It has been several years since I posted anything on this site–my personal weblog–and I thought this might be a good time to catch up with my readers, my friends, my family, and everyone interested in my books and my writing life. A lot has happened since 2016, almost ten years! I’ve published many books since then, started a magazine and lost it to the pandemic, started another magazine which is gaining new readers with every issue, and I’ve added the excellent books of several writers to my Northern Light Media booklist.

I think maybe the best way to re-start this blog might be to share the ‘About Me” which I just edited. It’s on the left side of the site, but for those reading on their phones, who may not see that without some fiddling around, and for anyone seeking details about my creds for whatever reason, here ’tis again:

I am an author and a publisher, and through my company, Northern Light Media, I’ve published many nonfiction books about the history of Alaska, the railroads, roadhouses, revenue cutter service, gold rush history, and historic sled dog races. I’ve volunteered for many sled dog races, including the Yukon Quest, the Northern Lights 300, and the Copper Basin 300, and I have designed and managed the websites for the Northern Lights 300, the Top of the World 350, and the Copper Basin 300. I also organized and sponsored two Mushing History Conferences, in 2009 and 2010, which drew presenters and attendees from across Alaska and Canada.

I have given presentations about my books all across Alaska, and I have written articles for Alaska Magazine, Last Frontier Magazine, and Mushing Magazine, among others, and I created and wrote the Team and Trail column for Alaska Dispatch News for a few years. I have given slideshow presentations at the Alaska State Fair, the Palmer Historical Society, the Talkeetna Roadhouse and many other venues. A profile of me and my publishing company by Alaska historian and book reviewer David A. James can be read at this link, or the original article, dated January 5, 2024, is at the Anchorage Daily News.

The success of my own books led others to entrust me with the publication of their books, and Northern Light Media now has over two dozen books in print, with authors such as Lew Freedman, Anne Winters, Veryl Goodnight, Jody Meanus, and the late professor Gary C. Stein, who was recognized last year by the Alaska Historical Society for his work as an Alaska historian in the 1970s and 80s and his service as AHS president. He published numerous articles and book reviews in the Society’s journal and published his seminal work, on Dr. James Taylor White of the U.S. Revenue Marine Service in Alaska, with Northern Light Media in 2021.

You can contact me on Facebook, or write to me at my email address: helenhegener@gmail.com