Maia’s writing has been called “witty” and “quirky” by political journalist Eric Boehlert, who discussed her treatment of the 2008 presidential election in his book Bloggers on the Bus: How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press. In 2008, Maia received a Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award to complete her first novel and was named Alaska’s top blogger by PurpleStates.tv, which selected her to represent the state in its 50/50/50 project.  “8 Stars of Gold,” a play Maia co-wrote with Ryan Conarro in celebration of Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood, premiered at Perseverance Theatre in April 2009, and was presented on the mainstage at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in June 2009.

Maia has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Portland and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Whether sizing up the excesses and shortcomings of other people’s weddings or of various Palins popularizing reality TV, Maia Nolan analyzes and criticizes wittily without ever crossing the line to mean-spiritedness. That’s not easy.

– Samantha Bennett, judge, 2010 Alaska Press Club Awards

Maia’s blog www.ownthesidewalk.com couples insightful political commentary with personal stories, which make Maia not only an excellent pundit for Alaska but also a compelling character. She caught our eye with her consistently excellent writing, her ability to make us smile with her humor, and her compassion and caring for our most northerly state.

– Cynthia Farrar, Executive Producer, Purple States

While conducting interviews around the state for Perseverance Theatre’s latest production, “8 Stars of Gold,” co-playwrights Ryan Conarro and Maia Nolan found that although Alaskans may defy simple categorization, one word that definitely does not describe them is “dull.”

“There are an infinite number of fascinating people in the state. Everyone is a character,” Nolan said.

– “A theater of place,” Juneau Empire, April 3, 2009

The playwrights (Ryan Conarro and Maia Nolan) cleverly conceive of delivering the information almost as if documenting their own research process … the play has a real-life, documentary feel that encourages the audience to become a part of living history.

– “8 Stars” draws audience into living history,” Juneau Empire, April 10, 2009