Biography

Kaylene Johnson is the author of Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down (Epicenter 2008); Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor (KMTA, July 2005) and Portrait of the Alaska Railroad (Alaska Northwest Books, May 2003). Her award-winning articles and photographs have appeared in Alaska magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Garden Design, Spirit magazine, We Alaskans, Parish Teacher and other publications. She has written for Insight Guides and Discovery Communications. She has also written curriculum for Augsburg Fortress Publishers and the Alaska Mission Committee.

Kaylene served as a writer-in-residence for the Anchorage School District beginning in 1996. She continues to offer classes, workshops, and presentations for adults and children on a variety of topics aimed at building community and developing skills for new and young writers. Her background in journalism offers keen insight into the writing and publishing process. She encourages emerging writers to discover their own unique voices through the writing process.

 

Recent Credits | Forthcoming | Recent work Experience | Education | Top

Recent Credits

Featured presenter in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Chugach National Forest. Reading and presentation given from Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor at the Begich Boggs Visitor's Center. August 2007.

"Pipeline of Prosperity." Alaska Airlines, June 2007. Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Featured writer for Z. J. Loussac Library's 20th Anniversary Celebration. December 2006.

Featured writer at the YWCA's 15th Annual Alaska Women Writers event celebrating women artists in Alaska. October 2006.

2005 Excellence in Journalism First Place Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for “Race Makers,” a look behind the scenes at Alaska’s most famous sled dog race. Cover story appeared in Alaska Airlines, March 2004.

Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor, a historical book with photos of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Published July 1, 2005 by the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Corridor Communities Association.  Reviewed by UAA Professor Stephen Haycox. ISBN 0-9762519-0-6 

“Skiing on the Wild Side: Alpine and Cross-country Adventure on Alaska’s Ski Train.” Los Angeles Times, February 20, 2005. 

“Window to the House: Peering at Privacy in Creative Nonfiction.” Article in the Associated Writing Program’s The Writer’s Chronicle. September 2004. 

Notable Essay in Best American Essays 2003.  "Moose Hollow," an essay published in the Spring 2002 issue of The Louisville Review.

Portrait of the Alaska Railroad published by Alaska Northwest Books, May 2003. Book reviewed in the Portland Oregonian, Anchorage Daily News, and Alaska Airlines Magazine. ISBN 0-88240-552-7  

Earned multiple first-place awards from Alaska Press Women’s statewide media contest for writing, editing, graphic design, and photography. Several entries went on to earn national recognition in writing and editing. (Click here for complete list of awards.)

Click here for complete list of published works.

Recent Credits | Forthcoming | Recent work Experience | Education | Top

Forthcoming

 “Ghost Bear,” an essay, forthcoming in Invocations, an anthology of place, edited by Marybeth Holleman. Publication date Spring 2008. 

 

Recent Work Experience 

1989 – Present

Free-lance writer. Working for Alaska magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Anchorage Daily News and other publications. Published in Alaska Wilderness Discovery Travel Guide, Also currently writing curriculum and educational materials for Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, MN and Alaska Backcountry Ministries. 

1998-1999

President of Alaska Center for the Book, a statewide organization affiliated with the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Leadership in the organization helped earn the coveted Boorstin Award, a national award given annually by the Library of Congress recognizing excellence in a state Center for the Book.  

1996-1998

Coordinator for Writing Rendezvous, Alaska’s largest annual writer’s conference, sponsored by Alaska Center for the Book and the University of Alaska Department of Creative Writing & Literary Arts. Visiting authors included Michael Ondaatje, Tracy Kidder, Judith Appelbaum, and Richard Ford. 

1995 - 1998

Instructor and writer-in-residence and for Anchorage School District. Conducted writing/editing classes for teachers and workshops for children K-12. Evaluated and edited graduate-level papers for teachers seeking publication as part of the EXCELS graduate program.  

Nov 93 – Jun 95

Managing editor, Senior Voice. Managed all phases of planning, writing, editing, and production of this award-winning newspaper for senior citizen in Alaska. In-depth research of senior issues led to national awards for outstanding reporting and editing. Graphically re-designed the format for improved readability and aesthetics. Responsibilities included managing state and municipal grants. Supervised staff of 10. 

Recent Credits | Forthcoming | Recent work Experience | Education | Top

Education 

Master of Fine Arts in Writing, Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky. Class Speaker/Valedictorian for October 2003 graduating class. 

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Vermont College, Montpelier, Vermont.

1997-2007 Clips available upon request

Year	Issue	Publication/Publisher	Title	Type of work
2008	May	Epicenter Press	Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down	Book
2008	March	AlaskaMagazine	"Strength in Low Numbers: Alaska's Jews may be isolated and few but they strive to maintain their traditions"	Feature Article
2007	June	Alaska Airlines Magazine	"Pipeline of Prosperity"	Feature Article
2006	May/June	Alaska Magazine	"Keeper of Sunrise"	Feature Article
2006	April	Alaska Airlines Magazine	"Anchorage Arts Scene Takes Center Stage"	Feature Article
2005	October	Alaska Airlines Magazine	“Nature’s Front Porch: Dillingham”	Feature Article
2005	Pub date: July 1	KMTA Corridor Communities Association	Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor	Book
2005	April 14	Anchorage Daily News	“Once Upon A Garden”	Feature Article
2005	March	Alaska Magazine	“Skiing with Spice”	Feature Article
2005	February	Alaska Airlines Magazine	“Destination Alaska: On Track”	Feature Article
2005	February 20	Los Angeles Times	“Next Stop: Pristine Wilderness”	Travel feature
2004	May 16	Anchorage Daily News	“Room for Creativity: Artist Retreat Emphasizes Spirituality”	Life & Arts feature
2004	July – Sept	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
2004	March	Alaska Airlines Magazine	“Racemakers”	Cover story
2004	January	Alaska Works Partnership, Inc. (publisher)	Building Maintenance Repairer Apprentice/Step-up Handbook	Handbook
2003	October	Alaska Magazine	“Man of a Thousand Names”	Feature article
2003	March	Alaska Magazine	“Alaska Nellie”	Feature article
2003	May release	Graphic Arts Center Publishing/ Alaska Northwest Books	Portrait of the Alaska Railroad	Book
2002	November	Alaska Magazine	“Bears Play Through”	Feature article
2002	November	Alaska Almanac	“Yearly Highlights”	Year-end summary
2002	Sept/Oct	AAA Mountainwest Home&Away Magazine	“The Journey from Anchorage to Talkeetna”	Feature article
2002	Spring	The Louisville Review	“Moose Hollow”	Essay
2002	Winter	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
2001	July	Alaska Magazine	“Funny Business: Cartoonists pen Alaska’s lighter side of life”	Feature article
2001	Spring	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
2001	Fall	Augsburg	Firelight Bible Learning Teacher Guide and Learner Resources	Curriculum
2000	Fall	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
2000	Summer	Augsburg	“Jesus Is!” Outdoor Ministries	Curriculum
2000	Four quarters	Cool News	A dozen short articles/sidebars that comprised a quarterly newsletter	Newsletter
1999	Two chapters in guidebook	Insight Guides Alaskan Wilderness Discovery Travel Adventures ISBN 1-56331-837-7	“Alaska from Above” “Kodiak Island”	Two chapters
1999	Winter	Spirit Magazine	“Out of the Wilderness”	Cover story
1999	May 23	We Alaskans Magazine	“Gardening with Grandeur”	Cover story
1999	Series C	Alaska Mission Committee	“God’s Kids in the Far North – Jesus is the Light of the World”	Curriculum
1999	Annual	Official Iditarod Guide	4 articles: “Who was that Masked Man?” “Transplanted Hero,” “ABCs of the Last Great Race,” Peryll’s Place in the Sun.”	Feature articles
1999	May	Parish Teacher	Servant Event Planner	Article
1999	Jan-Mar	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
1999	Winter	Spirit Magazine	Cover story: “Out of the Wilderness”	Feature article
1999	Series C	Alaska Mission Committee	“God’s Kids in the Far North -- Jesus is the Light of the World”	Curriculum
1999	Annual	Official Iditarod Guide	4 articles: “Who Was that Masked man?” “Transplanted Hero,” “ABC’s of the Last Great Race,” “Peryll’s Place in the Sun.”	Feature articles
1999	March	Parish Teacher	“Servant Event Planner”	Graphic
1999	May	Parish Teacher	“Bible Reading: Linking Church to Home”	Feature article
1999	May 23	We Alaskans Magazine	“Gardening with Grandeur”	Cover story
1999	Two chapters of book	Insight Guides Alaskan Wilderness Discovery Travel Adventures	“Alaska From Above” “Kodiak Island”	Two chapters
1998	Quarter 1	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
1998	Annual publication	Official Iditarod Guide	3 articles: “Mind of a Dog Man,” “Rules of the Game,” “Race Strategy”	Feature articles
1998	February	Alaska Magazine	“Ultimate Sled”	Humor column
1998	February	Alaska Magazine	“Living Ice”	Photo essay
1998	February	Parish Teacher	“Maximize that VBS Spirit”	Article
1998	Series B	Alaska Mission Committee	“God’s Kids in the Far North -- Jesus Works Miracles”	Curriculum
1998	March	Alaska Magazine	“Mind of a Dog Man” reprinted from Iditarod Guide	Feature
1998	May	Parish Teacher	“Kids Talk”	Article
1998	May/June	Alaska Magazine	“Terror at Buffalo Creek”	Humor column
1998	Quarter 3	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	devotions
1998	August	Alaska Magazine	“Shopping for Salmon: Dipnet Harvest”	Feature article
1998	February	Alaska Human Resource Investment Council	“State Training and Employment Program: Stairway to Career Success”	Program report
1998	September	Alaska Magazine	“For the Sake of the Light”	Feature article
1997	Series A	Alaska Mission Committee	“God’s Kids in the Far North -- Jesus and His Friends”	Curriculum
1997	Jan 26	We Alaskans Magazine	“Alaska winter must be loved to be loved”	Essay
1997	Dec/Jan	Alaska Magazine	“Alaska Aglow”	Photo essay
1997	Mar/Apr	New Man Magazine	“Northern Exposure of Another Kind”	Feature article
1997	Spring	Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly	“Heart of Joy”	Feature article
1997	April	Alaska Magazine	“An ‘Egg’cellent Adventure”	Humor column
1997	Quarter 3	Augsburg/Home Altar	Devotions for families with children	Devotions
1997	June	Alaska Human Resource Investment Council	“School to Registered Apprenticeship: A Manual for Counselors”	Instructional manual
1997	July	Alaska Magazine	“Dippin’ Daze”	Humor column
1997	Quarter 4	Augsburg	Word In Season	Devotions
1997	November	Alaska Magazine	“Mysterious Skies”	Photo essay
1997	Dec/Jan	Alaska Magazine	“Pining for an Alaskan Spruce”	Humor column
1997	December	Parish Teacher	“God’s Gifted Learners”	Article
1997	Fall	Augsburg Witness Series	Teacher guide, student resource book, activity packet for 3-4th grade Sunday School	Curriculum

List of Media Awards (1994-2005) Year Placement Award Organization Category Title Publication 2005 1st Place Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington Pro-Chapter Excellence in Journalism -- General News "Race Makers" Alaska Airlines magazine 2002 *Notable Essay Best American Essays 2002 Edited by Robert Atwan “Moose Hollow” published in Spring Issue Louisville Review 2000 *Boorstin Award National Library of Congress – awarded to the Alaska Center for the Book (ACB) Awarded for ACB’s  Writing Rendezvous, the Alaska’s largest annual writer’s conference Coordinator of Writing Rendezvous for three years and subsequent President of ACB during the time for which this $5,000 award was considered.   1999 Honorable Mention Alaska Press Club Feature Story “Who Was That Masked Man?” Alaska Magazine Iditarod Guide 1996 1st Place Alaska Press Club Humor “Winter Kill” Alaska Magazine 1996 1st Place   Alaska Press Women Headline Writing   Senior Voice 1996 1st Place Alaska Press Women Editorial Writing “Title V Workers Deserve Better Tribute” Senior Voice 1996 1st Place Alaska Press Women Page layout “Earthquake! Tsunami! Seldovia’s Survival” Senior Voice 1996 1st Place Alaska Press Women Color feature photo   Senior Voice 1996 2nd Place Alaska Press Women Articles about religion Devotions Our Redeemer Lutheran newsletter 1996 2nd Place Alaska Press Women Publications edited   Senior Voice 1996 Honorable Mention Alaska Press Club Headline Writing   Senior Voice 1996 *2nd Place   National Federation of Press Women Editorial “Title V Workers Deserve Better Tribute” Senior Voice 1995 1st Place Alaska Press Women Special Series “Senior housing challenge” Senior Voice 1995 1st Place Alaska Press Women Special articles: religion Devotions Our Redeemer Lutheran Church newsletter 1995 1st Place   Alaska Press Women Regular editor   Senior Voice 1995 1st Place Alaska Press Women Section editor   Senior Voice 1995 1st Place Alaska Press Women Headline writing   Senior Voice 1995 2nd Place Alaska Press Women Feature story “Norman Vaughn” Senior Voice 1995 2nd Place Alaska Press Women News reporting “Chugiak Accident” Senior Voice 1995 2nd Place Alaska Press Women Personality Profile “Dr. George Hall” Senior Voice 1995 Honorable mention Alaska Press Women Special series “Health Care Reform” Senior Voice 1995 *2nd Place National Federation of Press Women Sections edited   Senior Voice 1995 *3rd Place National Federation of Press Women Publications regularly edited   Senior Voice 1995 *Bronze Award Mature Media Awards   “Senior Housing on the Last Frontier Senior Voice 1995 *Bronze Award Mature Media Awards Media/ Newspaper   Senior Voice 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Women Page layout   Senior Voice 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Women Headline writing   Senior Voice 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Women Feature photo “Home Away from Home” Senior Voice 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Women Special Articles: Business “How to Start a Business” Alaska Business Monthly 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Women Special Articles “Home Away from Home” Senior Voice 1994 1st Place Alaska Press Club Feature Story “He’s off! Vaughn Heeds the Call” Senior Voice 1994 2nd Place Alaska Press Club Best Section “Special Reports” Senior Voice 1994 2nd Place   Alaska Press Women Special report “Osteoporosis: Can it happen to you?” Senior Voice   1994 2nd Place   Alaska Press Women Personality Profile “A Broken Path Made Straight” Senior Voice   1994   *Silver Award Mature Media Awards Newspaper article “Home Away from Home: Nursing Care Options” Senior Voice 1994 *Silver Award Mature Media Awards   “He’s Off! Vaughn Heeds the Call” Senior Voice 1994 *Silver Award Mature Media Awards   “Home Away from Home” Senior Voice

                                    * Indicates National Award

Anchorage School District Courses and Workshops

(1995-1998)

Professional Development Courses (Syllabus and course evaluations available upon request)

• Drawing from the Well: Writer’s Response Groups
• Expedition into the Craft of Writing
• Basic Summer Writing Institute – Writer-in-Residence
• A Matter of Course – Writing-based Independent Study
• Time for Meaning, Time to Write I
• Time for Meaning, Time to Write II

In-Service Workshops

• Drawing from the Well: Writer’s Response Groups
• A Look at the Writing Life
• Exploring Writer’s Notebooks
• Bridging Two Worlds: Writing and the Classroom
• Plain English: Down-to-Earth approach to Professional Writing

Writer-in-Residence at:

• O’Malley Elementary School
• Gruening Middle School
• West High School
• East High School
• Dimond High School
• Chugiak High School

All classroom workshops were student-centered and included hands-on activities. Topics included:

•  Poetry
•  Writer’s Notebooks
• Writer’s Groups
• Revision: The Craft
• Six Traits of Writing
• The Writer’s Life
• Publishing