Northern Narratives

Delve into the vibrant history of Alaska's legendary Red Dog Saloon, a captivating destination nestled among the picturesque landscapes of Juneau. In this intriguing compilation of short stories, Tall Tales of Alaska: The Red Dog Saloon: Stories of the Gold Rush & More, readers will embark on a thrilling journey through time, uncovering the captivating stories and historical moments that have made this iconic bar a magnet for curious travelers.

Within the pages of this book, you will be transported to the heart of Juneau, where the Red Dog Saloon has stood as a witness to both the wild days of the gold rush and the evolution of a vibrant, modern tourist destination. Each tale reveals a different facet of the Red Dog's rich tapestry from its humble beginnings as a rowdy watering hole for prospectors to its transformation into a renowned music venue that has welcomed a variety of entertaining characters to amuse the saloon's patrons.

Whether you're a history enthusiast seeking to uncover the hidden gems of Alaska or a curious cruise ship traveler preparing for an unforgettable cruise ship experience, Tall Tales of Alaska The Red Dog Saloon: Stories of the Gold Rush & More, will ignite your imagination and leave you yearning to explore the historic depths of Juneau's iconic Red Dog Saloon.

Read About:

• The Kodiak Grizzly bear, the world’s largest brown bear
• The Duck Fart, a famous Alaskan shooter
• Black Mary, one of Juneau’s first madams
• Phineas Poon, one of the famous entertainers from the Red Dog Saloon
• The Birdman of Alcatraz, an infamous criminal from Alaska
• Wyatt Earp, the quick trigger sheriff who helped tame the west

About the Red Dog Saloon

The Red Dog Saloon originated during the heyday of Juneau's glorious mining era and provides hospitality and fellowship to weary travelers and local patrons alike today just as in the past.

Northern Narratives is once again taking you back to Juneau, Alaska, the gateway to the Alaskan gold rush, in Book #2 of the series, Tall Tales of Alaska Juneau, AK: A Quaint Alaska Town with a Gold Mining Problem. In this set of stories, you’ll be whisked away to the capital of Alaska when it was still an American territory.

And during your stay, you’ll witness the beginnings of Juneau, before all the tourists, and even before all of the gold.

You’ll get to see how the passage of time has transformed the Alaskan town’s landscape, and be introduced to the ones who changed it. Individuals like Joe Juneau, the man the town is named after; Chief Kawa.ée, the Native Alaskan who was the first to find any gold; and Geoff and Marcy, the two Juneauites that put Alaskan beer on the map. Not to mention, you’ll even get to find out who it is that haunts the Alaskan Hotel!

Just like Northern Narratives #1, it won’t matter if you’re a history buff hungry to uncover the secrets of Alaska or just an intrepid explorer looking to learn more about the prettiest capital city in the union, Northern Narratives #2,Tall Tales of Alaska Juneau, AK: A Quaint Alaska Town with a Gold Mining Problem will not disappoint.

The excitement and intrigue will have you eagerly awaiting the series’ next installment!

Read about:

• How Juneau became the capital city of Alaska.
• Joe Juneau, the town's namesake.
• Alice, the ghost who haunts the Alaskan Hotel.
• The collapse of the Treadwell Mine, one of America's most lucrative gold mines.
• The recipe for the Alaskan Amber, the flagship beer of the Alaskan Brewing Company.
• The S.S. Islander, the unsinkable ship that sunk carrying Klondike gold down south.
• Secret tunnels constructed under Juneau during prohibition.
• The mermaids of Southeast Alaska.

W.R. Kozey

W.R. Kozey was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, but has spent most of his adult life on the move. In 2017, W.R. met his wife abroad, and they spent the first four years of their relationship in transit. Every winter they’d find a new place to live: Mexico, Peru, Thailand, India, but Juneau would always be home.

W.R. and his wife would come back to Alaska’s capital in the summer time to work seasonally while the cruise ships were in port. However, during the pandemic, they made Juneau their permanent home, purchasing their house in the shadows of the Mendenhall Glacier.

Since the two settled down, W.R. has gone back to school, graduating with his Master’s degree and pursuing a PhD. During his studies, W.R. taught in a variety of disciplines including public health, history, and English composition. He enjoys all the courses he’s taught, English composition being his favorite, but he would like to eventually transition to Creative Writing.

Besides teaching, W.R. has moonlit as a curriculum developer, platform development specialist, and data liaison for research institutions as well as the state. But, if you ask him, his favorite side gig is bartending. It was bartending that helped him travel the world; helped him learn the craft of story telling; and it was the source of his inspiration for his first book: Tall Tales of Alaska: The Red Dog Saloon.

Sam Grubitz

Sam Grubitz was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Grubitz works for the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska where he manages the tribally owned screen-printing shop which specializes in screen-printing, embroidery, and laser engraving. He also owns a small business called Screens and Machines which is his brick and mortar, graphic, web, and print shop in Juneau, Alaska.

He chased a wonderful Indigenous Tlingit woman who is now his wife up to Juneau after they met in college. Grubitz loves to paint, draw and create all types of graphic art and is always eager for a new project. He has done several print runs for charitable causes including a Rossville, Kansas 5k run to support college scholarships, and many local projects for various businesses.

Grubitz also produces an Indigenous podcast called “Opening the Box of Knowledge,” which stars the President of Tlingit & Haida and conducts meaningful, uplifting and humorous interviews with native American artists, musicians, and politicians. Some of their guests have included Mary Peltola, Portugal the Man, as well as writers and actors from the hit series Reservation Dogs and Molly of Denali.

Read more about Sam on LinkedIn