August 17, 2023, St. Clair Shores MI
Press Release From
the exceptional and venerable
Ridgeway Press
Roseville MICHIGAN
It is our great pleasure to announce the January 2024 publication of the US edition of Ken Waldman's debut novel
Pub Date: January 1, 2024 ISBN: 978-81-8253-847-4 $18 www.ridgewaypress.org
Ken Waldman has drawn on 39 years as an Alaska resident to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his. 12 CDs mix old-time string-band music with original poetry. 20 books include 16 full-length poetry collections, a memoir, a creative writing manual, a kids' book, and this novel. Since 1995 he's toured full-time, performing in the widest range of venues, from the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, Australia to the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven, Connecticut to New Jersey's famed Dodge Poetry Festival to over 240 schools in 35 states, and over 100 university and college campuses from Alaska to Maine.
Now Entering Alaska Time is currently available through Ken Waldman, who is touring in support of the book and through the publisher, Ridgeway Press. March 2024, the distributor, Small Press Distribution, ceased operation. The publisher is exploring options. Also, the International Edition of the novel, published in 2022 by Cyberwit.net Press of India, is currently available on Amazon, through Alibris, and directly through cyberwit.net.
What's new with this Ridgeway Press edition published in the United States? There's a new cover photo, plus we've included two maps of Alaska inside the book as well as some accolades from early readers and reviewers--you can see some of those responses below. And, yes, we've cleaned up the few random typos that made it into the international edition. Though officially released on January 1, 2024, author Ken Waldman and publisher Ridgeway Press both have books available from August 2023 on (and Ken will have copies with him as he journeys from Minnesota to Wisconsin to Washington state to Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio (again), Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, Louisiana, Alabama, New York, Pennsyvlania and further these next six months, and beyond).
And though it's taken awhile, here's a June 2025 review of the novel from a review site: Readers' Favorite:
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The new CD, just in time for the July 31, 2022 release!
In addition to Ken Waldman's careful scavenging of tunes from his first three CDs, Beth Chrisman contributed two tracks of her Fairbanks-raised vocals.
The tunes: Walking in the Parlor; Rock the Cradle, Lucy; Texas; Cruel Willie
(that's one of Beth's songs); Coming Home with the Girls in the Morning;
Shove that Pig's Foot a Little Further into the Fire; Don't Treat Me Too Nice
(the second of Beth's songs); Forked Deer; Bobtail Mule; then the four big
party tracks that take you to the parties described in the opening section
and to the Alaska Folk Festival jams also described in the book: Fly Around
My Pretty Little Miss, Sandy Boys, Elzic's Farewell, Rockingham Cindy;
then Ken Waldman reads the book's first couple of pages followed by Ken
playing his original tune, Fairbanks Cabin Waltz, solo on mandolin. Final
track? The Burnt Down House reprise from Ken's second CD, the one titled
Burnt Down House. It's the ideal finisher for this CD project.
June 1, 2022
The June 1 date above means Cyberwit.net has officially published Ken Waldman's novel, Now Entering Alaska Time. Below is Ken's introduction to the novel, and scroll down further to see the front and back cover of the book (and here's the link to Ken's late 2021 Kickstarter campaign where you can read much more about the project).
Also, Ken and Cyberwit.net have sent out copies, and they await reviews. For now what they have are responses from early readers. Check them out (and now on the very top, a few lines from a review received on July 1, plus a link right here to that complete review; below that, some lines from another review, one received in early June--and the whole review is pasted in on the very bottom of this page).
"Waldman is able to take everyday things that make us human and show us a
long view of Alaska life. The characters are remarkable. I didn't want to put this
book down! And now, I'm definitely going to have to visit Alaska." --LB Sedlacek,
Pegasus Literary Review
"This has moments that take me to the reading of Another Roadside Attraction,
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Bound for Glory, or Call of the Wild . . .
Storytellers, musicians, travelers, those loving tall tales, stories, the road, and
turns at every corner will find an inviting home in Ken Waldman's writing."
--Ancient Victorys, Bonney Lake WA, summer 2022 issue
"I just wanted to let you know that I finished the novel yesterday! It was quite enjoyable!
I actually got more attached to Zan and the other characters than I expected I would,
which is a great sign for character development. I liked how it was very very Alaska specific,
even more than I thought it would be. Meaning you didn't really explain anything; it's like
you assumed anyone reading the book would be from there or have spent significant time
there. Which was a really nice way to revisit." --Gabriela, Vancouver, BC, CANADA
I really liked your novel. I didn't know what to expect, and it blew me away."
--Jeff, Skagway Alaska (bookstore owner who ordered 20 copies)
"Couldn't put it down!! just finished it... Great book. I looked on Google Earth to see the
communities mentioned. Yikes... They are Way out there, aren't they!!" --Lee, Bloomington IN
“By novel's end, I'd become quite involved with characters, and with the landscape you
describe. The novel portrays a believable world, a world found by those, like yourself, who
ventured to far-flung Alaska in their youth in a previous time. Thank you for the story.”
--Rachael, Breaux Bridge LA
“I just finished reading the novel - a good read. I feel/know more of Alaska than I ever have -
thanks, and love the writing about music. And some characters who will stick in my
thoughts. So, thanks.” --Jim, Lytle TX
“I've meant to write for some time after devouring your novel. I loved it! I can hardly believe I
left Alaska 34 years ago, nearly half my lifetime. Nome and Fairbanks memories flooded
back, and your characters were/are people I want to meet.” --Donald, Moscow ID
“Can I have permission to make a screenplay out of this?” --Rachel, Salt Lake City UT
“Finally got around to reading, finishing Now Entering Alaska Time. Congrats on finally
getting a great book published. Also, it makes me never want to go to Nome.” --Dan,
Portland OR
“Just a quick note to say I finished reading your fine novel. It really brought me back to
the Alaska I once knew. I recognized everyone! And I could almost smell Nome. I
especially liked what you did with the two main characters, as they fumbled toward what
might become a stable relationship in a wildly unstable place. You've got Alaska's number.”
--Parker, Olympia WA
"A unique blend of drama, death, loss, and comedy. . . . what exists in Alaska, its beauty
and people." --Review Tales Magazine, June 2022
Besides Skaguay News Depot & Books, the new book is available at The Bookstore in Haines, Hearthside Books in Juneau, Title Wave Books in Anchorage, Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe in Anchorage, The Anchorage Museum Gift Shop, Fireside Books in Palmer, Black Birch Books in Wasilla, the Talkeetna Museum, the Bookery (also in Talkeetna), the Homer Bookstore, River City Books in Soldotna, The Library Gift Shop in Hope, and Karibu Gallery & Gifts by Denali National Park. You can also find it at Mosquito Books in the Anchorage airport, at the Bear Gallery at Pioneer Park/Alaskaland in Fairbanks, and at Back of Beyond Books in Moab, Utah, Turquoise Raven Art Gallery in Cortez, CO, and The Book Beat in Oak Park MI, which is metro Detroit. It's also available at several Alaska libraries and the Grand County Library in Moab, which means any library anywhere can order it through interlibrary loan. And of course you can reach out directly to Ken Waldman. He has copies and is happy to mail books to anyone anywhere. There's also a CD that can go with the book. And by late summer/early fall 2023, he expects to have review copies of a North American edition, published by Ridgeway Press in Michigan.
