{"product_id":"of-bears-and-ballots-an-alaskan-adventure-in-small-town-politics-9781643751405","title":"Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"This book will inspire people to work with and for their neighbors in all kinds of ways!\" --Bill McKibben, author of \u003ci\u003eFalter \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Heather Lende was one of the thousands of women inspired to take an active role in politics during the past few years. Though her entire campaign for assembly member in Haines, Alaska, cost less than $1,000, she won! And tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines isn't the sleepy town it appears to be. Yes, the assembly must stop bears from rifling through garbage on Main Street, but there is also a bitter debate about the fishing boat harbor and a vicious recall campaign that targets three assembly members, including Lende. In \u003ci\u003eOf Bears and Ballots\u003c\/i\u003e we witness the nitty-gritty of passing legislation, the lofty ideals of our republic, and the way our national politics play out in one small town. With her entertaining cast of offbeat but relatable characters, the writer whom the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times \u003c\/i\u003ecalls \"part Annie Dillard, part Anne Lamott\" brings us an inspirational tale about what living in a community really means, and what we owe one another.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLende, Heather:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cb\u003eHeather Lende \u003c\/b\u003ehas contributed essays and commentary to NPR, the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eNational Geographic Traveler\u003c\/i\u003e, among other newspapers and magazines, and is a former contributing editor at \u003ci\u003eWoman's Day\u003c\/i\u003e. A columnist for the \u003ci\u003eAlaska Dispatch News\u003c\/i\u003e, she is the obituary writer for the \u003ci\u003eChilkat Valley News\u003c\/i\u003e in Haines and the recipient of the Suzan Nightingale McKay Best Columnist Award from the Alaska Press Club. Her previous bestselling books are \u003ci\u003eFind the Good\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTake Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eIf You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name\u003c\/i\u003e. Lende was voted Citizen of the Year, Haines Chamber of Commerce, in 2004. Her website is heatherlende.com.","brand":"Algonquin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50557450846482,"sku":"9781643751405","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_c693599b-02ec-4b95-9a14-cf228b308665.jpg?v=1731783187","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/of-bears-and-ballots-an-alaskan-adventure-in-small-town-politics-9781643751405","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}