Raised on a 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska, Dana Stabenow would write stories about normal children who lived on shore, when she was not seasick. After many experiences including working for the Alyeska Pipeline and graduating from University of Alaska’s (Anchorage) MFA program, she sold her first book Second Star (1990). However, it was her Kate Shugak series that led the way to her winning an Edgar Award in 1993. Appearing before a chipper crowd at the 2004 National Book Festival, Stabenow talks about her rise to fame and her most recent book, A Taint in the Blood (St. Martin's Press, 2004), the 14th Kate Shugak mystery. From the Series:The Library of Congress: 2004 National Book Festival