Alaska Literary Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry

• Highlights more than 90 species of flora and fauna from a variety of ecosystems
• Includes writings and original artwork in a wide range of styles from diverse Alaskan voices and artists
• Every entry features an informative, science-based natural history, including traditional knowledge

Alaska Literary Field Guide is a vibrant and immersive celebration of Alaska's wild beauty, blending science, storytelling, and stunning artwork. This unique anthology brings together a diverse range of the state's most respected contemporary poets and writers--including Kim Heacox, Seth Kantner, dg nanouk okpik, Heather Lende, and Frank Soos--alongside original, full-color artwork from 19 Alaskan visual artists such as Alvin Amason, Ray Troll, Sara Tabbert, and rising talents like Valisa Higman and Crystal Jackson.

More than 90 species and natural elements--from grizzly bears and glaciers to lichens, loons, and the aurora borealis--are brought to life through poetic reflections, vivid prose, and detailed scientific natural histories. Each "Being" is paired with a piece of writing and illustration that captures its essence, while also offering cultural knowledge, ecological context, and insight into population health and environmental threats.

Organized by ecosystem, Alaska Literary Field Guide is both an artistic tribute and an educational invitation to connect with the land, water, wildlife, and spirit of the Last Frontier. It's a field guide like no other--both a reference and a work of art.

Author: Marybeth Holleman,Nancy Lord,Shaelene Grace Moler
Publisher: Skipstone Press
Published: 02/23/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.90w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781680517620

About the Author
Lord, Nancy: - Nancy Lord, a former Alaska State Writer Laureate (2008-2010), is the author of three short story collections, a novel, and five books of literary nonfiction. Her environmental writing has appeared widely in journals and anthologies. She has taught creative writing at the University of Alaska and currently teaches science writing for Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Homer, AK. Visit her online at writernancylord.com.Holleman, Marybeth: - Marybeth Holleman is the author of the novel Bloom Again, the poetry collection tender gravity, and the memoir The Heart of the Sound. She co-authored Among Wolves with wolf biologist Gordon Haber and co-edited Crosscurrents North, an anthology of Alaska prose and poetry. Her award-winning work has been published in over 50 venues including Orion, Christian Science Monitor, Sierra, and The Guardian. She lives in Anchorage, AK. marybethholleman.comGrace Moler, Shaelene: - Shaelene Grace Moler has been published in First Alaskans Magazine, Forum Magazine, Juneau Empire, Tidal Echoes, and Alaska Women Speak. She is a storytelling specialist for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership and loves writing poetry and creative nonfiction, particularly about life in Alaska and Tlingit culture and history as a member of the Tsaagweidí clan from Kake, AK. She now lives in Sitka, AK. Visit her online at shaelenegrace.com.