The Past is Present

5 Star Amazon review for "Lillian Alling: the journey home"

2012-01-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

I received a 5 Star review on Amazon:
"Susan Smith-Josephy's biography of the legendary Lillian Alling is a well-researched and compelling account of a woman who travelled over 3,000 miles, solo from New York to Siberia (largely on foot!) at a time when women were discouraged from such grand endeavour, to say the least...I doubt anyone reading this work will have read anything else quite like it. Considering the dearth of historical detail where our female fore bearers are concerned, this book enlightens as it engages us; in what we know happened and what we imagine might have! It's a joyful and inspiring read."
- Lori Paul

CBC Almanac

2012-01-19T14:20:00.001-08:00

I will be on the radio, CBC Almanac, tomorrow, Friday, January 20 at 12:30 PST. Please check http://www.cbc.ca/bcalmanac/ for your local listings.

Cuba photos

2012-01-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

I went to Cuba. Here are some photos.

In Havana, outside the original capitol building.

Cigar rolling

School kids

Trumpeter

Street in Havana

Cathedral

The beach outside Al Capone's house

Book stalls - many books from 1950s

Street down town Havana, many many buildings like this

Che, Revolutionary Square

Heritage Speaker Series presentation

2012-01-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

Come and join me at the City Hall in Quesnel on Wednesday, January 18 at 7 pm. I will be doing a presentation on some of the research I did for my book "Lillian Alling: the journey home." Books will be available for purchase. As this is part of the Quesnel Museum Heritage Speaker Series, for more information, please contact the Quesnel Museum at 250-992-9580. Admission is by donation. Hope to see you there.

Explorer/travel writer Lawrence Millman reviews "Lillian Alling: the journey home"

2011-12-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Explorer, travel writer, mycologist Lawrence Millman has good things to say about my book, Lillian Alling: the journey home.

"Amy Bloom fictionalized Lilling Alling's epic journey from New York City to Siberia in her bestselling novel Away, but for years I hoped that someone would write a nonfictional account of Lillian's remarkable journey. Now, finally, someone has done so. Susan Smith-Josephy's book not only tells the remarkable story of that journey, but also solves some of the mysteries surrounding the so-called Mystery Woman -- solves them in a manner that Sherlock Holmes would have admired. Lillian Alling:the journey home is a seamless blend of research, history, speculation, and storytelling. I can't recommend it too highly!"

Lawrence Millman

-- author of Last Places, An Evening Among Headhunters, and Hiking to Siberia (forthcoming)
Visit his homepage here: www.lawrencemillman.com

CBC.ca, North by Northwest, Gift Ideas For The Book Lover

2011-12-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

I was very happy to hear Jim Brinkman from the fabulous Books and Company book store in Prince George on CBC, North by Northwest. He was interviewed about his favourite books this season and one of them was my book, "Lillian Alling: the journey home." I am grateful for Jim's recommendation.

Click the link below to hear the broadcast. My book is mentioned at 6:50. Just the fact that it was mentioned in the same sentence as Wylie Blanchet's "The Curve of Time" was thrilling.

Click HERE: CBC.ca | North by Northwest | Gift Ideas For The Book Lover

Also check out their list of other books. My "To Read" list just got a whole lot bigger.

I like happy endings

2011-11-29T15:34:00.001-08:00

It's no secret that the book "Lillian Alling: the journey home" ends with her leaving Alaska, crossing the Bering Strait and landing in Siberia.

Of course that begs the question: what happened to her after that? Because I love a happy ending, in fact it's a requirement for me when I'm reading something, I ended the book so we can still hope for Lillian's safety. We can leave the book with hope that Lillian's skills, determination and dogged eccentricities were enough for her to get back home, where ever home was to her.

But in reality, I was always afraid that she met a different fate. Not only was she arriving in Siberia just as winter was coming, but she was heading into 1929 Soviet Union without a passport, as an illegal foreigner and precedent would say this would end badly.

I don't want to think that Lillian sacrificed three or more years of her life struggling to cross North America by herself just to end up starving and dying in a frozen gulag.

Information about gulag prisoners is not easy to come by. Certainly, if you have the appropriate knowledge of the person's name and identity, it might be possible that some archive will hold the truth. But because it's iffy as to whether Lillian Alling was even her real name, she is tricky to find.

Yes, searches were made by me and by professional Russian researchers and genealogists, but came up with nothing. Checking in with Russian journalists, writers, bloggers and archives revealed that the story of Lillian Alling, or even a similar story of someone crossing the Bering Strait to Siberia, was unknown.

But who knows. Perhaps someone in Russia will read "Lilian Alling: the journey home" and their grandmother will say, "oh yes, that woman, I remember her..."

Wouldn't that be a happy ending? It would indeed.

The story, character and structure of Lillian Alling: the journey home

2011-11-29T14:44:00.001-08:00

The first thing that grabbed my attention about Lillian was the story. A solo woman traveller in the 1920s walks across North America, with the goal of going to Alaska and then crossing the Bering Strait to Siberia. Fascinating, and definitely worth looking into. Was it true? (yes) Why did she do it? (a combination of eccentricity and determination). I was hooked almost immediately.

Then, once I began looking into the facts of the story, Lillian's character began to emerge. If Lillian had been more Polly-Anna-ish, I'm guessing she wouldn't have been so fascinating to me. She was reserved, off-putting, and reticent. Yet, to the people who met her on her travels throughout British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska, she was memorable. So memorable, in fact, that their descendants still tell stories about how their father or grandfather or great uncle met the legendary Lillian Alling.

The structure of the book comes naturally from Lillian's story and character. Of course Lillian is the hero. She faces challenges and has unique characteristics that allow her to overcome those challenges. She survives in the remote wilderness of British Columbia and the Yukon, she is physically hardy, stubborn to an almost obsessive degree, and yet endearing and lovable to those who understand and empathize with her quest. She is, when we first get to know her during her arrest in 1927 an admittedly prickly woman. But after a few years more of travelling, learning to trust and accept help from the local people she meets, she ends her journey only being able to succeed with the help of others. This is how she has grown as a person, and this becomes one of her greatest strengths.

God Speed, Lillian.

The Continuing Mystery of Lillian Alling

2011-11-27T11:14:00.001-08:00

Lillian Alling's past is a mystery. Her intriguing story, for us, starts as she leaves New York in December of 1926, and crosses the border at Niagara Falls, into Canada. From there, she headed west eventually ending up in Hazelton, British Columbia. After many adventures, and many kilometres later, she made it to Nome, Alaska and then headed to Siberia. And then? We don't know.

My book about her, "Lillian Alling: the journey home," follows the Canadian and Alaska portions of her trip. But we do not know how long she had been travelling before and after that. I hope that some diligent and enthusiastic Russian researcher will take up the cause and try and find Lillian's trail after she arrived in Siberia in late 1929.

I also hope that some keen genealogist will pick up Lillian's earlier trail. Where did she come from? Poland? Russia? Estonia? Somewhere out there, someone will hold the clue to these answers. Perhaps she can be found in some unopened archive in New York, or Ontario. Or a hint could be found someone's long unread letters to a long forgotten relative.

In the meantime, I hope readers will enjoy the story of what we now know about Lillian--her time in Canada and Alaska. I loved researching about Lillian's journey, and was pleased to find new information, new stories and share them in the book. In a future blog post I'll talk a little bit more about how I found this new information. As for the book, it can be pre-ordered on Amazon ordered directly from Harbour Publishing or from me. Remember, though, if you buy it in your local book store, there are no shipping charges and you'll be supporting a local business.

Lillian Alling research papers donated to Dawson Museum

2011-11-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

I did a lot of research for the Lillian Alling book, and collected a lot of paper. I thought maybe future Lillian Alling researchers might be interested in what I had found.

So once the book was at the printers (it will be available for purchase online and in stores next week), I asked the Dawson City Museum if they would like to have my papers. They said yes, so I bundled everything up in this box and sent it off to them. Included in the box are books, articles and some primary documents.

Lillian Alling spent the winter of 1928-1929 in Dawson City, Yukon and her story is well-known there. In addition, the museum has a display on Lillian, and there is an historically-based performance that museum visitor can enjoy as well.

I hope that the availability of this material will encourage people to do more research on Lillian, or perhaps use the documentation I have provided as a basis for future writing, whether they be non-fiction or fiction. The Dawson City Museum staff were incredibly helpful to me during the research phase of the book, and were an invaluable resource when it came to finding images for publication. I thank them very much for being so generous with their time.

Rattlesnake mug

2011-10-31T10:44:00.001-07:00

I got myself one of these.

Where is Polly the Parrot's Cage?

2011-10-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

The Caribou Hotel in Carcross, Yukon is searching for the cage that belonged to Polly the Parrot (of that establishment). Jamie Toole, who is restoring the historic hotel (where Lillian Alling visited in 1928). In addition to wanting to find the cage, photos of Polly are also welcome. If you have any information or interesting stories about Polly, please write
to Jim Robb: The Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook - Can You Identify? c/o the Yukon News, 211 Wood Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2E4, or email through the News website, http://www.yukon-news.com./

Lillian Alling book being published by Caitlin Press.

2011-08-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announced that the book about Lillian Alling is now finished and will be published by Caitlin Press.

Caitlin titles are available from most quality bookstores in Canada and through Harbour Publishing's online shopping cart at http://www.harbourpublishing.com/ (search keywords "Lillian Alling").
Contact me here me if you have any questions.

Oakalla Prison

2011-06-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lillian Alling was sentenced to Oakalla Prison in September of 1927. Oakalla was, according to author Earl Andersen's book "A Hard Place to Do Time," not a good place to be an inmate.

For more information on Oakalla, I recommend checking out Ronald Jack's interesting blog http://runagatepictures.blogspot.com/ where he outlines his work on the documentary "Oakalla" and his further research on his new film "The Ghosts of Oakalla."

Ahhh... I am back in Quesnel and back to tranquility

2010-10-18T22:51:00.000-07:00

Saw the Vancouver Opera production of Lillian Alling on Saturday night. I must say I identify with the Irene MacDonald character: having a yearning for the wilderness and a wariness of the city.

I did have a nice time in Vancouver, but once I reached the sage-covered hills of the Cache Creek/Ashcroft area, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was back home in the Cariboo.

I left the Sylvia Hotel at 7 am, and arrived home at 4 pm. A long drive, but at least it was warm and sunny. I always overlay a huge historical map on top of the territory I'm driving through. I love looking for physical remnants of the past. I was thinking of Jean Caux, Cataline. He was first headquartered in Yale, circa 1858, then when Ashcroft got connected to the railway in the late 1880s, Cataline moved his headquarters to there. But he was all over the whole of the Cariboo and up north, too. I had a good time at VPL looking at the old newspapers and magazines. Next year, I'll visit his old trading and wintering spots and take some photos and soak in the atmosphere. I'm so intrigued by him.

I'll be back at the Lillian Alling writing in a few days (I need to go to PG tomorrow to pick up a van).

Beautiful day in Vancouver

2010-10-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

It's sunny and warm in Vancouver. I am staying at The Sylvia Hotel, which is fabulous... a heritage building right on the beach in the West End.

Spent the afternoon at Vancouver Public Library, doing a bit of background research for a future project on the esteemed packer Jean Caux (also known as Cataline).

I am homesick for Quesnel and looking forward to getting home. I'm also looking forward to finishing my book on Lillian Alling, and sending it off to the publisher.

Research Services

2010-10-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

I've been getting a lot of requests to provide research services, especially about Lillian Alling. Please contact me via this blog or through my website:
http://www.lillianalling.ca/ for rates and other information.

Website Stats

2010-10-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

I should mention that my website is getting double the hits this month compared to last month. This is due to the Vancouver Opera production of Lillian Alling, so that's very cool. Thanks, Vancouver Opera!

My website:
http://www.lillianalling.ca/

What do we know about Lillian Alling's time in British Columbia and Yukon? Quite a lot, actually

2010-10-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

My book's focus is about Lillian Alling's time in British Columbia and Yukon. From both primary documents and secondary sources, we can begin to built quite an interesting picture of both her personality and how she spent her time.

Yes, Lillian's origins are mysterious, but doesn't that make it all the more interesting? Not everything in this Google-world has a ready-made answer or an easy conclusion.

After all, aren't all the world's great mysteries great just because they remain mysteries? Oak Island and the Money Pit, for example. For a great example of how some mysteries remain unsolved, check out William Shatner's "Weird or What" show. They solve some mysteries, but others remain (duh) MYSTERIES.

Lillian Alling was known as "the mystery woman" during her time in British Columbia and Yukon. While I've been able to dig out some great anecdotes about her time in Canada, her life before and after that is shadowy. Will we eventually be able to illuminate those shadows? Maybe. Maybe not.

For an article in the Globe and Mail about the Lillian Alling book, click here:
http://tinyurl.com/37r75cc

So many chapters before I can go to the opera

2010-09-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am finally beginning to enjoy the process of getting the chapters ready. Dividing the massive chapters into smaller, more focused chunks has really helped. I've been so lucky to have some wonderful friends help me with editing. I sent the same three chapters off to three different people, and am getting their comments back now. It's helpful beyond measure. I am so fogged in by my own writing, I need someone else to give feedback.

It's also very encouraging to get back the comments and corrections and suggestions, because not only do I feel happy that my friends are helping me, it also makes me feel just that little bit more closer to THE END as we know it.

I want to get as much done and sent off before I head down to Vancouver to see the Lillian Alling opera on 16 October. That way, I can enjoy someone else's interpretation of the Lillian Alling story, rather than feeling guilty for not having completed MY version of Lillian Alling's journey.

"Wires in the Wilderness" by Bill Miller

2010-09-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

I'm just re-reading certain parts of this book, and remembering again how much I loved the history of the Telegraph Trail. If you've never read 'Wires in the Wildnerness' which is about the Yukon Telegraph in Canada, you should. It's well-researched, well-written and great old photos.

It gives insight into an era of British Columbia's history that is now mostly forgotten.

He has two chapters on numerous people who walked the Telegraph Trail from Hazelton to various places up north in British Columbia and the Yukon. Lillian Alling is one of those people.

The heritage of the Telegraph Trail

2010-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Regional District of kitimat-Stikine has a wonderful page on their website about the Telegraph Trail. There is historical background, plus some great photographs. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/2c7m4lw

Interest in Lillian Alling from researchers in Belarus

2010-06-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

I found an excellent website/forum last week.
There is a lively discussion about Lillian Alling and about other adventurers/travellers of the 1920s and 1930s.
To go directly to the page that discusses Lillian, go to:http://forum.poehali.net/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=20820

and scroll down to the bottom of the page for the latest entries.
The site is written in Russian, but can easily be translated using Google language tools.
Thanks to Aliaksandr for the great information and conversation via email, and for the link to his site.

Article in Northword magazine about Lillian Alling

2010-05-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

There is a short article in Northword magazine about Lillian Alling. Go to: http://northword.ca/april-2010/lillians-long-walk

Storytelling is like a puzzle

2010-05-04T13:19:00.001-07:00

"I see storytelling like a puzzle: you arrange details for people until you get them in just the right order." - Malcolm Gladwell

Looking forward to Lillian Alling, the Opera

2010-03-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

I am quite excited about Lillian Alling, the Opera, which is being put on by Vancouver Opera. My book will be off to the publishers by then, and it'll be nice to see how someone else interprets Lillian.
And, although Lillian wasn't exactly a Canadian so to speak, I feel she embodies a great Canadian spirit or energy.
I've heard some of the Lillian Alling opera's music, and it sounds wonderful.

Writing and thinking

2010-01-20T20:41:00.000-08:00

My mind is whirling, and my fingers are pounding the keys. I've kept up the pace of 1,000 words (or more) per weekday, but have also started doing more organizing and a bit more reading and research. It seems I cannot just write. I can't separate what I'm writing from what I still need to know. As I write, I am constantly adding notes to myself on items to follow up on, books to order, points of history to check.

I feel this symbiotic approach to be working well, with a few more clues learned, and my mind connecting the dots. I feel I am getting a better understanding of Lillian's motives, and the more I write, the more I learn.

Lillian Alling was not just a wonder because of how far she walked, though that certainly was a unique achievement. It was how determined she was to follow through on her decision that has made the biggest impression on me. DDid she never get discouraged or sad? Each day I look forward to getting up and working on this book. Though I will be very happy when it's finished and published, I will be sad when it's over because I will miss Lillian Alling and how she and I met each day to follow her journey.

Walking Across Canada, again

2010-01-14T21:33:00.000-08:00

I was working on the Walking Across Canada chapter again today. Lillian Alling walked more than 4,000 miles from New York to Alaska, and the majority of that walk was through Canada. Though her time in British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska is fairly well-documented, her time through the rest of Canada is not. Yet with a few interesting clues, and some historical knowledge, we can get a pretty good picture of what her time walking across Canada would have been like. I'm loving writing this chapter, because it allows me to ask myself questions about Lillian's journey, and to learn more about my own country and its history. Wrote 1,010 words today, and looking forward to doing more on this chapter tomorrow.

I also enjoyed tidying up my To Do file, which fell on the floor, emptied itself, and disgracefully collected dustballs from behind the filing cabinet.

walking across Canada

2010-01-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

I am now working on the "Walking Across Canada" chapter in my book about Lillian Alling. I wrote 1,000+ words today trying to figure out her route, the timing and her motivation. I have few clues, but I hope that my speculations will provide enough food for thought for the readers. Lots more to think about and write on this chapter.

It is my hope that once my book is published, and read by thousands (?) of people, some of those people will contact me with their ideas and thoughts on how we can continue to search for Lillian Alling, and conclude the story in either a revised version of the book, or at least a Volume II.

Plugging away

2010-01-13T00:20:00.001-08:00

Finished the draft of one chapter, it's 18 pages. Is that too long? I'm sure it needs a drastic amount of editing. And I'm sure there are gaps in the information. However, I'm pleased with the fact that it's done for now, and I'll look forward to editing it next week.

I've sorted all my loose research papers into their respective chapter files, and am in the process of dividing the gigantic British Columbia file into the years of 1927 and 1928.

I'm writing about Lillian Alling's arrest now, and will finish that tomorrow.

A new year, a new energy

2010-01-11T23:33:00.000-08:00

The writing is going well. I did another 1,000+ words today on the BC 1928 chapters, and did a whole bunch of organizing and moving things around.

I read over my synopsis. I am liking it. I need to get a few people to look at it with a critical eye.

I was re-reading some references to Lillian Alling in an old newspaper. Seems like where ever she went, she made a lasting impression.

Here's hoping the book will do her justice.

A tricky chapter almost finished

2010-01-08T23:42:00.000-08:00

I had a great day of writing today. Wrote 2,000 + words (ok 2,217 to be accurate) and resolved a tricky problem in a chapter. Sometimes explaining why Lillian did things is a bit like putting words into someone's mouth. I mean, it did happen more than 80 years ago, so I do have to speculate about some things, but I always want to give as many possibilities as I can, so the reader can pick and choose which one they think is best.

Sometimes the evidence of Lillian's trail is so strong and so concrete, there is no need for multiple possibilities or speculations. But other times, she simply "arrives" at a place in time (backed up by historical evidence, I mean) and I need to fill in the gaps.

Lillian Alling, the search for the lost legend.

Going rogue - Lillian Alling full-time all the time

2010-01-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

Now that I'm gainfully unemployed (having left my editing job) I will have a bit more time to write. I'm setting aside time per day, and making sure I get a certain amount of words done per day. Plus, I'll edit each day, as well, on paper.

One thing I'm wrestling with right now is I have so much information, so I want to get it all in. But putting EVERYTHING in would not only be boring, the book would be too long. So I'm having to self-edit as I go.

Another tricky thing, is that there are so many unaswered questions about Lillian Alling. Where did she come from? What really happened to her? I don't want to fictionalize, but I am going to have to make some speculative, educated guesses. I also think that some of the questions could be answered with more research, but I won't be doing any more in-depth research until the publisher has received the first batch of chapters.

Vancouver Opera, Lillian Alling

2009-12-29T01:13:00.000-08:00

There was an article in the Vancouver Sun earlier this week about the Vancouver Opera production of Lillian Alling. The opera was originally set to be performed around the 2010 Olympics (which is in February 2010), but now the production date is either late 2010 or early 2011.

Depending on the timing, I'd like to go down to Vancouver and see the production. I realize the story of Lillian has been romanticized for the opera, but I guess it wouldn't be an opera otherwise.

Arriving worn out, exhausted, at Cabin 8

2009-12-29T01:11:00.000-08:00

Lillian Alling arrived exhausted at Cabin 8 on the Yukon Telegraph Line in 1928. She was nursed back to health by Jim Christie and Charlie Janze who also supplied her with clothes and food for her journey.

She'd been walking through the British Columbia wilderness for more than a month, and who knows except her what sorts of hazards she encountered.

I've really enjoyed writing this chapter. It has made me admire Lillian all the more.

Now is the winter of my discontent

2009-12-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

OK, so it's officially winter. And I'm officially behind in my writing. I did meet my goal of getting my three chapters done by November. But I've done nothing in the past month, due to work commitments and work computer issues.

Still, the winter is the best time to write and organize, because I'll be inside at night anyway.

Here's hoping. I have 10 days off over Christmas, and this is a great time to jumpstart the next chapter.

Lillian Alling, where are you?

www.lillianalling.ca

Research versus Writing

2009-10-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

Research is so enjoyable. It's like a challenging historical detective story, one clue leads to another. There are false leads, you go off on tangents, but eventually you get back to where you should be. I never have to talk myself into researching.

But writing, yes, I need to talk myself into that. I have to say, just 250 words. Just 750 words. Come on, just keep typing, you can do it, aaaargh, and finally I reach my goal of 1000 words.

Lillian Alling, if she had written a book, would have probably done it within the better side of a week's time.

The search for Lillian Alling

2009-09-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

2000 km, 3 1/2 days, one mystery solved, one new chapter written.

Did some extensive travelling over the Labour Day weekend through North West British Columbia and a short jaunt through Alaska. Met some wonderful and helpful people in small local museums along the way.

Lillian Alling, what an amazing woman. How did she survive in the bush with just minimal supplies?

I'm very glad I ignored the naysayers who said she couldn't walk over mountains and that it was just too hard. Well, she could do it and she did do it, and I love her all the more for it.

It was 80 years ago today

2009-08-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

80 years ago, Lillian Alling left Nome, Alaska and headed across the Bering Strait to Siberia. In honour of this, I am now commencing the "Crossing the Bering Strait" chapter of the book.

Lillian Alling in Alaska

2009-08-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

Surely not! 10 days since my last posting? What a wastrel I am.
Plugging away with the Alaska chapter on Lillian Alling's trek through there in 1929. She was so efficient in her travel, perhaps because she was such a driven individual.

I manage to write a little bit per day, and it is surprising how it all adds up. But as I've been writing this chapter, I realize that a lot of the stuff needs to be moved to another portion of the book. Oh well, they're not wasted words at least.

One of the best things about writing this book is meeting people from all over the world who give ideas, hints and encouragement. More on this next time...
Susan Smith
Quesnel

At the risk of sounding repetitive...

2009-08-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

The Alaska chapter is going well. I'm loving writing it, and I'm making a huge To Do Research list as I go. Some gaps to fill in, but all in all, it's a lot of fun.
I've been spending a bit of time and a little bit of money on ebay, buying some more books on Siberia. I need a whole bookshelf to house them.
Lillian Alling was a fascinating woman, who accomplished a remarkable feat, during interesting times, and met a whole bunch of eccentric people on the way. I will sure miss her when the book is done.

Alaska chapter

2009-08-08T01:45:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying writing the Alaska chapter. I'm also going back and forth periodically to the book proposal. And I am so appreciating the help and encouragement of my preview editor, Nellie H.

compliance with publisher's guidelines

2009-08-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

I am having an enjoyable time complying with the guidelines to submit to the publisher. So far, I've got a draft of:
synopsis
marketing summary
list of photographs and illustratsions
my brief bio
Next: table of contents and two or three sample chapters (of course, this is the most difficult, but it's already written in draft form, and I'm typing it now).

Loving the writing process

2009-08-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

I am so enjoying the writing. I have to do it in the middle of the night because it's too hot in the day.
I've just completed a draft summary and a draft marketing report for submission to the publisher. Excellent for thought clarification.
Both of these have been sent off to an editor for improving.
Typed draft of the Alaska chapter is underway.

Getting excited

2009-07-31T15:12:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty excited about the writing process. I hope that I can do Lillian justice and write the best account of her journey that I can. I realize there will be gaps in the information, but I'm hoping that the interesting context of the time, plus the fascinating people Lillian meet, will make a rich narrative.

And something I always found daunting - a book proposal - actually seems to be helping me get organized. So there!

On a roll now

2009-07-30T21:55:00.001-07:00

Handwriting is over, and typing begins August 1. Should be able to power through a first typed draft in a few months. All the experience working at a hectic weekly paper has helped me not believe in writer's block. Just write!

Old newspapers

2009-07-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

I have spent this month going through old newspapers. 1926 and 1927 were fascinating years, so much of our popular culture starts at this time.
I was really happy with the service that Library Archives Canada provided, they photocopied 120 pages of old newspapers for me, at a reasonable price and on huge paper. It didn't take very long and it arrived in the mail all in one piece.
I was also really pleased to find out that BC Archives is able to provide duplicate copies of microfilm for purchase, so I will start going through those soon. Would love to have a table top microfilm reader so I don't have to go to the museum to use their reader. I'm slowly extracating myself from a number of volunteer organizations that I belong to, so I can spend the fall and winter writing the first draft of the book.
Hot enough for ya?

1927 - a very good year

2009-07-15T21:40:00.001-07:00

Going through newspapers for 1927 today. Wow, what an interesting time, it's amazing that some of the things that happened that year are still very alive in our popular culture. I only got three hours of microfilm in today, I am booked for three more tomorrow.
Lillian Alling, where are you?

Research blitz

2009-07-15T09:22:00.001-07:00

Wow, if I was a follower on this blog, I would have given up on it a long time ago. No posts for almost three weeks? How slack-assed.

Anyway, I'm on a research blitz, having ordered microfilm from at least five different sources. Trying to jam time in to scroll through it all. Got three hours booked this afternoon, hope something interesting comes out of it.

The writing has slowed down, the usual summer beauty and weather has taken its toll on my productivity. Once again, I'm re-arranging the office having recently been the lucky recipient of an antique roll top desk. This will allow me to take out the card table that my computer is presently on. I can also get rid of the strange credenza that I got for free at the re-use centre. It is a dust collector. I hate dusting.

I'm excited about Lillian, I've found some things that confirm Lillian's presence in a few places, so that makes me happy. The more I research, the closer I feel a connection to her, and this will give me the mental push I need to write this book on her behalf.

Not that I think I'm speaking for her, you understand. But it's just that there are so many fictional accounts about her floating around and in production, I just want to keep it as close to reality as possible. That being said, I reserve the right to creatively speculate on Lillian Alling, because it's almost impossible not to. What a gal she was!

Taking a break for a week

2009-06-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not writing anything for a week, and not doing any concentrated research, either. I'm hoping to come at the different chapter files with fresh eyes after that time. Meanwhile, I'm slowly going through my big To Do file, it's rather enjoyable to see if I can find something new in there.

Frozen In - 1929 Bering Strait

2009-06-11T23:18:00.001-07:00

Olaf Swenson's boat, the Nanuk, was frozen in Bering Strait in 1929.

The Altar of my Discontent

2009-06-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

Took me only about 8 hours, and everything is in order. Thank you to the following people for their encouragement:

Nellie H. (writer, researcher, translator)

Ted E. (writer, poet, traveller)

Jenny B. (researcher, mother, writer)

Leslie H. (researcher, writer, correspondent)

My "To Do" file isn't as bad as I thought, and there are lots of fun and interesting leads to follow in there.

The Dread Filing

2009-06-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

The big mound of papers that was on the floor of my office? No more! The papers have all been filed into their respective Chapter Files. The Chapter Files are spread out all over the kitchen table, and are now ready to be carried, like an ancient, sacred offering, to my filing cabinet where they will rest with honour (and with labels). There, they will be ready with eager, flat paper mouths ready to receive morsels of information as I either receive it or type it.

Thank you, Chapter Files, for being so tidy and for being such eager, tidy and cooperative receptacles of the Sum of My Expertise (with apologizes to Mr Hodgman: http://www.areasofmyexpertise.com/).

Smithsonian Institution

2009-06-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

Wow, the Smithsonian Institution's National Anthropological Archives are so efficient. I contacted them to ask them for a document, within a week and a half I had received it and that included the free service of them looking up the information for me in the appropriate fonds. PLUS, courteous service. Oh, they are a true example of what an archive can be. I think I'm in love with the Smithsonian Institution's National Anthropological Archives.

Feeling better

2009-06-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

I do feel much better about this project today. Maybe it was just getting some sun, but maybe it was hearing back from some people who think that Lillian is a worthwhile subject for research.

Oh, I know, I should be more like Lillian. More independent. Not care what people think. Focus only on the end result.

I'm starting to feel the pressure now! People are asking me more and more often: when will this be done? I would like to say next year I will submit to publisher, but it could be sooner. The long, dark, cold winter here is one of my favourite times of year. I can work on projects and not feel guilty about being inside and writing. In the summer, when it's light until past 10 pm, I feel obliged to "do" something outside.

I know you all are eager to read the book. Me, too, actually. I'm really looking forward to the process of putting this all together. I've got lots of information, background, photographs and more. I'm hoping that people will find this an interesting book, for it's not JUST about Lillian, you know. It's about the times she lived in.

Anyway, I suppose at least three good (and by good, I mean almost final copy) chapters would be easy to get together by this winter. They're sort of done now.

I'm a litle bit concerned about the format. I hate hate hate footnotes. First, I always lose track of them when I'm writing. Then who said what and in what volume gets lost and everything blurs together. Second, it makes the book seem like an academic publication. And this book is certainly NOT an academic publication. It's what I consider a local history book.

I want to acknowledge the other publications I used for background and the archives where some primary documents were found. I like the way Stephen Hume wrote his Simon Fraser book, so I'll probably aim for something like that.

Anxiety

2009-06-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

I wrote a few handwritten pages yesterday. And I've been thinking a lot about Lillian's state of mind, her route and so many other things. I've also been thinking: does anyone care about this other than me? I've been called Quixotic for doing this project. Sigh. No, really. Big sigh.

Maps of British Columbia

2009-05-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

I received some amazing maps in the mail on Friday. These are topographic maps in great detail, which are so useful when going over Lillian's route. I had a great time poring over these maps. Not POURING over them, of course.

Helpfulness and some new old books

2009-05-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Lots of people are helping with my quest to find both the mythical and the historical Lillian.
Today I had great responses from both the Yukon Archives (you are great!) and the Smithsonian Institution (hooray for interns!). Another thank you to the Cariboo Library Network (Quesnel Branch) and especially their Inter Library Loan service. Just received a phone call: two books are in, and one microfilm is ready, also.

Another thanks to the Church of the Latter-day Saints Family History Centre for locating films when people said it couldn't be done. Good work!

Went to Books and Company in Prince George today and no, not just for the Mrs. Marple lemon tarts. Found two used books, one on Stewart and one about Anyox. Fascinating reading.

The Mythical Lillian versus the Real Lillian

2009-05-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

I received an interesting letter in the mail today. From a woman who says that Lillian is a myth and not real at all, and that I'm tilting at windmills and that I'd be better off writing something else.

I think there is a certain amount of information out there about Lillian that has been copied and recopied and plagiarized over the years. No one bothered to do any double checking, they just rehashed the same old thing. That is Lillian the myth. The Lillian that stuffed her dead dog full of grass, for example.

But the real Lillian, the one I'm trying to find, existed. There are traces of her in archives, old files, dusty newspaper accounts and faded memories. She existed within a context of a world that was on the cusp of dramatic change. Old ways gone, only to be found in oral histories or decrepit structures.

My aim is not to perpetuate the myth that is Lillian, rather, it is to explore the history of the time in which she lived, and learn why her story resonates so strongly and incites such passion 80 years later.

"I've just had a brilliant idea" a book by Rob Godfrey

2009-05-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

Taken directly from: http://www.robgodfrey.com/book/
"In July 1999 the good ship Marie Anne sailed from Rotterdam, bound for the USA. On board this creaking cargo ship were Rob Godfrey and two Citroen 2CVs. This voyage was the first leg of an epic journey to Prudhoe Bay, on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, a journey that took Rob Godfrey and Jose Oostveen 8000 road miles across North America.
The 2CV Alaska Challenge was not only the first time a 2CV had been driven up to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska, it was also the first time that charity fundraising had been attempted entirely via the internet, and also the first time that an ongoing travelogue had been posted as 'almost live' reportage - the only things that weren't cutting edge about the 2CV Alaska Challenge were the cars.
Delay, deviation and danger while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, breakdowns, bust-ups and bacchanalia during the road journey to Alaska, and lots and lots of pissed-off grizzly bears were all part of what beforehand had seemed like a good idea. I've just had a brilliant idea! is not only an account of Rob's travels, it's also a quirky history of Canada and the Pacific Northwest."

Plugging away - need a bigger plug, maybe

2009-05-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

I need to do some filing. I had two occurences today where it took me too long to find reference material. Everything used to be so organized. In beautiful folders, and beautiful piles. Now, everything in my office seems to be melding into one gigantic, slithering mess of papers.

And, I'm writing three chapters at once. This is neither logical nor efficient.

La piste du télégraphe (1994) a French movie about Lillian

2009-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Written and directed by Liliane de Kermadec, this film is known in English as "The Telegraph Route."
NOTE: The character is called Lisa Alling.
Synopsis:
"This French film chronicles the amazing-but-true story of Lisa Alling who in 1928 successfully walked from New York City to Siberia via the Bering Straight by following telegraph poles. It was shot entirely in the Ukraine. Lisa, a chambermaid, has had enough of American life and wants go home to Siberia. Because she had no money, she decided it was better to walk than stay in the U.S. any longer. An opportunist, she takes whatever food, warmth and even romance that is offered along the way." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A review By LISA NESSELSON
"Les Acacias Cineaudience release (in France) of a France 2 Cinema, Cinebravo production, with participation of Canal Plus, Sofiarp, UFCA and CNC. (International sales: Cinexport, Paris.) Produced, directed, written by Liliane de Kermadec. Co-executive producers, Patrick Dumont, Ismail Soliman Taghi-Zadeh. Lisa Alling ... Elena Safonova, John ... Christopher Chaplin, Shan ... Cong Shan, Carlo ... Miki Manojlovic, Muriel ... Mylene Demongeot
(English, French and Russian dialogue)
The photogenic Ukraine stands in for the whole of the U.S. and the frozen Yukon, circa 1928, in "The Telegraph Route," a leisurely road movie based on the true story of Lisa Alling, a Russian-born chambermaid who walked from New York City to Siberia. Attractively shot, agreeably goofy pic should make a pleasant addition to fest and tube slates that favor quirky tales of stubborn determination.
Elena Safonova ("Dark Eyes,""The Accompanist") gives a charming performance as the single-minded, penniless trekker with a terminal case of homesickness. After tending to one too many drunken revelers welcoming Charles Lindbergh back to Gotham, Alling sets out, on foot, for her distant birthplace.
Once off the beaten track, privation and deadly cold don't seem to phase Alling as she heads for the Bering Strait by following telegraph poles. She grabs warmth, food and a bit of romance -- including a brief idyll with a dashing young journalist (played by Charlie Chaplin's youngest son, Christopher) -- whenever they present themselves. Alling never explains her mission but ends up winning the viewer's respect.
Scripter/helmer Liliane de Kermadec, making her first theatrical feature since "Aloise" played Cannes in 1975, took her inspiration from a brief magazine article about Alling.
Once one grows accustomed to allegedly American but somewhat Slavic-looking characters named "Mike" and "Billy" speaking French, pic weaves a spell in which period costumes, cars and trains add up to a vintage vision of a sprawling land populated by kindly individuals, in which anything was possible."
I have not seen this film, but if anyone has a copy, please let me know:
info@lillianalling.ca

Even more confusing

2009-05-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Just when I think things are getting calm, things get confusing. Every time I receive more information, it just adds more questions. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just sayin'.

Aaaaaaaaah!

2009-05-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

I think I need to do some filing. OK, this picture is not actually MY pile of paper. Mine is not nearly as orderly or as tidy as this. And of course, I have more than one pile. I have two piles on the floor, mostly correspondence. Estimate: 1 foot high. I have two other piles, sort of organized, sort of not, on my bookshelf. I have the "Yukon Chapter" on the side table. This pile now includes books, words I've written, notes to myself, and an empty file folder. I went to the library yesterday, and now I have a pile of books about sternwheelers.

A day off, full of work

2009-05-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

I had a day off from my "real" job today, and had a great time this morning getting off some correspondence to people about Lillian. Plus, I was able to go to the library and put in an Inter Library Loan request, and also picked up some books for background information. I'm looking forward to an evening with all of these books.

I also corresponded via email this afternoon with a few researchers, and before you know it, it's almost 7 pm.

No writing today, but probably a page before bedtime.

Canada Genealogy AKA Jane's Your Aunt

2009-05-10T22:53:00.001-07:00

My friend M. Diane Rogers has an absolutely marvellous blog:
http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com
It's all things genealogy, and women's history, too. Updated regularly, and full of interesting tidbits. She very kindly mentioned my quest for Lillian Alling on her blog recently.

Great weekend for writing

2009-05-10T22:50:00.001-07:00

It was a great weekend. Not only was the weather warm and sunny, I also got quite a bit of writing done. It was rather unexpected, because I'd been holding off on doing more writing on the Yukon chapter until some photocopies arrived this week. But a book I picked up at last week's used book sale was very inspirational, and useful as well. So this "extra" writing will go in a chapter I'm tentatively calling "Survival in the Wild" and it's made me even more of an admirer of Lillian, and has affirmed my belief in her even further.

My writing buddy

2009-05-10T22:45:00.001-07:00

Whenever I write, my cat is always very interested. Mr. Ruffleshins von Marmalade (AKA Big Red), when he's not repeatedly opening the same cupboard, or staring disinterestedly at birds, keeps me company and keeps my feet warm, too.

Review of Cassandra Pybus's book, "The Woman Who Walked to Russia"

2009-05-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

Bookends: This book got lost along the way
by Dan Davidson
The Woman Who Walked to Russia
Reviewed: May 30, 2003
By: Cassandra Pybus
Publisher: Thomas Allen Publishers
238 Pages, $24.95

"This week’s review is probably not for the faint of heart. If you had access to a collection of Bookends columns you would be hard pressed to find me spending much time saying anything nasty about a book. Generally speaking, you only see reviews of books that I got some pleasure from or that I thought were well done.
This week I’m breaking that rule.
The mysterious tale of Lillian Alling, The Woman Who Walked to Russia, has a lot of potential as a story. It could be a good historical detective story or it could be fictionalized as an effective novel. Cassandra Pybus’ book, originally published as The Raven Road, is neither of these.
Perhaps it is the change of title that misleads the reader. Pybus intended to write about Lillian Alling. Part one of the book, “Looking for Lillian” will be a good starting point for anyone else who chooses to tackle this topic, because Pybus spent a lot of time and energy trying to figure out just who Alling originally was and where she might have come from. Her quest for a country of origin and the mystery woman’s real name - “Alling” really doesn’t sound particularly Russian - make good reading. I recommend the first 43 pages of this book as a pleasant exercise.
After that, well ....
I should probably mention my own quest for knowledge at this point. When I began to get really annoyed with this book (more on that later) I spent the better part of an afternoon doing internet research on both Alling and Pybus. The late Don Sawatsky wrote a pretty good article on the mystery woman back in 1997. In addition, there are quite a few other articles floating out there as well as a review of a play called “All the Way to Russia With Love” by Susan M. Flemming, which played at the Ottawa Fringe Festival in 2002.
There are a lot of references to Pybus as well, and the general laudatory tone of most of them made it still more difficult to understand how this book got into print. She’s a historian of note, a writer with controversial views, an editor and (hard nosed) critic of other peoples work. It was reading a couple of her dissections of other peoples' books that made me decide to write this column.
Having set us up for a good exploratory journey, Pybus instead serves us up a book which is mostly concerned with how she and her travelling buddy, Gerry, find out that they aren’t compatible companions after all these years. They squabble over food, sleeping arrangements, hikes in the bush and just about everything you can think of between Vancouver and Dawson City, where they finally part company. This tale is more like Pybus’ revenge than anything else and should certainly guarantee that the two keep a continent between them from now on.
Up to their arrival in Dawson, though, I was still having a bit of fun with the book, regretting what might have been, to be sure, but not ready to run.
Her first sight of Dawson, as described from a bluff above the town, doesn’t exist. There is no bluff along the Klondike Highway leading to town (it's in a valley, you see) and no way she could have taken her Pathfinder anywhere to see what she describes. Her description of the Yukon River Hostel rings true, though White Ram Bed and Breakfast will probably not be pleased by her account of that establishment.
For here on, however, it all goes to hell pretty quickly. There are places in Dawson where you can use the internet, but the Visitor Reception Centre on Front Street is not one of them. Nor is it possible to take a shower there, (though some of our summer transients have been known to wash their hair in the washroom sinks). Pybus claims to have done both.
She also claims to have spent a lot of time in the library, which she somehow fails to notice is a joint school/public facility (my wife was the teacher-librarian at that time). While there she merrily romps though books that the library doesn’t have, including a set of memoirs by John Franklin and archival quality copies of the Dawson News. Ripping through local folklore she completely dismisses as a fabrication the well-documented story of the Bishop Bompas, the Bishop Who Ate His Boots, and ventures a variety of half-baked and ill informed opinions on numerous subjects, waxing eloquently about the “one man tourist industry” built around the legend of Jack London while ignoring totally the fairly obvious references to Robert Service, Pierre Berton and an interesting Austro-Hungarian chap named Jan Welzl, who is worth a book by himself.
From the top of the Midnight Dome she manages to describe the Yukon River as “milky”, making one wonder if she ever actually looked at it, or was even here. “Murky” would be the right word most of the time as it is full of silt from rivers upstream.
Oh, she was here. I have verified this from talking to a few of the recognizable people who are described in the book. But her account of the town is downright sloppy for someone who is supposed to be a bright light on the Australian academic scene.
Later on, I met someone who had lived in Atlin for a time and had a similar litany of complaints to make about her handling of that town. If two of the places she wrote about were badly handled, I thought, how can I have any confidence in her account of the rest of the trip?
The simple answer is that I can’t, and I don’t think you should, either. This book got lost on the trail of a mystery woman, and should probably have stayed that way."

- review courtesy of Dan Davidson

Dan Davidson, who writes a book review column called Bookends and runs in the Whitehorse Star, Fort Nelson News and online at Yukonbooks.com (Mac's Fireweed Books).

Graphic Novel about Lillian Alling by Kerry Byrne

2009-05-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a review of Kerry Byrne's graphic novel, Lillian the Legend. The review was written by Dan Davidson, who writes a book review column called Bookends and runs in the Whitehorse Star, Fort Nelson News and online at Yukonbooks.com (Mac's Fireweed Books).

Lillian the Legend
by Kerry Byrne
Conundrum Press
64 pages
$15.00

"There have been numerous books about the strange tale of Lillian Alling, a Russian immigrant woman who turned up in New York City in the 1920s, got very homesick while working menial jobs in the New World, and decided she would walk home. Refusing all opportunities for rides, she walked to Chicago, to Minneapolis and to Winnipeg, after which there's a blank space in her legend until she turned up on the Yukon Telegraph Trail. There she was arrested and sentenced to prison for vagrancy by a judge who, is it generally felt, did that to keep her from dying on the trail in the winter.

Released in the spring she continued on her trek, arriving in Dawson in the fall of 1928 and wintering there. According Susan Smith, a Quesnel writer working a book about her, Lillian left here in 1929 and was eventually reported in Teller, Alaska and Providenja, Siberia.

Kerry Byrne's graphic novel version of Lillian's story ends there and with a bit of a mystery, because no one knows if she kept walking until she reached her eastern European home or not.
The book is a bit crowded and static. When she allows herself to draw a big panel Byrne is at her best to my taste. The work does, however, do justice to the story and is worth the read.
Byrne spent several summers and a winter in Dawson in the early 2000s, and was involved with the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture. She produced some tiny graphic stories in 6 cm by 6 cm panels which make up the last 12 pages of this book. One is the true story of a would-be gold miner who drowned under the river ice while diving for gold in the middle of the winter."

- review courtesy of Dan Davidson

To find out more about this graphic novel, please go to:

http://www.conundrumpress.com/nt_byrne.html

Used books, Ted Eames: his journey and his poem

2009-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Went to the museum's used book sale today. It is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Museum, and there were thousands of donated books. I got two bags full, and some are directly related to my background research in Lillian. Got a totally fascinating book on Russian history, one on travel in the Alaska-Yukon corridor, another on Yukon place names, and a few books on writing non-fiction.

The Yukon chapter is shaping up (slowly). I'm enjoying the process of thinking about how I want to write this chapter. Of course, the way I originally imagined it is not working. So now, I must just write to see what comes out. And see what information and background I'm missing.

So many people are interested in Lillian. Just got a wonderful email from a Ted Eames who is writing a book about his travels in Northern BC and area. He was here in 2007, and will be back probably September 2009. He sent me a narrative, imaginative poem about Lillian's travels and troubles. I just loved it!

If he doesn't use it in his book, maybe he'll let me use it in mine. Ted? Are you reading this? :)

Handwriting or typewriting

2009-04-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

I love the computer, I'm on it all the time. I'm also a really fast typist. But when it comes to writing a first draft of this book, I find it much better for me to write it out by hand. I think there are a few good reasons for that.

First, I like to be able to spread out my research and background papers around me when I'm writing. That way I can look up references, or remind myself to include that special point I want to write about.

Second, the slowness of the handwritten process allows me to slow down my thought processes and be more methodical. As sometimes the only exercise I get all day is jumping to conclusions, I find this enforced slowness very useful.

Finally, I like to lie on the couch and write. And though I see many people in many commercials with their laptops on their knees, I just can't do that. It's too cumbersome, and besides, it's a hassle to unplug the laptop. I prefer to leave mine in the office where it belongs. This also makes he handwriting process more like leisure, because the computer represents work to me.

Anyway, what I have is all my research and notes for each chapter in a file. When I'm ready to write that chapter, I take that file, re-read everything in it, then start writing. As I'm writing, I refer back to all the info, make further notes of what info I still need, and pull out stuff that I think should go into another chapter.

It really is quite a speedy process, because the chapter size is limited to everything that's in the file, so you don't write on and on and on and ramble (like this posting). It really surprised me that I was able to finish the first two draft chapters so quickly and gave me a lot of confidence that I would be able to finish the book in a timely manner.

However, each time I write, I always want to find out more about Lillian. I hope that I will hear back soon from some of the researchers, and they can shed some more light on the many gaps in Lillians tale.

Worldwide research

2009-04-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

I am in contact with Sherry Coffey, who is writing a novel about Lillian. She works in the library at Athabasca University, and has won an Emerging Artist award to work on her novel (which was based on her thesis). To read more about Sherry, click here:
http://au.world.athabascau.ca/200811/staff_profile.php
And thank you to Sherry for all her helpful emails.

I have also heard from a writer in France who has done some work on Lillian, and I look forward to hearing more about this later on in the week.

My work progresses on the Yukon chapter, extremely enjoyable to write, such interesting times, places and people.

Looking for Lillian

2009-04-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I've got my research fingers out in a lot of archival pies right now. I've enlisted the help of some people in faraway places, in the hope that they can help me find a few more hints on where Lillian came from and where she went.

I've been following every lead, no matter how slim or how obscure. And sometimes these tiny glimmers of hope turn into surprising finds. Other times, they fizzle out like a sparkler in the rain.

I want to thank David in Ontario for the information on his father, it was great. And a huge, huge thank you to Peter in Hyder, Alaska for the thoughtful and well-thought out responses to my questions. I really appreciate the guidance and help.

I also want to triple thank the Quesnel Library's Inter-Library Loan system, what a great service! I've been able to access some extremely rare books through ILL, and this has been wonderful for background research.

Right now I feel I'm on the cusp of getting some great information, and hope that my insistent doggedness is not irritating too many people.

Although I'm still waiting for more information from Yukon on Lillian, I'm starting to do the first draft of that chapter this week.

Chapter Finished

2009-03-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

I finished the first, hand-written draft of the Chapter: "British Columbia, 1928." It was an interesting one to write, because Lillian met up with so many interesting characters that were representative of the time and place. She met provincial policemen, telegraph linesmen, old miners, prospectors, homesteaders and more.

For many of these people, her story was passed on through generations and she is remembered still as "the woman who walked to Russia."

I'm pretty happy that this chapter is roughed out. When I do the first typed draft, I'll incorporate some more information that I have.

Now, I am planning to go through my recently acquired research material for Ontario. I'm really looking forward to it!

British Columbia, 1928

2009-03-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've written anything here. I've been busy with work (other work, not Lillian), and have been mulling over ideas for the chapter: British Columbia, 1928.

This is one of the better-documented areas of Lillian's trip, but still fraught with inconsistencies, tall tales, fabrications and possibly some outright lies (well meaning, but lies nevertheless).

It is great fun to go through the second-hand accounts of people who met Lillian, or knew someone who did. Obviously she made a lasting impression on many people she met on her way. A lot of them are very colourful, well-known characters in their own regions, and I'm very excited to be able to learn more about them.

The first draft of this chapter is well underway, though new information arises all the time, and can be and will be incorporated later.

I would like to thank Dietger for his article he sent me, it was of great help and very interesting, as well. So many people are interested (obsessed?) in Lillian, and I enjoy talking to all of them.

Thanks also to Harley for talking about his uncle's memories of Lillian. It's marvellous to know that Lillian's memory and legacy have been passed on through the generations, by someone who only met her briefly. She must have made quite an impression!

I'm backlogged by about 6 inches high of documents, notes, photocopies, letters and more that I've either found or received in the past few months. Once the chapter "British Columbia, 1928" is finished in its first draft form, I can go through all of that paper. So I apologize to anyone that I haven't answered. I'll be responding in the next week or so.

Crossing to Siberia

2009-01-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

I have just finished the first, hand-written draft of the chapter, "Crossing to Siberia." Edits and additions will come later, but for now I will let it rest.

Because I have just started working with a cartographer on a map for 1928, when Lillian was in British Columbia and Yukon, I will start writing those chapters next. There is a lot of information known about Lillian during this time, so I'm expecting at least two, or possibly three chapters to be needed.

Wonderful new year

2009-01-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

Things are going very well with the writing, it's great fun going over all my research notes and seeing how things tie together.

This is a good opportunity to mention how wonderful some small museums and archives have been in providing assistance (even if it was just to tell me they don't have anything!). The Hazelton Public Library and in particular librarian Eve Hope has been wonderful in providing background and photographs.

Bill Miller, author of the excellent book "Wires in the Wilderness" about the telegraph line through British Columbia, has been so kind and efficient in his role as archivist for the Atlin Archives. The photos he has shared and the advice he has given has been very helpful.

In addition, the staff of the Yukon Archives in Whitehorse, Yukon and the staff of the Carrie McLain Museum in Nome were marvellous in the speed and comprehensiveness of their responses.

And now it is up to me to make sure Lillian's true story (or at least as close as we can get to the truth 80 years later) gets told.

Crossing to Siberia

2008-12-30T22:45:00.000-08:00

I am currently having a great time writing the chapter "Crossing to Siberia." I'm also enjoying going through all my old notes, and sorting my research into chapters. I've started to write the book by hand, and found this actually much more efficient than using the computer. This is because I can spread my papers all over the place, take time out to be social and not get such a stiff neck from sitting in front of the computer screen.

A great friend of mine, Noon, encouraged me to write my chapters and outline on pen and paper, and I'm grateful for her suggestions and her constant encouragement.

Siberia

2008-12-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

I am having a great time reading books about Siberia. Fascinating how close, geographically, we are to Russia, yet our focus has always been towards Western Europe or the U.S.

It has been wonderful having this time off work, enjoying Christmas with friends and family, and working on the Lillian book.

Thank you to everyone who has been so encouraging!

Book proposal

2008-12-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Now that the cold weather has arrived, it is a great opportunity to do some writing and organizing. It was minus 20C last night, and today the sky is startlingly blue and the sun is shining on the snow. I hope to get out later and take some photos.

I've started on the proposal for the Lillian Alling book. I want it to be good, so it will take a while. Depending on my free time, maybe it will take a few weeks or a few months. People keep telling me I should fictionalize it which is the last thing I want to do. I want to write about the historical, true Lillian, not some romantic version of what I think Lillian should have been.

Besides, there have been (and are) enough people working on fictionalized accounts of this (or a version thereof) story.

Lillian Alling book progress report

2008-12-01T23:41:00.000-08:00

After an absence of a few months, during which I researched and wrote a museum exhibit (River of Memory for the Quesnel Museum) and completed a novel (OK, it was a short, but I did "win" according to the contest rules of Nanowrimo!), I am back full force at Lillian.

The Lillian research continues, and details are hard to glean about this intriguing woman's life. That's why whenever I find out the tiniest new piece of information, I am spurred on all the more.

The chapter headings are all fleshed out, and I am writing every day. Given the amount of information (and speculation) this will probably be The Search for Lillian Alling: Volume I.