Appearances

Upcoming/Ongoing Events

Please note, all these events are virtual (Zoom, etc.)

Join Heather this fall, winter and spring, for a remarkable literary series to celebrate Alaska Quarterly Review’s 4oth Anniversary, featuring many if the most influential and acclaimed writers of our time, Sundays beginning Oct. 4 and running through May 2.

Middlebury College Reunion
June 9, 7:00–8:00 PM EDT
Join Alumni Achievement Award winner Heather Vuillet Lende ’81 as she recounts her experiences chronicling life in small-town Alaska, gaining national attention and eventually being named the state’s Writer Laureate. The award recognizes her accomplishments as a writer; her most recent book is Of Bears and Ballots, and her memoir If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name made it to the New York Times bestseller list. Annie Hartmann Philbrick ’80 will moderate the Q&A. Sign in via Zoom beginning 15 minutes before live events. Register/Sign In

Alaska Reads
Tune to libraries and bookstores around the state to listen to discussions about Find the Good, this year’s Alaska Reads selection. Click here for full info…

New Books Network Interview
I just did an interview with Dr. Christina Gessler on the New Books Network. Listen now

Of Bears and Ballots Past Events

June 15, 2020

  • 5pm Alaska Time
    Zoom interview with Kyle Clayton, a Hospice Fundraiser (by donation)
    Watch Replay

June 29, 2020

  • 2-3 pm Alaska Time
    Alaska Public Radio “Hometown Alaska” with Kathleen McCoy, Heather’s former editor from the Anchorage Daily News.

June 30, 2020

  • 8:42 am ET
    Ashort chat with “Morning on Maine Street” with Bill Maine, on Northeast Georgia’s Morning Show WDUN-AM/FM.
  • 11-12 am ET
    An interview on NPR 1A.
  • 5 pm Alaska Time
    Zoom book launch and birthday party! In Haines, with a brief reading, a conversation with The Bookstore owner and recent Haines transplant Amy Kane, and answers to your questions.
    View Replay
    Thank you to the Alaska Arts Confluence and Fine Art Alaska for hosting the Of Bears and Ballots book launch and all their continued support and promotion, and for sharing Haines artists and writers with the World.

Wednesday July 1

  • 3:40-4 pm AKDT
    Juneau,   “Juneau Afternoon” on KTOO-FM
  • Alaska News Nightly interview

Thursday, July 2

  • 9-10am PT
    Jefferson Public Radio for Southern Oregon and Northern California, interview with Geoffrey Riley.
  • 10 am AKDT 
    Haines, Skagway, Klukwan on the KHNS radio Lynn Canal Voice fundraiser program with Henry Lesia.
  • 9-9:30pm CT
    KNOX-AM “Overnight America” with Ryan Wrecker

Wednesday July 8, 2020

Friday July 10th, 2020

  • 9:30-10 am CT
    The Dave Nemo Show in Nashville TN, airs on XM Radio’s Road Dog channel 146
  • 6pm Alaska Time
    Homer Bookstore, In conversation with Erin Hollowell.
    Click to join the Zoom call…

Monday July 13, 2020

  • 8:40-9am PT 
    KSVY-FM interview with Marcia Macomber in Sonoma, CA.
  • 5pm Alaska Time
    Booksmith in San Francisco will host Heather over Zoom, and she will be  interviewed by radio host and film maker Sedge Thomsen, at 5:PM
    Click to join the Zoom call…

Wednesday, July 15th

Monday, July 20th

Thursday, July 23rd

Tuesday, July 28

Wednesday, July 29

Wednesday, August 12

Thursday August 20 at 6pm Alaska time

  • Sing Lee Alley, Petersburg – In conversation with bookstore owner and Petersburg assembly member Chelsea Tremblay.
    Register here.

Thursday August 27 at 6pm Alaska time

  • Old Harbor Books in Sitka in Conversation with author John Straley.
    Register here.

Oct. 14 at 9am  I did a virtual  Yes on 2  event–the Alaska ballot measure 2 for fair elections campaign— with democracy advocate Dave Daley, author of Unrigged and Rat F**ked

Other Events

PNLA/AkLA 2020 Joint Conference

August 4-7,  the Pacific Northwest Library Association and Alaska Library Association joint annual conference in Juneau

Virtual North Words Schedule

August 2-4, 2020
Special Theme: Writing at a time of a threatened natural world.
Faculty: Keynote Bill Streever,
Heather Lende, M. Jackson, Eva Holland,
Caroline Van Hemert, Bryan Fierro, Nicole Stellon O’Donnell

Your Hosts:
Daniel Henry, Jeff Brady, Kent Fielding, Katrina Woolford
Special Thanks to these Hosting Venues:
Alderworks Alaska Writers & Artists Retreat, Skagway Public Library, Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau (AB Hall), Red Onion Saloon

Sunday, Aug. 2
6-9 PM (Alaska time)
Live from Alderworks in Dyea, Alaska

6-6:30 PM
Open Zoom Reception/Introductions/Buckwheat Memories

6:30-7:45 PM
Writing While The World Burns:
How to stand witness to challenges, change, and turmoil.
Why do it at all?
Panel: Bill (lead), Heather, Caroline, Eva, Bryan, Nicole, M.

7:45-8 PM
Social Break / Stretch Time / Barnyard Tour

8-9 PM
Making Science Stick Among Skeptics:
Data is real, stupid. Or is it? What was the question?
Panel: M (lead), Caroline, Bill, Eva

—— ——
Monday, Aug. 3
1-4 PM (Alaska time)
Live from downtown Skagway, Alaska venues

1-2 PM • Skagway Public Library
Writing Workshop
Virtual workshop led by Nicole and M.
(we may break this into 2 groups, details forthcoming)

2-2:30 PM • Broadway Bound
Social Break / Stretch Time

2:30-3:30 PM • AB Hall
Writing With Risk:
Why should you try? What happens if you do?
Panel: Eva (lead), Nicole, Heather

3:30-4 PM • Red Onion Saloon
Wrap-up with the RO ghosts
Follow Dan wherever he goes!
——– ——–
Tuesday, Aug. 4
6-9 PM (Alaska time)
Keynote Eve Live from Alderworks in Dyea, Alaska

6-6:30 PM
Open Zoom Reception/Alderworks Tour

6:30-8:30 PM
Keynote by Bill Streever
“What It Is to be a Writer Today”
Q&A to follow remarks, leading into final panel discussion:
The Writer’s Role as a Source of Hope
From all these urgent, tragic, troubling stories—where is the light?
Panel co-leaders: Heather, Caroline, Bryan

8:30-9 PM
Wrap-up by North Words organizers, final thoughts