Active Voice: Writers Respond

State Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes has spent a good part of her life bearing witness. The author of the American book award winning, Blonde Indian and the Tao of Raven, Hayes is known for bringing out the connections between all things. She is also a member of the faculty at the University of Alaska Southeast. She says to better understand our present we need to look our past, and the history of oppression and genocide of indigenous peoples. Show Links: Ernestine Hayes Blonde Indian The Tao of Raven 49 Writers

Travel writer and author of the acclaimed Global Soul, Pico Iyer is an eternal optimist in a seemingly pessimistic world. Pico Iyer is also a contributor to major news publications, the author of two novels and nine works of nonfiction. His latest effort is The Art of Stillness, Adventures in Going Nowhere. Pico’s Ted Talks have millions of viewers and he’s been hanging out with the Dali Lama for 44 years. Attendees at the 2018 Northwords Writers Symposium in Skagway, Alaska were lucky enough to hang out with Pico as he was the keynote guest. When they are not traveling, Pico and wife Hiroko live in Japan and California. In between a symposium session, Pico shared his refreshing perspectives on making time for writing and humanity. Show Links: Pico Iyer Ted Talk Elle Magazine 49 Writers

When not spending time in endangered and beautiful places or teaching writing, Pam Houston lives with horses, goats and dogs in her cherished home of almost 30 years, an off the grid ranch in the high country of Colorado. In this episode, Pam tells host and producer Katie Bausler that it is metaphors that get her through this seminal moment for the natural world. And discusses her latest book, Deep Creek,Finding Hope in the High Country.

Beauty-of fauna, flora and most of all-place is part of everything she writes, says Joanna Lilley. The author of a short story collection and two books of poetry, Lilly grew up in the UK and lives in Whitehorse Yukon, Her first novel, Worry Stones, published in late 2018, is set in in Canada, Britain and the Scottish highlands. And as she tells Active Voice pocast host Katie Bausler, the places she has lived are as relevant to her writing as the people who raised her and the times in which they lived.

Former commercial fisherman and Alaska writer laureate Nancy Lord’s work’s been infused with the political and the environmental since well before the 2016 election. Her 2011 book Early Warming showed Alaska on the front lines of climate change. Her latest novel, PH, tells the story of ocean acidification through all too human characters, humor and grace. Nancy’s also a teacher and mentor to writing students in Homer and in the University of Alaska Anchorage MFA program. And as she told 49 Writers board member and podcast host Katie Bausler, she has strong feelings about the responsibility of writers in these times. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.

In this installment 49 Writers audio series with Alaskan writers, Southeast Alaskan Vivian Faith Prescott discusses her original stories and poems with Active Voice host Katie Bausler. Prescott utilizes multi media, including print, spoken word, video, audio and her blog, Planet Alaska. Her first book of stories, the Dead Go to Seattle was published in 2017. New York times reviewer Garth Stein calls it, an important, essential work that should be required reading for all thoughtful, imaginative people. Vivian Faith Prescott is a 5th generation Alaskan who lives at her family's fish camp just north of Ketchikan in Wrangell, where she was born and raised. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.

In this initial Active Voice podcast, 49 Writers board member Katie Bausler interviews Alaskan writer and Faith of Cranes author Hank Lentfer. The Gutavus, Alaska resident discusses his upcoming biography of fellow Southeast writer Richard Nelson, and a light outlook in dark times. Original music by Liz Snyder and Alex Kotlasrz.