Dana Stabenow


Dana Stabenow is an American author of science fiction, mystery/crime fiction, suspense/thriller, and historical adventure novels.

Biography

Many of Stabenow's books are set in her home state of Alaska, where she was raised by her single mother who lived and worked on a fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska, and feature numerous descriptions of Alaska's geography, geology, weather, and wildlife.
Stabenow received a BA in journalism from the University of Alaska in 1973 and, after deciding to try her hand as an author, later enrolled in UAA's MFA program.
Her first novel, Second Star, was bought by Ace Science Fiction in 1990. It was followed by two other science fiction books. Her first Kate Shugak mystery, A Cold Day for Murder, won the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original in 1993. Her 2011 Kate Shugak mystery, Though Not Dead, received the 2012 Nero Award.
In 2007 Stabenow was named Alaska Artist of the Year in the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities.
In 2011, Stabenow wrote on her blog an informative article about her childhood reading experiences and how these influenced her to write detective novels.
Note: The plots of the Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell Mystery series are interconnected.

Books

Single titles

A historical adventure in which protagonist Wu Johanna, the granddaughter of Marco Polo, travels from her home in 14th-century Cambaluc to Europe.
Stabenow had three books published in the "Star Svensdotter" science fiction series:
The first book in the mystery series, A Cold Day for Murder, won the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original in 1993. Characters of the series include Kate Shugak, Mutt, Ekaterina, Jack, Jane, and Johnny Morgan, "Chopper" Jim Chopin, and Samuel Dementieff.
In 1998, she began a new mystery series featuring Alaska State Trooper Liam Campbell. In addition to Liam Campbell, the books also feature bush pilot Wyanet Chouinard, Moses Alakuyak, and Bar & Grill owner Bill Billington.