Book Description

Diary of an Alaskan Madam is the fictional account of Mandy Stockton during the birth of gold rush Nome. Left with little opportunity after the death of her husband in Durango, Colorado, Mandy is thrust into a fate of the world's oldest profession. After two years working the sheets in a Seattle brothel, she ventures north with her cousin, J.J., and her own bevy of doves. The alliance begins life in Nome, Alaska, eventually building an upscale saloon and prosperous house of ill repute. With detailed historical accuracy, Lorina Ewing traces the rapid expansion of Nome from a gold-laden beach lined with canvas tents to a bustling community of 16,000 miners, merchants, and townspeople. Corruption and conspiracy are woven into a tapestry of the daily struggle for survival in the Arctic. Mandy's journal entries reveal poignant conflict between a very profitable business venture and her quest for dignity. Her character takes flight from a harsh existence through her growing love of the mysterious Alaskan landscape and a sensual relationship with Alex, another "soiled dove." Escape is also discovered with four miners, each providing their own unique treasures. This novel paints a vivid image of life on the last frontier and encourages the reader to question what lessons can be learned from history.