We welcome Terry Lynn Johnson back to Best Dog Books with a second book she has written about dogsledding.
What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher?
Ice Dogs, fall 2013, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Who is your key dog character? Tell us about him/her.
Bean is a gangly Alaskan Husky, and the main leader of the dog team. He has a special connection with Victoria, the young musher.
In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.
Victoria, a 15-year old dogsled racer and sled dog owner loses her way on a routine outing with her dogs. With food gone and temperatures dropping, her survival and that of her dogs and the mysterious boy she meets in the woods, is up to her.
What inspired you to write this story?
I owned a team of 18 Alaskan Huskies, and had many adventures with them. I also work in the field as a Conservation Officer. I find the outdoors, and dogs, to be a never ending source of inspiration.
What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?
Originally, the story was set in northern Ontario – a place I’m extremely familiar with. My agent suggested an Alaskan setting, which of course changed the story quite a bit. It was a challenge to accurately describe the flora and fauna. Many trees that grow in northern Ontario are not found in Alaska. But I have run dogs near Nenana so was familiar with that area. I also have a fabulous critique partner who lives in Alaska.
What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? What are these stories about?
Ice Dogs is my second published dogsledding novel. The first was a middle grade novel called Dogsled Dreams.
Thank you for joining us at Best Dog Books, Terry!
For more information about Terry Lynn Johnson, please click here.
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