Dana Stabenow

Thesis: Through her novels, Dana Stabenow portrays her own dissatisfaction with America's isolation of Alaska, it's governments view of Alaskan natives, and Alaska's own economic systems.

BACKGROUND

• Stabenow grew up on an Alaskan fishing vessel
• Her family had moved to Alaska around 70 years ago. (Her grandfather)
• Until Stabenow became a professional writer she helped her family on the boat, she had rarely seen land.

Background

• The main character in Stabenow's novel "A Cold Day for Murder" is an FBI agent that operates in the isolated town of Niniltna, Alaska.
• The main character grew up in Alaska, and is a native to Alaska
• She also made extra money from tourists (the park)

ISOLATION

• "Alaska? Oh, right over by Finland, and Alaska, is that like you know, a state?"
• "The cabin, looking more as if it had grown there naturally rather than being built by human hands"
• Alaska is isolated because people are not educated in the ways of Alaskan life, economics, etc, and because there is little human population.
• Stabenow uses sarcasm and metaphors frequently

NATIVES

• "Woke a bald eagle roosting in the top of a spruce causing him to glare down" symbolizes America keeping close tabs on natives
• If you were caught buying or selling alcohol in any form... Within tribal boundaries the council sent Kate Shugak (FBI)" Tighter laws were put in place on the natives
• Stabenow continuously uses metaphors to bring her point across rather then deliberately bringing up the subject, she does so through her works.

ECONOMICS

• " It (the park) is four time the size of Denali National Park, but with less than 1% of the tourists" Many Alaskan livelihoods depend on tourism but there is little of it to be found
• "She heads the board of directors of the Niniltna Native Association" Natives are a bigger part of Alaskan economics than in the other states.
• Alaskan economics are unorthodox
• Stabenow once again circles around her arguments without blatantly binging them up

STYLE

• Stabenow puts her own beliefs within her works
• Metaphors are frequently used
• She brings across points without directly stating them
• Sarcasm is used prevolenty, by her and her fictional characters.

Works Cited

• Anderson,Patrick. Washingtonpost, N.p, n d, Web
• Brunsdale, Mitzi M. "RESTLESS IN THE GRAVE" Strand Mystery Magazine. N.p, n d, Web.
• Stabenow, Dana. A Cold Day for Murder. New York: Berkley, 1992. Print.
• Stabenow, Dana. "Dana Stabenow" Dana Stabenow. N.p, n d, Web. 19 Feb. 2016
• Stabenow, Dana p. "Alaska Mystery Writer Dana Stabenow Talks about Writing Mysteries". N.p, n d, Web. 19 Feb 2016.