Local writer Heather Lende has been named Alaska State Writer Laureate for 2021-2023 by the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) and the Alaska Humanities Forum.
The write laureate is a two-year honorary appointment in recognition of the writer’s contribution to “the quality of life in Alaska,” according to the humanities forum website. In consultation with the forum and ASCA, the selected writer develops a project to promote the literary arts and artists of Alaska.
Lende, who has written four books based on her life in Haines, was selected for the way her writing conveys a sense of daily life in Alaska, said those involved in the selection process.
“Her work speaks to the daily experiences, challenges and joys of life in Alaska, and connects emotional and factual observations in a way that enhances our collective understanding of life in this unique place on earth,” ASCA Chairman Benjamin Brown said in a May 12 press release.
Lende said the news came as a pleasant surprise.
“It’s nice to have a platform to shed light on the good things going on in Haines and education and the environment,” she said. “(The honor) is a credit to our community because my stories all come out of here. Everything comes from living here and the people in it.”
Lende said she’s still working on ideas for her two-year project. She said she’s leaning toward something that highlights literacy and reading local authors.
“The last couple of (laureates) have focused on writing classes, but there are so many great writers in Alaska. We don’t, as Alaskans, always know who they all are. It’s important to get Alaskans reading Alaska writers and poets and newspapers,” she said.
Lende said she’s not sure about the funding amount or timeline for the project. The Alaska State Council on the Arts didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.