Category Archives: Books

Ordering Books

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Helen Hegener

Ordering my books is easy, and there are four convenient ways to order online: Northern Light Media – You can order every title I’ve published directly through my website, just click on the title you’re interested in for complete details … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Amazon, books, Contact, CreateSpace, Helen Hegener, IndieBound, Northern Light Media, Ordering, Orders | Leave a comment

The Alaska Railroad 1902-1923

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Helen Hegener

The Alaska Railroad: 1902-1923 , subtitled Blazing an Iron Trail Across The Last Frontier, shares the compelling story of the construction of the Alaska Railroad and its predecessors, from 1902, when John Ballaine built the Alaska Central Railroad; through 1923, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Alaska Railroad, Books, News & Information | Tagged A.E.C., AEC, Alaska, Alaska Central Railroad, Alaska Northern Railroad, Alaska Railroad, Alaskan Engineering Commission, Anchorage, ARR, Denali, Fairbanks, Golden Spike, Helen Hegener, Nenana, President Harding, Seward, Tanana Valley Railroad | 3 Comments

Alaskan Adventurer Mary Shields

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Helen Hegener

In 1974, the second year the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was run, Mary Shields became the first woman to finish the race, with the smallest team in the race (only eight dogs) and a part-Labrador lead dog named … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, DVD & Video | Tagged Alaskan Tails of the Trail, Hope Race, Iditarod, Jon Van Zyle, Mary Shields, Pyrola Publishing, Robert Service, Season of the Sled Dog, Sled Dog Tales, The Alaskan Happy Dog Trilogy, The Nature of Things, Will Curtis, Yukon Quest | 1 Comment

Iditarod: The First Ten Years

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Helen Hegener

Please click here to help put a copy of this book in every Alaskan school – even a $5.00 donation will help put more books into our schools! Iditarod: The First Ten Years is a tremendous compilation of history from … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information, Races, Sled Dog History | Tagged Dick Mackey, GoFundMe, Iditarod, Iditarod Air Force, Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Joe Redington, The Last Great Race, The Old Iditarod Gang | Leave a comment

The Yukon Quest

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Helen Hegener

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race spans some of the harshest and most beautiful winter territory anywhere: 1,000 miles between Fairbanks, Alaska and the city of Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Known as ‘The World’s Toughest Sled Dog Race,’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, News & Information, Races, Sled Dog History | Tagged Alaska, Albert Marquez, Dawson City, Eric Vercammen, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, John Schandelmeier, mushing, Scott Chesney, sled dog race, Whitehorse, Yukon Quest, Yukon River | Leave a comment

A Dog-Puncher on the Yukon

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Helen Hegener

People sometimes ask me which musher in history is my favorite, and it’s a tough choice, as there have been some truly amazing mushers (and I write about many of them in my book Alaskan Sled Dog Tales), but one … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Sled Dog History | Tagged A Dog-Puncher on the Yukon, Arthur Treadwell Walden, Chinook, Helen Hegener, mushing, Northern Light Media, sled dogs | 1 Comment

“A Mighty Nice Place”

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

“The valley looks great. It looks fine, fine. You got a mighty nice place here.” ~American humorist and commentator Will Rogers, Palmer, Alaska, August, 1935 The newest book from Northern Light Media combines the history of the Matanuska Valley with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, News & Information | Leave a comment

Gakona Roadhouse

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Helen Hegener

This article is an excerpt from the book by Helen Hegener, Alaskan Roadhouses, Shelter, Food, and Lodging Along Alaska’s Roads and Trails, published in 2015 by Northern Light Media. Ordering information below. The Gakona roadhouse at milepost 205 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Arne Sundt, Doyle's Ranch, Gakona Roadhouse, Glenn Highway, Helen Hegener, Henra Sundt, James Wickersham, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, roadhouse, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail | Leave a comment

Joe Redington’s Iditarod Booklet

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Helen Hegener

A slim little booklet came to my attention at the Palmer library recently; if memory serves me it was tucked into their collection which cannot be checked out of the library but must remain in the building. Titled Iditarod Trail, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Races, Roadhouses, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Joe Redington, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Dog Team Doctor

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1896 Dr. Joseph H. Romig traveled to Bethel, Alaska, and opened the first doctor’s office and hospital west of Sitka, at a time when there were very few non-native people living in remote southwest Alaska. Four decades later a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, Bethel, Dog Team Doctor, dogteam, Eva Greenslit Anderson, Helen Hegener, mushing, Nenana, Northern Light Media, Romig, sled dogs | Leave a comment

The Parks-Archer Colony Barn

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Helen Hegener

In 1935 the U.S. Government transported 200 families from the Great Depression-stricken midwest to a valley of unparalleled beauty in Alaska, where they were given the chance to begin new lives as part of a federally-funded social experiment, the Matanuska … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Matanuska Colony, Matanuska Valley, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska History, Albert Marquez, Barbara Hecker, barns, Bodenburg Loop Road, Bonita Parks Strong, Dave Rose, Eric Vercammen, Glen Archer, Jim Fox, Joanie Juster, Lynn Sandvik, Matanuska, Matanuska Colony Project, Matanuska Valley, Palmer, Parks-Archer, Pioneer Peak, Ron Day | Leave a comment

A Look Between the Covers

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The newest book from Northern Light Media, Alaskan Sled Dog Tales, is in the final proofing stage before indexing the book, and I thought a peek between the covers might be fun for readers looking forward to this book. Here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Alaskan Sled Dog Tales

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The history of Alaska was in large part written behind a team of sled dogs. “These trustworthy creatures could be relied upon to do the heavy work, while remaining—as Hegener eloquently reminds us—our most treasured friends.” David Fox, for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, Alaska Nellie, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Anchorage Press, Book Reviews, David Fox, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, sled dogs | 1 Comment

A.A.”Scotty” Allan

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Helen Hegener

From the Wenatchee World, Wenatchee, Washington, June 29, 1909: “Scotty” Allan, Dog Trainer Winner of All-Alaskan Sweepstakes an old-time resident of Chelan County and well known here The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of Monday night contained an interesting story regarding “Scotty” Allan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, News & Information, Races, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Dubby, Helen Hegener, J. Berger, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dog race, sled dog racing, Sled Dog Tales, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Alaskan Roadhouses Review

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Helen Hegener

The Anchorage Press features a great review of my latest book, Alaskan Roadhouses, in the January 14 issue. I love what David Fox wrote about my book: “In Alaskan Roadhouses, Helen Hegener reconstructs the scant history of these establishments and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Book Reviews, Books, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, Book Reviews, books, David Fox, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, Iditarod Trail, Leonhard Seppala, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Roadhouses, S. Hall Young, Samuel Hall Young, sled dogs, The Mushing Parson, Yukon River | Leave a comment

The Yukon Quest Trail

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Helen Hegener

Update: A good commentary on the 2016 field of 25 mushers from two-time Yukon Quest Champion John Schandelmeier. The 2016 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race will start February 6, 2016, in Fairbanks, Alaska, when 25 mushers and their dog … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Races | Tagged Alaska, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Helen Hegener, John Schandelmeier, mushing, Northern Light Media, Scott Chesney, sled dogs, Talespin Media, Whitehorse, Yukon, Yukon Quest, Yukon River | Leave a comment

Along Alaskan Trails

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Helen Hegener

Along Alaskan Trails, Adventures in Sled Dog History, by Helen Hegener, is a collection of true stories about Alaskan sled dogs and the role they played in the development of the north, with dozens of historic photos from the archives … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books | Tagged Alaska, Alaskan Roadhouses, All Alaska Sweepstakes, “Iron Man” Johnson, Baldy, Balto, Chester Noongwook, Chinook, Emiu, Ernest de Koven Leffingwell, Fritz, Helen Hegener, Hudson Stuck, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, Joe Redington, Jujiro Wada, Leonhard Seppala, Mary Joyce, military sled dogs, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Rembrandt, Richardson Trail, Scotty Allan, sled dog mail, sled dog racing, sled dogs, Slim Williams, Split the Wind, Togo, Valdez to Eagle Trail, Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail, Wolf | Leave a comment

The All Alaska Sweepstakes

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The colorful history and the enduring legacy of the All Alaska Sweepstakes, the oldest organized distance sled dog race in the world, includes records kept by the Nome Kennel Club dating back to the first race in 1908. The race route … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Uncategorized | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Candle, Helen Hegener, Jeff King, Lance Mackey, Leonhard Seppala, Mitch Seavey, mushing, mushing history, Nome, Northern Light Media, Scotty Allan, sled dogs | Leave a comment

Northern Light Media Store

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Helen Hegener

In addition to the overview featuring all of the books we publish, each book is spotlighted on its own ordering page Continue reading →

Posted in Books, DVD & Video, News & Information | Tagged Alaska, Helen Hegener, Lance Mackey, mushing history, Northern Light Media | Leave a comment

The First Iditarod

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Helen Hegener

The First Iditarod: Mushers’ Tales from the 1973 Race, by Helen Hegener. The First Iditarod shares the history of the first running of The Last Great Race, and most of the book is comprised of the verbatim words of mushers … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska History, Books, Races | Tagged Alaska, All Alaska Sweepstakes, Helen Hegener, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail, mushing, mushing history, Northern Light Media, sled dog racing | Leave a comment