Author Gary Paulsen tells the story of his life as a dogsled driver, from his early days sledding along a beaver trap line to his participation in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. His love for the beauties of nature is matched by his tremendous respect for the wisdom and intelligence of wild creatures and, especially, for the dogs he works with. Paulsen authored more than 200 books, mainly for a youth audience; his works often feature characters who, like himself as a boy, struggle in broken families and sometimes hunt to eat. While writing, Paulsen also worked at a variety of jobs, and he preferred to live modestly in rural areas; he made homes in Minnesota, New Mexico, Alaska, and, for a time, at sea. He died in 2021 at age 82.

Storm is one of Paulsen’s first sled dogs and one of his favorites. During the race, the dog suffers internal bleeding from the dry food the author gives him, and blood squirts from his body, so Paulsen ties him onto the sled. However, Storm wriggles to the ground and continues to pull with the team.