Andromeda Romano-Lax

Scale confounds the modern wildlife-watcher here. Consider the sea otter, a common Resurrection Bay resident. From afar, it appears kitten-soft and cat-sized -- a furry log, rolling on the waves. Really, it is impressively hefty, reaching 5 feet and weighing about 70 pounds. A Steller sea lion bull grows to an average 8 feet long and weighs about 1,500 pounds.

An excerpt from Andromeda Romano-Lax's new book "The Detour," which follows a German bureaucrat as he transports a priceless work of art from Italy to Germany in the lead up to World War II.

David Vann, author of the award-winning collection of fiction, "Legend of a Suicide," talks about life and art with Andromeda Romano-Lax.

"13 Ways of Looking at the Novel," by Jane Smiley, challenges and inspires us all to read better.

Is talent inborn, or something we can develop with practice -- and if so, what kind of practice? Dan Coyle explores this terrain in his new book, The Talent Code.

David Marusek, one of the "best-kept secrets of science fiction," talks about his latest book, Mind Over Ship, and writing science fiction in a cabin in Fairbanks.

Mary Katze, talks about her Anchorage film company, AffinityFilms, and answers questions about her documentary, "About Face."

Can an expressive young conductor convince a veteran symphony orchestra to play with all its heart?