Fast into the Night is a story of a woman, her dogs and their Iditarod journey. Written by Iditarod veteran Debbie Moderow, the story portrays the emotional peaks and valleys that go along with setting ones sights on Nome.
For the Moderows, mushing has been a family affair. Debbie, husband Mark and their children Andy and Hannah have lived a large part of their lives with sled dogs. Their first sled dog was a gift from a family friend who’d run Iditarod. The dog, Salt, was a special dog who needed a good retirement home. It seemed the Moderows fit the bill. Salt and Debbie were nearly inseparable and spent many hours together in the out-of-doors. Ski-joring was one of their favorite activities. The family acquired a few more dogs and soon the children were participating in one and two dog races. Family camping trips with the dogs were times that planted the seeds for longer races.
Hannah and Andy lived for the day when they’d be old enough to participated in the Jr. Iditarod. Andy was the first of the family to complete Iditarod. At the Burled Arch Andy embraced Debbie and told her she had to run Iditarod.
In Fast into the Night, Moderow shares the preparation, training, trials, tribulations and successes of her 2003 Iditarod. Having to scratch at Shaktoolik was a crushing blow for Debbie. She felt she’d lost the connection with her dogs and thus her self-confidence. What would she do to build herself and her team back up? What would she do to reestablish that connection with the dogs she trained and loved? Debbie took to the Iditarod trail again in 2005 and earned the coveted Iditarod finisher’s belt buckle.
The descriptions written by the author of checkpoints are so vivid and accurate, the reader feels as if they are there. Her experiences on the sea ice outside Shaktoolik in howling winds are so aptly expressed, the reader nearly shivers. Because Debbie and her dogs are of one spirit, she expresses their moods, character and work ethic in a way that brings each canine to life. One has only to close their eyes to see the Yukon River miles of the trail or the Unalakleet river through her descriptions.
Author Debbie Moderow
Moderow writes about the barren landscape of Norton Sound out of Shaktoolik, “There’s nothing but white. No trees, just an empty expanse with a faint line of a trail and a few wooden markers that vanish into the haze. This isn’t any kind of haze I’ve seen before. This is an evil hoodwink haze.” She describes the northern lights, “The green and blue filmy sheets glowing, falling, then folding, and shimmering across the vast heavenly expanse. The lights sweep and swish and then fade away, only to reappear tinged in pink.” Picturesque descriptions like this abound throughout her book.
Since sending the manuscript to press and perhaps many times while writing the book, Moderow has said, “It might have been easier to do another Iditarod than it was to write this book.” One surely appreciates this heartfelt comment by the author upon reading the book.
While on tour in the lower 48 promoting Fast into the Night Debbie says, “This morning I’m sitting in a coffee shop north of Boston—three weeks into a book tour that feels incredibly similar to the Iditarod. From Anchorage to Seattle, Bellingham, Portland, Minneapolis, Boston and today north to Vermont, I find myself thinking “checkpoint to checkpoint” Focus on one mile at a time. And oh, how lucky I am to be on this particular trail.”
She continues, “The people I’ve met are fascinated with Iditarod, our wonderful dogs, and the wilderness trail we are so very fortunate to have followed. Many have children who follow the race at school; countless people have told me they’ve learned about Iditarod from their children! Since our entry into the sport came through our two kids, I think that’s pretty awesome.”
In conclusion Debbie says, “After working on the book for eleven years, it’s been a thrill to share my story with readers across the country. Still, I have to admit, I’ve never been gone for this long during the mushing season! Oh how I miss my dogs!”
Over time, there have been countless books written by Iditarod mushers. Fast into the Night is at the top of the list when it comes to emotion, truisms and descriptions of time, place and feelings. Debbie brings the reader closer to the heart of the race, the dogs, the mushers and their very personal journeys. This is a must read for Iditarod fans, lovers of Alaska adventure and those who appreciate a well written and inspiring book.
Debbie celebrates the release of Fast into the Night with a reception at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art on Friday evening prior to the start of Iditarod XLIV. There’s a meet and greet with the author at 6:30 pm followed by a talk and slideshow presentation in the auditorium at 7:00 pm. The evening concludes with an author book signing. The Anchorage Museum is located at 625 C Street.
