Northwestern authors Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse shine a light on a fascinating piece of Alaskan history in their new novel “In the Shadow of Denali”.
Montana-based writer Tracie Peterson, the bestselling author of inspirational historical fiction today, has written a number of books set in Alaska. She says, “There is something about Alaska that has always called to me. Writing stories about Alaska, and doing what I can to keep them as accurate to the location, time, and people as possible is one way to keep that history alive. It’s something of a sacred trust that I don’t take lightly. I hope to keep creating Alaska stories for years to come.”
It seems that keeping history alive was something of a labor of love for this first entry in The Heart of Alaska series. In the Shadow of Denali is a tale of adventure, romance, and suspense set back in the 1920s when the Curry Hotel was in its prime and preparing for a visit from the president of the United States. Sadly, after a series of disasters in its history, the once-thriving resort town of Curry is now an uninhabited stop along the Alaska Railroad. The former Mt. McKinley, recently restored to its original name of Denali by President Obama, is also central to the story Peterson and Woodhouse tell.
In the novel, cook’s assistant Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, a wilderness guide, work at the prestigious Curry Hotel near Mt. McKinley. John’s new apprentice, Allan Brennan, finds an unexpected friend in Cassidy, but the real reason he’s here—to learn the truth about his father’s death on the mountain—is far more dangerous than he knows.
Co-author Kimberley Woodhouse says, “Living on a remote island in Alaska gave me an appreciation and deep awe not only for the incredible state of Alaska but for her people. The rich history surrounding Curry begged to be captured since it has all but vanished with its ashes. We hope to honor its history with The Heart of Alaska series.”
In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is published by the Bethany House division of Baker Publishing Group. It is available now from all major retailers. To learn more about the authors, visit their websites at www.traciepeterson.com and www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
