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.