Self publishing a book not as easy as it sounds

Even with Tisha as the author, getting a book put together and available for sale can be a challenge, as Tisha's grandson is finding out.

Brian Johnson is publishing Dark Boundary himself, and doing distribution the old fashioned way -- by actually driving to stores and selling the book to the retailers. Doing the research, publishing the book and doing the distribution on his own has been a learning experience.

"A lot of the bigger companies won't deal with me because they only go through larger distributors to purchase books," Johnson said. "But a lot of the smaller, family-owned book stores have been very helpful."

Dark Boundary is available at Alaskana Books, Fireside Books and Annabel's (in the Meta Rose Square), Johnson said. Books are also available at gift shops around the state.

Johnson has been hitting the pavement himself, trying to make sure books stay on shelves in bookstores around Alaska.

"A lot of people who read Tisha never knew grandma wrote a first book," Johnson said.