard without the added distraction of internet and phone service. Perhaps we'll finish this thing on time, if the planets keep aligning as they have. 

Grand Plans

When someone asks me why it's taking so long to finish Alaska On the Go, I retort by inquiring if they've managed to visit every kid-friendly destination in the 49th state. Alaska has more coastline than most of the Lower 48, is twice the size of Texas (sorry, pardners), and features activities ranging from placid to perfectly crazy, and everything in between. And I'm just one mama.

Not used to writing more than 600-1,000 words for one project, the notion of writing 6,000-8,000 words per section feels uncomfortable. Daunting, in fact. Frustrating, even, on occasion. We visit one place, gather our information, talk to wonderful people, learn tons about history, culture, and/or recreation, and then those people talk to their people, who subsequently call me to refer additional people, and a whole new idea is formed.

This could take a while.

Last week I had a desert moment, wondering if there was any way I could finish this thing before the glaciers completely recede. In between cups of coffee and an incredibly non-structured summer schedule for my family, I swung between wild enthusiasm and ever-darkening clouds of trepidation. Could I possibly put together a guide all by myself? Is this project even worth it?

On Thursday, my youngest son and I drove north to Denali National Park. An impulsive move on my part, I needed information and couldn't quite place geography together with activity, given that my last true exploration of DNP was 15 years ago.

The sun came out, the bugs were few, and the hiking, spectacular. As I watched my seven year-old search for ground squirrels and scramble up rocky slopes, I was glad we were here. I was glad, too, for this book, for the time it gives me with a fast-growing young boy who, all-too-soon, will be a young man.

Parents Know Best: Have a ProTip?

Excitement about Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th State With Children is building. What's the best part? The role other parents will play in the ultimate success of this book.

It's of paramount importance to feature real, live Alaskans deep within the pages of Alaska On the Go, so other parents don't end up wondering about, and wandering around our state only thinking they know what they're doing. They will know, because other parents will have told them.

Parent ProTips - that's what I'm calling these little breakout boxes scattered throughout the book. Insights, helpful ideas, thoughts, and funny stories about traveling the highways and byways of Alaska with children. From camping to packing, Alaska's moms and dads have sent me their favorite experiences and most excellent advice, and this book will be better for it.

Currently, I'm searching for parental wisdom in the following areas: 

Prince William Sound, Valdez, Cordova, and activities thereabouts

Denali National Park and surrounding environs

Fishing

Far-flung Alaska adventures, including bear-viewing, fly-in fishing/camping, backpacking, and Bush Alaska trips

Have a thought to share? I'd love to hear about it. Typically, Parent ProTips are short; two or three sentences are sufficient. Shoot me an email at togoak@gmail.com if you have a great story or idea. We'll build this book together!

I Did What?

I did it. I went to a writer's conference and pitched my book. I lurked, I lingered, and, thanks to some finagling, met with the aquisitions editor of an Alaska publishing house. He liked it! He really, really liked it!

The best part? After finishing up our assigned 15 minutes together, during which time AE said he was certainly interested, and could I give him more than one page sample (I did)....AND after AE said he'd be away for a few weeks, so not to worry if I didn't hear from him until July - He sent an email to me.

It said, among other things: "It was delightful to meet you (really? I didn't sound like a bumbling idiot?) at the XYZ Writer's Conference....I want to underscore our interest in your project."

Holy moly. Now I have to finish the damn thing.

A Wild Pitch?

Editor and I have finally finished a solid pitch for Alaska on the Go: Exploring the 49th State With Children. Bundled up with more care than a baby, it's ready to travel with me on June 8 to Homer and the Kachemak Bay Writer's Conference, my first-ever formal gathering of writing people. I have an appointment with an agent, with hope that someone will publish my book.

The manuscript itself is coming along. I'm halfway through - after tonight's completion of the cruising section. Next up is Fairbanks and Denali National Park, put on hold while I finished the cruisers.

I spent last weekend in Fairbanks, meeting with the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and wandering the city and surrounding area, sans child and spouse. Amazing how much ground I can cover this way. But I missed my traveling partners.

Responses from travel industry professionals has been overwhelming, in a positive way. Rarely a day goes by that someone reaches out and expresses their happiness that someone from Alaska is writing a book about visiting the state with kids. I'm happy about that, but even happier to discover their support for the project. I feel incredibly validated that I am doing the right thing, even though some days, it feels so stressful.

To Catch a Cruise

Editor and I have been working hard this month, preparing a pitch, gathering legacy publisher information, and writing, writing, writing.

Since Editor wants me to pitch this book to an agent while down in Homer for the Kachemak Bay Writer's Conference next month, I've had to put a hold on Fairbanks and the Interior sections of Alaska, focusing instead on the subject of cruising.

Cruising, mind you, is how 80% of Alaska visitors arrive in the state, and with almost one million people embarking and/or disembarking via gangplanks, there is subsequently much to write about.
Cruise companies, as a whole, have been quite accommodating, sending me tons of flowery statements describing their features, services, and amenities available to traveling families. All, that is but one.

Disney.

Disney, it seems, is rather reluctant to share their close, personal cruise information with anybody. Everything must be hidden in Mickey and Donald's heads.

I am in "negotiations" with a Disney paralegal to figure out exactly what I am allowed to publish, why, and how. And hell-fire and damnation from with Wicked Stepmother if I don't follow the Happiest Place On Earth's rules.

This is bound to be good drama.

I Know More Than I Think

I love to talk about Alaska, anywhere, any time. Airport gate areas, in line at the zoo, on the ferry, in the Fred Meyer parking lot surrounded by hundreds of transient RV-ers; you name it, I'm on it, and woe to the poor soul who pulls out a map within my earshot and says to his or her companion "What about this place?" I'll tell you about that place, and the next one, too.

Tonight I hit "send" on Section Three (or is it Four) of Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th State With Children. Road Trips. Alaska's roads are not complicated in a structural sense, we only have about 12 actual named highways. But they are full of interesting sights and attractions and such, necessitating a lot of knowledge. A whole lot.

Throughout this book-writing process, I am always amazed at the amount of 49th state knowledge crammed inside my brain. One would think there isn't a lot of room up there, given the fact I am parenting one child here in Alaska, one child in Denver, managing a husband and two dogs. Not to mention my own self. But I did remember stuff, and it was good stuff, too.

Stuff like the playground at the Tok School, with steel-piped slides and monkey bars and random local children who follow you around, asking questions. Stuff like excellent customer service aboard the Alaska Ferries, or the taste of Trisha Costello's cinnamon rolls at the Talkeetna Roadhouse. I love remembering where we've been, and I love thinking ahead to where we'll be going.

That's the beauty of writing a guide book, it just never, ever ends with one chapter. There's so many more ahead.

P.S. Anybody want to know about Alaska? I'm waiting.

Where I Write

I am happy to provide you with a snapshot of my favorite writing venues, because some days, a gal's gotta go someplace else to capture the muse.

This is the view from my cozy little office (aka spare bedroom). The Chugach mountains are consistent friends, greeting me with pink in the wintertime and glorious green during the summer months. Right now, however, they look as tired as I feel. But it's okay, spring is here. I think.

On occasion (okay, more than occasionally), I move operations to a trendy coffee shop not far from my son's school, where I hold court. Brew is strong and internet, fast, so that's generally good enough for me. If I really get to writing, I may go through two or three Americanos, after which the world seems to spin a little. But that's not all bad, right?

Lately I've been hanging out at the family table. I have a huge paper trail for this book, and am more organized when I can spread things out where highly visible. Plus, the company is pretty good (see dog, below), the view just as lovely, and I have easy access to the Nutella.

Taking the Legacy Plunge: Yes or No?

As I dilligenty type away here at the dining room table, one aspect of this whole journey sticks to my brain like an unwanted wad of silver duct tape: Legacy publish, or self-publish? Print-on-demand, or no?

I had thought my decision was a solid 'go' for self-publishing in ebook form, then printing out copies here and there as I needed, making sure I didn't end up with boxes of unsold books cluttering up my already-cluttered garage.

But on Sunday, during our monthly meeting at a local coffee shop, Editor cleared her throat, looked at me over her glasses, and said, "What would you think about throwing this out there to a few legacy publishers?" Uh, okay?

"We'll need a proposal," she said, pulling out a long list of publishing houses she had researched on my behalf, god bless her.

Good thing I had already completed one from way back when I was first pondering the whole concept of writing a book to begin with.

And "poof!" Off we go down another fork in the road, a different one, now. Wonder what will happen, next.

Holiday Roads......My Favorite Part, So Far

I've noticed that writing a guide book can be a little tedious <yawn>. Even though Alaska is the most gorgeous, spectacular, interesting place on earth, writing about the same set of facts, albeit in a different location, can cause a lack of motivation.

"Stay at XY Hotel; they offer rates from a million dollars on up...." Try writing that sentence a few hundred times and see how interested you become.

Now that I've finished the first round of southcentral Alaska, my brain needs something else to keep it amused, so I decided yesterday to head in a different direction: ROAD TRIP!

I love road trips, always have. Even as a child, I'd be the first kid to hop aboard the VW Bus for a journey up or down the highway. Even now, I love the thought of tooling Alaska's two or three major arterials with no particular destination in mind. It's the perfect section for a slightly-spring-fevered writer.

As daylight begins to filter through the filmy clouds over the Chugach mountains, this morning, it's terribly difficult not to throw my son, the dogs, and a backpack or two in the car.

Focus, EK, focus!

I Knew I Liked John Muir

My hero is John Muir. Naturalist, conservationist, and pastor, Muir explored our natural world with wisdom and sensitivity. Then he wrote about it.

I guess it wasn't always easy, though.

"Writing is like the life of a glacier - one eternal grind."

Why I'm Glad I Chose A Mom

Choosing an editor is one of the most important steps of book-writing. Besides correcting all the little and big mistakes, rewording sentences that appear funky, and acting as overall cheerleader, editors are, I've discovered, little extensions of ourselves. Like us, without the baggage of being us.

Not having embarked on this journey before, I chose my editor based upon a recommendation. It wasn't until I met my editor in person that I truly realized what a gem I had hired.

She's a mom; to a young toddler, in fact, and that alone is reason enough to keep her around. Not only is she smart, creative, and utterly unflappable, she's also understands my life.

We met last night at a local coffee shop filled with young, smartphone-immersed young people who were only pretending to study for finals. Normally we meet during the day, but both she and I, and our children, had been sick, so there we were at 7 p.m. playing catch-up.

As our time together progressed and ideas began to flow thick and fast, I wanted to scribble some notes on my hard copy outline. Dang, no pen in my cluttered messenger bag. Mountains of tissue, a small dog collar (don't ask), notebook, mints, but no pen. Here's where it gets good. I asked Editor if she had a pen in her messenger bag.

"Um, let me see," she replied, opening up the flap and proceeding to take out a onesie, socks, plastic bags, one mitten, and a wallet with no money. See why I like her?

She didn't have a pen, either.

Mapping the Journey and All There is to Do

I've made it (figuratively of course) to Homer after a weeks-long process of writing about the Kenai Peninsula, a very popular section of southcentral Alaska. Between fishing and day cruising and camping and hiking...whew, I'm fried.

"Alaska On the Go..." is titled specifically to include "...Exploring the 49th State With Children" so readers who, like me, might be initially befuddled at the vast selection of activities in Alaska will now have a resource to help them make wise choices, emotionally and financially.

The Kenai Peninsula, in my humble opinion, is one of the best Alaska hotspots to visit with kids. Variety, accessibility, and sheer volume of things to offer children. I might also add that communities like Homer and Seward are beginning to recognize the importance of including entire families in a particular activity or attraction, and implement accordingly.

This is my favorite part about writing; the discovery is daily and the journey is so, so much fun. Is this what they call "passion"?

Why I Miss My Pen and Paper

In the early days of my writing adventures, I had a big, fat spiral-bound notebook. I took notes, scribbled doodles, and eventually wrote one or two or three drafts of whatever article I had been assigned, correcting them in red ink.

When I purchased my first laptop so I could write "on the fly," I still drafted my words onto the 8 1/2" X 11" lined paper, first. It took years for me to become comfortable with staring at a blank computer screen and its damned, blinking cursor before I could simply sit down and start typing.

I love this photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech on December 9, 1941, two days after Pearl Harbor was attacked by scores of Japanese military aircraft. Mr. Roosevelt undoubtedly had his communications staffer write the initial words, but I appreciate so much his scratches and notes and addendums, probably written in haste before that famous Fireside Chat. It's so unbelievably cool to see a portion of the process, and maybe that's what I miss by writing this book on a computer.

It's laborious it is to think up words, write words, delete and add new words to a manuscript, so the opportunity to witness them, alive, on my paper, might somehow prove satisfying.

What do you think?

Writing a Book? Don't Forget a Time Out

Two weeks since I've posted updates on The Book? Oops.

"AK Fam" had to go to Hawai'i, where I spent little time on the laptop, or indoors, even.
I didn't even write much for AKontheGO, but as the week turned into 10 days, and my fingers didn't so much as brush the keyboard, a few things became clear.

1) It's okay to take a break.

2) After said break, my brain is refreshed and ready to attack the next section of The Book.

3) My family is always more important than writing.

Time Marcheth Along...

After I decided to write a book (I mean really, really decided; met with an editor, cleaned out my office, told my husband), I began to research how other mothers and wives and working women pulled it all together.

One of my favorite writers, and people, for that matter, is Heather Lende, author of If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name. Heather lives in Haines, Alaska, a little town some five hours by ferry from Juneau, and has written the aforementioned book, a few others, and has a regular column in Women's Day, an achievement I covet madly. She started out writing obituaries for the Haines paper, then wrote her first book, then another, plus the extra stuff she does every day, all while staying happily married and raising her pack of equally awesome kids, now grownups and on their own quests to become awesome adults.

Heather knows how a mother's day can switch from empty to full in a matter of minutes; in fact, she talks about it in a fabulous chapter of If You Lived Here...Forgotten trumpets, broken bike chains, chicken coops not draining properly, you name it.

Mondays and Thursdays are supposed to be Dedicated Writing Days.  Scheduled for my writing pleasure, these days are, making any other opportunities mere icing. Yesterday, though, I blew it. Went to a lunch meeting, picked up a stranded friend from the airport and delivered him to downtown Anchorage, then went back to meet him for a beer after seeing to my son's homework and dinner and Tiger Cub badge requirements. Total. Wash.

Finding the time to write is by far the most challenging aspect of creating a book. I feel like I'm making unauthorized withdrawals from the National Bank of Alaska On the Go, without any deposits. Then I feel guilty for doing the same from the Bank of Family. Argh.

Creating actual words is the easy part - it's the periphery that brings me grief.

Editors Are Not Bad

Each month I meet with my editor in a dark corner of a local coffee shop. Huddled at what will surely be our "regular" table, we talk about kids, travel, Alaska, and The Book. While we've had a mere handful of these formal meetings, I can already see the value of having a second pair of eyes and a completely unique skill set to enable me to pull off this project.

It used to be hard to let anyone read my words, be they editor, mother, friend, or spouse. I'll even go so far as to say I really don't like reading my own stuff, either. I always find things I wished I had stated in a different format, or think of a particular point I forgot until after I sent in the work.

This is why I like Editor. She is calm, professional, and never mean to me. This is important - I come from a lifetime of Catholic education and still have nightmares about middle school English teachers who would throw books, and yell; an editor who does none of these things is quite valuable to my still-fragile ego. Editor is also quite dedicated. Today she informed me that both her laptop and iPhone had gone to the graveyards, but there she was, pen in hand, my manuscript on the table, scribbling and drawing and getting the job done. I love it.

Editor plays a key role in The Book's gestation. She is the voice of sanity when I think I've written too much, or not enough. She thinks of those forgotten topics at just the right time, and understands that I am new at this whole publishing thing. She is honest without being obnoxious, kind without being condescending. Plus, I love the little computer program thingie that makes my edits from her edits so, so seamless.

I have a lot of days when writing is just plain hard. After I meet with Editor, though, the words seem to flow better, and the finished product becomes a more visible, like peering through a dirty pane of glass to a beautiful sunrise on the other side. Best $$ I ever spent, in my Book.

"You're Writing a Book? Great. When?"

That's what my husband said when I mentioned, over a glass of throaty Merlot, how much I would like to write a book. A guide, actually. A guide to exploring Alaska with children, specifically.

Hubs' very valid question of "when" came at our return from two weeks aboard the Alaska Marine Highway System, where we relaxed and recreated 24-7 the Inside Passage of southeast AK. Our (okay, my) website and blog, AKontheGO, had seen a fine year of increasing attention by the travel powers-that-be; people who see the value of stroking a family travel writer to encourage intrepid parents about their own immersion into the 49th state beyond that which cruise ships advertise (and I adore our cruise industry).

But my spouse knows me well, and understands writing is akin to breathing for his wife, so he poured another glass of wine, settled himself in a deck chair, and said "Tell me about it." Three hours later, I had a concept, a few ideas for publishing, and three pages full of scribbled notes.

I timidly approached a former editor whose "AWESOME!" response gave me hope. I sketched an outline (and promptly became discouraged at how many pages appeared for one book), and began to mention to certain circles my plan of action.

People cheered, they high-fived, they poured more wine. I found an editor whose calm and professional personality belies my slightly frenetic, OCD one. I created a writing schedule, cleaned out my office, and frantically began contacting my travel industry peeps.

So here I am. And now, here you are, following along. This is the place to ask questions, give me feedback, and offer your best suggestions when I ask "Have you ever been to....?" or "What's your favorite family-friendly restaurant in.....?"

"Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th State With Children" is a big idea in a big state. Somehow, though the two seem to fit.

Bring it on.