Welcome to the second novel in THE HEART OF ALASKA series—Out of the Ashes.
As we go back to Curry, Alaska, in the 1920s and the Curry Hotel, we journey with some very broken people. Like so many of us today, they experience pain—physical and emotional—that only our great God can help us endure and overcome. But that’s the beautiful part—He is there. Amidst all the junk.
During the writing of this book, Tracie and I both went through some very difficult circumstances. I had an adventurous two-hour ride in an ambulance that led to numerous surgeries and a long road to recovery. Tracie’s beloved nephew suffered a seizure, and they ultimately had to say good-bye to a family member who was all too young. It all happened within the same month. And we feel that the title of this book is even more significant in our lives—as we’ve come out of the ashes ourselves to see the beauty only God can make.
In the Shadow of Denali, book one, started this series in 2017. It introduces the reader to Curry from its inception and tells the love story of Allan and Cassidy, whom you’ll see again in this story. Each book in the series is designed to stand alone. You don’t have to read each one to enjoy the series; however, reading each in order will definitely add to your enjoyment.
In this story, we have used real historical details and real people intermixed with our fictional characters. And since we didn’t know the people personally, we’ve had to use our imaginations along with our historical research to depict some of their personality traits. Please see the Dear Reader letter at the end of the book for more details, links to pictures, and our own research.
Many of our readers have written in asking about visiting Alaska. We definitely recommend taking a trip to the Last Frontier if at all possible. The Alaska Railroad is a wonderful way to see Alaska and the only way to see the remains of Curry at milepost 248.
Denali is just as magnificent as ever and one of the most beautiful sights to behold, but be prepared for him to shroud himself in clouds for weeks on end. While in Alaska, if you hear the beloved phrase “The Mountain is out,” make sure you chase the mountain that day in case you don’t get the chance again. Take lots of pictures, because it will be a treasure to show your friends and family.
And now, we head back in time to Curry. Our prayer—as always—is that you see the beauty of redemption in this story. But most importantly, we hope you see that God can take our worst circumstances—our shattered pieces—and transform the ashes into an exquisite masterpiece.
Enjoy the journey,
Kim and Tracie