Building Fires in the Snow: A Collection of Alaska LGBTQ Short Fiction and Poetry

by Martha Amore (Editor), Lucian Childs (Editor)

Diversity has always been central to Alaska identity, as the state’s population consists of people with many different backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences. This book opens a window into these diverse lives, gathering stories and poems about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer life into a brilliant, path-breaking anthology.
            In these pages we see the panoply of LGBTQ life in Alaska today, from the quotidian urban adventures of a family—shopping, going out, working—to intimate encounters with Alaska’s breathtaking natural beauty. At a time of great change and major strides in LGBTQ civil rights, Building Fires in the Snow shows us an Alaska that shatters stereotypes and reveals a side of Alaska that’s been little seen until now.

More about the book at buildingfiresinthesnow.com.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Stories, Queer, LGBT

360 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2016

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a review for terrain.org:

http://www.terrain.org/2017/reviews-r...

[Greyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wouldn't say that all--or even most--of the writing here is excellent, but given the rurality and tenor of Alaskan politics/social mores many of these pieces are at least "brave".

The poetry, as a whole, 2*. The prose pieces, 4.5*. Particularly the longest work, Going Too Far. Generally optimistic as well, which was good for a winter read.

[Sayde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!! One of the best books I've read this year. The stories and poems inside are inspiring, filled with a passion and an honesty which captures the feel of Alaska in a raw and accurate way like I've never found before. The difference of experience, opinion, and confidence of each writer shines through and their stories have made me laugh, made me cry, and more then anything have made me proud of my fellow Alaskans.

[Sandy]

I've known about this book's existence for a while now so I'm glad I finally got to read it, even if it took a WRC prompt to finally get me to.

I admittedly was not in the headspace for poetry when I read this so I don't think I really got to appreciate that part to the fullest. As for the prose I enjoyed a lot of the stories, especially the longer ones.

I think my biggest takeaway from the book has mostly been reflecting on how queerness has changed in even as short a time from when this book was published to now and the unique landscape of queerness in Alaska.

I think the book's focus on LGBT is very telling about what queerness looked like/was talked about in 2016. Reading it now the scope feels so small and rigid with only a couple pockets of queerness whereas now things feel more fluid and that there is a wide spectrum with multiple layers of gender, gender presentation, sexual attraction, and romantic attraction often building on top of one another.

Especially after my most recent visit to Sitka, I've noticed and seen the queer presence in Anchorage and Alaska broadly, including rural pockets in places like Sitka and Seward. It makes me happy to see that supportive rural communities do exist out there and that rural does not always automatically mean conservative.

I also really appreciate that the book is very open about its limitations, especially with regards to race and language. I'd love to see another volume of this book or something new with a similar concept that does do a better job of incorporating those things.

[fern · Rating 3 out of 5]

bought this for my friend from alaska for xmas and decided to annotate it for them. many of the stories are written by young people in rural areas and aren’t necessarily groundbreaking writing in terms of the way they are written but moreso in the messages and stories themselves (if that makes sense). overall a nice winter read that taught me a little about growing up queer in alaska!

[sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with beautiful poems and short stories, really feel like I got a taste of the love of those who stay for the rugged winters and endless sun
Makes me want to experience the life in the interior first hand