In less than two weeks, I am moving to Fairbanks, Alaska to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with an emphasis on fiction. I'll also be teaching a class of freshman composition, learning to live in a cabin in the woods with no running water, making new friends, and generally winging it as I adapt to my new home.

Why Alaska? you ask.

I reply, why not Alaska?

Really, I'm not sure I have that many good answers to this question, but here's what I've got: I've heard good things about the writing program, I admire the professors' writing, and the scenery is beautiful. Plus, there's the teaching assistantship which pays tuition and a stipend, so that's good – it means I can spend the next three years reading and writing and not worrying about starving, which is pretty much all I ever want anyway.

In the past couple weeks, I've come to realize there are a lot of people here in the Midwest who would like to know about Alaska and what I'm doing and learning there. Hence the writing of this blog.

So, prepare yourself: the blog entries that follow this will be varied and possibly quite unusual. (But then, what else would you expect from me?)

Oh, also, this blog is dedicated to Joe Scott, who will not be getting 10% of royalties if I ever make money from it.

Enjoy!