Hometown heroine: Palmer depot packed for Ivey’s book release party

PALMER — In her 10 years as a reporter for the Frontiersman, and nearly as many working at Fireside Books, the literary minded of the Mat-Su Valley knew Eowyn Ivey could write.

But no one, least of all Ivey herself, could have seen the critical acclaim and international fame that would follow the publishing of her first novel, “The Snow Child.”

A New York Times Bestseller and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction, “The Snow Child,” borrowed motifs from Russian fairy tales, and was set in 1920s Alaska.

So when it came time for the release Ivey’s new novel, “To the Bright Edge of the World”, there was no doubt where the party would be.

“I would not want to have my book release party anywhere else,” Ivey said Tuesday night at the Palmer Train Depot, after an hour-and-a-half of non-stop book-signing and greeting adoring fans and friends. “I was nervous because I hadn’t read from the new book much, but then I stood up and turned around and, ‘Oh, it’s just my friends and neighbors.’ That takes the edge off a bit.”

Fireside Books owner David Cheezem knew his shop wouldn’t be big enough to hold the crush of people who filled the depot for Ivey’s reading from her new work, catered food, and music provided by the kazoo and washboard-infused sounds of the In-Laws and the Outlaws.

“When The Snow Child came out, we had a party just like this at the Colony Inn,” Cheezem said. “We had one of the worst blizzards but people were still coming out and it was a wonderful event. We knew from that experience people were going to be excited about the next book.”

Lisa Boyles said Ivey is fundamentally still the same person she first met at the bookstore years ago.

“She was so accommodating and friendly and she’s still the same person even after all this notoriety,” Boyles said. “She’s still so humble and sweet; she won’t forget where she came from.”

Wednesday morning, Ivey left her home in Chickaloon for her west coast, then east coast tour, to be followed by a two-week tour of the United Kingdom. It’s a whirlwind schedule she could at least see coming, quite unlike the impromptu promotion of The Snow Child.

“Especially since I worked at a bookstore, I know what a hard trail it is for tons of wonderful books that never get traction. I had low expectations and completely exceeded them, to say the least,” Ivey said. “With Snow Child being a new book, it had somewhat of an underdog element — it didn’t have an official tour. This is the first time I’ll tour back-to-back, city-to-city, and also there’s readers now who know my books. It’s a little intimidating, but also exciting.”

Cheezem believes Ivey’s success points to a strong and growing artistic movement in the Mat-Su.

“She represents the part you don’t hear about in the area — the creativity and talent and intelligence — the artistic power that exists here,” he said. “She’s certainly not the only great artist who’s here, but she stands for all of the great artists in the valley.”