Media & Press Releases
North Words 2021 will feature keynote author Tommy Orange
In his ground-breaking 2018 debut novel, There There, one of author Tommy Orange’s ensemble of characters admires a radio show mix of old and new Indigenous music, commenting, “The problem with Indigenous art in general is that it’s stuck in the past. The catch, or...
North Words Writers Symposium Going Virtual • NEW DATES August 2-4, 2020 • Skagway, Alaska
The North Words Writers Symposium, originally set for the end of May, and then postponed to the end of August, is now going virtual. The new dates for Virtual North Words are August 2, 3 and 4, 2020. Struggling with continued travel restrictions and limitations on our...
North Words Writers Symposium NEW DATES August 27-30, 2020 • Skagway, Alaska
The North Words Writers Symposium, originally set for the end of May, has been postponed to the end of August. Alaska is currently under restrictions for gatherings of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many Skagway businesses have also been affected by various...

Susan Orlean will keynote 10th annual North Words
Photo: Susan Orlean for Grub Street / New York Magazine North Words Writers Symposium May 29-June 1, 2019 Skagway, Alaska Despite writing four bestsellers and garnering a slew of accolades, one of the first questions I want to ask best-selling author Susan...

Bestselling author Pico Iyer is new keynote for 2018 North Words
North Words Writers Symposium May 30-June 2, 2018 Skagway, Alaska Visionary author Pico Iyer, known for insightful travel books and talks around the world, will be the new keynote for the 2018 North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway, Alaska May 30-June 2. Iyer will...
Bestselling author Susan Orlean heads lineup for 2018 North Words
North Words Writers Symposium May 30-June 2, 2018 Skagway, Alaska Burning curiosity and high enthusiasm are desirable attributes for any fine writer, but when it comes to New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean, these qualities combine with skill, eye for...
Acclaimed world travel and fiction writer Paul Theroux to keynote 2017 North Words Writers Symposium
After writing nearly fifty books of nonfiction and fiction set in the most exotic of locales, America’s greatest travel writer is finally headed for one of Alaska’s most notorious: Skagway. Paul Theroux will lead a faculty of seven acclaimed authors at the 8th...
North Words Writers Symposium May 25-28, 2016
Press Release North Words Writers Symposium May 25-28, 2016 Skagway, Alaska After years of pandering, fawning, and badgering from adoring Alaska readers, celebrated author Brian Doyle has finally consented to be the keynote speaker for the seventh annual North Words...
Media Coverage
Coverage from 2019:
Conference Insider: The Writer magazine features North Words (July 2019)
Skagway News story about Susan Orlean at North Words 2019
Coverage from 2018:
49 Writers Podcast with North Words 2018 keynote author Pico Iyer
North Words Writers Symposium builds perspective, fosters imagination – Skagway News
Coverage from 2017:
Registrations fill completely for North Words Writers Symposium
Skagway News
Coverage from 2016:
A ‘clan of inky storytellers’ gathers at 7th annual North Words Writers Symposium
Skagway News
Coverage from 2015 and 2014:
Small writers symposium offers huge opportunity
Capital City Weekly
Mary Roach makes North Words Writers Symposium a bit taboo
Skagway News
North Words kudos for Simon Winchester, participant-author writing workshops
Skagway News