Pilgrims
and American Natives…the subject for November’s blogs. I want to talk about what happened to
Norwegian immigrants to the U.S. when they settled on Mitkof Island, Alaska,
where Tlingit natives ruled.
Young
men from Norway, mostly crofters, as close to servants as we can imagine,
yearned for land of their own or, at the very least, a way to make money so
they could buy fishing boats. While some
of their brothers trudged on to the gold fields of Alaska, a good many settled
in Petersburg, Alaska, on the northern end of Mitkof Island at the tip of Wrangell
Narrows. Their advantage? The LeConte Glacier offered free ice for
their fish, enough ice to preserve their catch for boat trips south. In fact, this group of fishermen, homesick
for Norway, established a Little Norway in Petersburg. Some of the men married Tlingit women; today,
their progeny are called ‘Tlingwegians.’
I
cherish my Scandinavian heritage and revel in the fact I have a town full of
Skjellums (my maiden name) in Vaaga, Norway.
So when I cruised to Petersburg, Alaska, to find a town full of
Norwegians, I experienced a mini-homecoming…and decided to set a novel in this
sweet fishing town.
Get
ready for LIE CATCHERS, published by Wild Rose Press in early 2014. It’s a double murder mystery with a dose of
paranormal in the plot. You won’t
believe the trouble a ‘Tlingwegian’ can get into!
While
you’re waiting, check out my other books on http://www.rolynnanderson.com
5 comments:
Best of luck with your latest release.
Thanks Margo...I think this will be a fun novel to promo!
Tlingwegian - what a cool name. Has a nice ring to it! Always exciting to promote something new - and 2014 is just around the corner...
Thanks, Jannine. I'M SO EXCITED! Just got the proof for my cover for LIE CATCHERS. Is there anything more scary, exiting, meaningful? The cover must capture the reader...I've learned that. Is my cover woman a Tlingwegian...of course! Can't wait to show you...soon!
Fascinating history, Rolynn! Your cover sounds wonderful too! :-)
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