Works

Click on the book cover below to read its description, awards and reviews.
Books purchased on this site will be autographed by Jane.

(Price includes shipping and handling)

View all of Janes’s books here.

  • Jane offers questions to ask before beginning that family story and provides creative comments to share with other family members saying “What? That never happened?” Discover yourself inside your family story. Novice to experienced writers will benefit from Jane who knows better than most what it takes to be a truly great writer. The Writers Classes Collection are recordings of Jane’s Beachside Writers Workshop presentations. Watch the trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Jane shares her own writing tips and those of several award-winning and best-selling authors hoping to help YOU find your path toward completing your writing goals. Novice to experienced writers will benefit from Jane who knows better than most what it takes to be a truly great writer. The Writers Classes Collection are recordings of Jane’s Beachside Writers Workshop presentations. Watch the trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Nine essential ingredients to a novel that will keep pages turning, bring meaning to a reader’s life, and tell the stories of the human heart. Novice to experienced writers will benefit from Jane who knows better than most what it takes to be a truly great writer. The Writers Classes Collection are recordings of Jane’s Beachside Writers Workshop presentations. Watch the trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • This video is designed to encourage the reluctant writer to take the next step. Is it to write more powerful letters? Is it to begin that family story? Is it to discover through writing what your life is all about? Novice to experienced writers will benefit from Jane who knows better than most what it takes to be a truly great writer. The Writers Classes Collection are recordings of Jane’s Beachside Writers Workshop presentations. Watch the trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Novice to experienced writers will benefit from Jane who knows better than most what it takes to be a truly great writer. These videos are recordings of Jane’s Beachside Writers Workshop presentations.  Learn how to encourage yourself to start to write, the nine essential ingredients to a novel, writing and editing tips, and researching that next big idea.  This collection of four DVD includes:
    • Video 1:  I Would if I Could…But I Can’t
    • Video 2:  Nine Points to a Novel
    • Video 3:  Writing and Editing Tips
    • Video 4:  Researching and Writing Your Family Story
    Price includes shipping and handling.
  • When blind and widowed Suzanne Cullver reaches California with a group of women who have survived tragedy on the Oregon Trail, she sets her mind on doing for herself all that must be done. Though she cannot see, she rejects offers of assistance, unwittingly risking her children’s safety – and her own. Her companions blindly falter as well, held hostage by their own pasts. As Suzanne attempts to control her life in Shasta City, Ruth defends against past errors, failing to see how she limits love. Meanwhile, Mazy’s vision seems to be permanently clouded by her late husband’s betrayal. But when a young stage-driver risks all for a Wintu Indian, his life becomes entangled with the turnaround women – and together they are changed forever as they discover that No Eye Can See all the good God has in store for those who love Him. The second book in the Kinship and Courage series. Based on a true story. Awards:  Reviews:  "...the author brings her heroines alive with full complements of both endearing and frustrating qualities, keeping them on even footing with each other and leaving the reader unsure what they might do next. Kirkpatrick is convincingly insightful about the conflicting emotions these women experience during a dramatic life change, allowing them to struggle, change their minds, make mistakes and start over on different tracks....satisfies overall as entertainment, as historical fiction and as a thoughtful exploration of human character and community." —Publishers Weekly "....Kirkpatrick can strike to the heart with deceptively simple language that somehow goes straight to the soul...What these women face, what they endure and the truths of the spirit they discover make up what is part historical romance, part spiritual quest, part something wholly Kirkpatrick's own."—Salem Statesman Journal Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Jane speaks about the qualities of power and the historical women she has researched and written about. Those qualities are found in each of us today too. Enjoy this bookstore presentation with laughter and hope. Watch the trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available at this site at this time. A circle of courageous women discovers the meaning of independence, forgiveness, and love.   Ruth Martin had a dream: to become an independent woman and build a life in southern Oregon for herself and her children. But when her friend Mazy's inaction results in a tragedy that shatters Ruth's dream, Ruth must start anew and try to heal her tender wounds. Her friends are also moving on. Mazy wrestles with her understanding of what faith and family really mean; Tipton discovers that marriage requires more than she's ready to give, and Suzanne's challenge is to keep seeing with new eyes. Together, the turnaround women travel to arenas of untested promise where they'll find a hope that sustains them and relationships they'll cherish all their days. The third book in the Kinship and Courage series. Based on a true story. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2002, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    Other books in this series: #1) All Together in One Place, #2) No Eye Can See Reviews:  "Masterful storytelling continues in this real-as-rain portrayal of the Oregon-California 1850s frontier. A Compelling tale." —Craig Lesley, bestselling author "While Kirkpatrick's Kinship and Courage Series is set over 150 years ago, it speaks to contemporary issues of loss and hope, sorrow and regret. We are transported to another time and place, walking with women of depth through a journey of healing and hope." —St. Helen's Bookshop Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available at this site at this time. For Madison "Mazy" Bacon, a young wife living in southern Wisconsin, the future appears every bit as promising as it is reassuringly predictable. A loving marriage, a well-organized home, the pleasure of planting an early spring garden--these are the carefully-tended dreams that sustain her heart and nourish her soul. But when her husband of two years sells the homestead and informs her that they are heading west, Mazy's life is ripped down the middle like a poorly mended sheet forgotten in a midwestern storm. Her love is tried, her boundaries stretched, and the fabric of her faith tested. At the same time, she and eleven extraordinary women are pulled toward an uncertain destiny--one that binds them together through reluctance and longing and into acceptance and renewal. Based on an actual 1852 Oregon Trail incident, All Together in One Place, speaks to the strength in every woman and celebrates the promise of hope that unfailingly blooms amidst tragedy and challenge. The first book in the Kinship and Courage series. Based on a true story. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2001, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Bestseller List, 2001, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Best Inspirational Books, 2000, Affair de Coeur
    • Finalist, 2001, Reader’s Choice Award, Romance Writer’s of America
    • Nominee, 2001, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, Romance Writer’s of America
    Other books in this series: #2) No Eye Can See, #3) What Once We Loved Reviews:  "...This beautiful novel speaks to the heart of human relationships - full in love. Jane Kirkpatrick's book is a treasure, well worth reaching beyond our genre to experience."—Romantic Times, 4.5 stars "Jane Kirkpatrick has, almost literally, created her own genre of fiction. Her books enfold a reader...whisper 'let me tell you about a woman who...' They find a secret place in each of us and bring it gently to the surface."Salem Statesman Journal Price includes shipping and handling.
  • As the 1840s bring conflict to the Pacific Northwest's rugged Columbia Country, new challenges face Marie Dorion Venier Toupin: the wife, mother, and Ioway Indian woman who crossed the Rocky Mountains with the Astor Expedition, the first big fur trapping expedition after Lewis and Clark's.  On French Prairie in the newly forming Oregon Territory, Marie strives to meet the needs of her conflict-ridden neighbors: British settlers and Americans, missionaries and disease-stricken natives, fur trappers, and French Canadian farming families, and the surviving natives of the region. At the same time, as a mother, Marie must weave together the threads of an unraveling family. One daughter compares and judges as she seeks to find her place; another reaches for elusive evidence of her mother's love. Marie's memories are threatened with the emergence of a figure from the past. In the midst of this turmoil, Marie discovers an empowering spiritual truth: Unconditional love can shed light on even the darkest places in the heart. The third book in the Tender Ties series. Based on a true story. Awards: Other books in this series: #1) A Name of Her Own, #2) Every Fixed Star Reviews:  "...when these and other characters commit such offenses, they are neither demonized nor tidily redeemed. In combining historical authenticity with an exceptional ability to render poetic the thoughts of her characters, Kirkpatrick achieves a novel that enchants as it educates." —Publishers Weekly "…Thorough research backs Kirkpatrick's compelling fiction. Her description and much of the language are poetic and imaginative...This book will appeal to mothers who are raising children and grandmothers watching their grandchildren grow. It provides a realistic scene of the time period which history bugs will enjoy, and Christians will appreciate the insights Dorion gains as she learns about her faith."— Esprit, the Magazine of Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Her desire was to have a life worth living. Her hope was to survive. Following a family tragedy, a battle for survival, and a test of faith, Marie Dorion begins again in the rugged northwest landscape known as the Okanogan settlement, By 1814, the Astor expedition she has joined to cross the Rocky mountains has disintegrated. New trials confront Marie with an abrupt ending to love, separation from friends, the disappearance of one child, a puzzling, painful division from another. Through it all, she struggles to know her purpose and worth. What could this God of the stars care for the survival of a mere woman? Fed by memories of her distant friend, Sacagawea, Maries discovers that inside every challenge is a gift to be treasured.  Based on a true story. The second book in the Tender Ties series. Awards: none Other books in this series: #1) A Name of Her Own  #3) Hold Tight the Thread Reviews:  "A complex novel with strong characterization and an authentic Native American voice." —Romantic Times, **Four-Star Review** “Jane Kirkpatrick has a rare gift, for her novels touch both the emotions and the intellect. Every Fixed Star is the moving, heartfelt story of one woman’s journey toward accepting herself. Like all of Jane’s novels, it’s more than a ‘good read’; it’s a life-altering experience.” —Liz Curtis Higgs, bestselling author of Thorns in My Heart and Bad Girls of the Bible Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Based on the life of Marie Dorion, the first mother to cross the Rocky Mountains and remain in the Northwest, A Name of Her Own is the fictionalized adventure account of a real woman's fight to settle in a new landscape, survive in a nation at war, protect her sons and raise them well and, despite an abusive, alcoholic husband, keep her marriage together.  With two rambunctious young sons to raise, Marie Dorion refuses to be left behind in St. Louis when her husband heads West with the Wilson Hunt Astoria expedition of 1811. Faced with hostile landscapes, an untried expedition leader, and her volatile husband, Marie finds that the daring act she hoped would bind her family together may in the end tear them apart.  On the journey, Marie meets up with the famous Lewis and Clark interpreter, Sacagawea. Both are Indian women married to mixed-blood men of French Canadian and Indian descent, both are pregnant, both traveled with expeditions led by white men, and both are raising sons in a white world.  Together, the women forge a friendship that will strengthen and uphold Marie long after they part, even as she faces the greatest crisis of her life, and as she fights for her family's very survival with the courage and gritty determination that can only be fueled by a mother's love. Based on a true story. The first book in the Tender Ties series. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2003, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Independent Bookstore Pick, 2003, National Booksense (now known as IndieBound)
    • Caldera Achievement Award, 2006, Nature of Words
    • Distinguished Northwest Writer Award, 2005, Willamette Writers
    • Finalist, 2004, Oregon Book Award, Portland Literary Arts Organization
    Other books in this series: #2) Every Fixed Star, #3) Hold Tight the Thread Reviews:  "The historically accurate details are woven in with care, and the characters are fully imagined...A truly fine novel."—Denver Post "Impeccably written."—Romantic Times, **Four-Star Review** “Jane Kirkpatrick has…created her own genre of fiction.”—Statesman Journal Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available at this site at this time. Out of the wilderness… Three women. Three eras. Three miracles.  1901: Plagued by loneliness on the Big Muddy Ranch, a sheepherder’s wife awaits the outcome of her husband’s trial for murder. He is sentenced to life in prison—and she to life without him. But a startling event could redeem their pasts and transform their future. 1984: Against a backdrop of attempted murder, federal indictments, and the first case of bioterrorism in the U.S., one woman seeks to rescue her granddaughter from within the elaborate compound of a cult that has claimed the land. 1997: On the much-reviled, abandoned cult site, one woman’s skepticism turns to hope when she finds that what was meant to destroy can be used to rebuild—and in the process realizes a long-held dream.  For three women seekers united across time, a remote and rugged stretch of land in the Pacific Northwest proves to be a place where miracles really happen—and the gifts of faith, hope, and charity are as tangible as rocks, rivers, and earth. Based on true stories. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2005, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Finalist, 2005, Spur Award, Western Writers of America
    Reviews:  "If you can't read the first two pages of A Land of Sheltered Promise and not want to read the rest of it, it must be that you simply don't care for novels that speak directly to your soul...Classic Kirkpatrick: That is, it is tightly written, honestly conceived and executed, deeply moving, and exciting...Kirkpatrick uses language that is like liquid in its ability to change directions and reveal or change landscapes and secrets. In her case, language is key to her ability to touch so many people so deeply...In one sense it is calculated to make you feel, but it is also calculated to make you think, to examine the concept of choices, of options." —Dan Hays, reviewer Salem Statesman Journal A Land of Sheltered Promise is historical Christian fiction at its best. The reader comes away with a clear vision of the land, of the people who occupied the land, and of a Supreme Being who ties it all together.”—The Historical Novels Review Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available on this site at this time. Please visit the Aurora Colony Gift Shop to purchase. “Of all the things I left in Willapa, hope is what I missed the most.” So begins this story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community. Based on the life of German-American Emma Wagner Giesy, the only woman sent to the Oregon Territory in the 1850s to help found a communal society, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick shows how landscape, relationships, spirituality and artistry poignantly reflect a woman's desire to weave a unique and meaningful legacy from the threads of an ordinary life. While set in the historical past, it's a story for our own time answering the question: Can threads of an isolated life weave a legacy of purpose in community? Based on a true story. The third book in the Change and Cherish trilogy. Other books in this series: #1) A Clearing in the Wild, #2) A Tendering in the Storm Reviews:  "Jane has a gift for breathing simple beauty into the lives of remarkable historical women characters. In A Mending at the Edge, Emma comes off the page and shows readers an unforgettable picture of a very unique Oregon community. I love living within view of Mt. Hood even more now that I better understand those who shaped the tenacious beginnings of this region."–Robin Jones Gunn, author of the bestselling Glenbrooke Series and the Christy Award-winning Sisterchicks novels "In A Mending at the Edge, Jane Kirkpatrick completes the literary quilt of the Emma Wagner Giesy trilogy, piecing together the historical fabric of Emma's personal story with that of the Aurora Colony. Emma's efforts to find a house–and a home–in this communal society in Oregon once again reflect the conflict of individual and community needs represented in Kirkpatrick's earlier two works in the Change and Cherish Historical Series. Based on a solid historical framework of the Aurora Colony and the broader social, political, and cultural landscape of the 1860s, Kirkpatrick offers a story of hope and achievement that captures the spirit of giving, sharing, and receiving central to 'mending' within a communal settlement."–James J. Kopp, communal historian and Board Member of Aurora Colony Historical Society Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available on this site at this time. Please visit the Aurora Colony Gift Shop to purchase. A story of tender truths about a women’s desperate efforts to shelter her family. Emma Giesy, a strong-willed German American, believes her young family will thrive in the light of their newfound freedom, after she and her husband branch off from their close-knit and repressive religious community in the spring of 1856. Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. With loss and disappointment as her fuels, she kindles a fire that soon threatens to consume her, making a series of poor choices that take her into dangerous relationships. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind. Rich with historical details and vivid characters, A Tendering in the Storm poignantly gives voice to a mother’s fears for her family and a women’s search for her truest self. Based on a true story. The second book in the Change and Cherish trilogy. Awards:
    • Winner, 2008, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction (Trade or Mass Market), Women Writing the West 
    • Finalist, 2008, Christy Award, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
    • Finalist, 2009, Oregon Book Award, Portland Literary Arts Organization
    Other books in this series: #1) A Clearing in the Storm and #3) A Mending at the Edge Reviews:  "Jane Kirkpatrick again proves herself to be one of the finest writers working in historical fiction today. In A Tendering in the Storm, Kirkpatrick applies her usual meticulous research and rich period detail to give readers a wonderful story with strong, unforgettable characters. Beautifully and thoughtfully written as always, this novel will capture your attention, your imagination, and your heart."B.J. Hoff, bestselling author of the American Anthem series, An Emerald Ballad series, and Harp on the Willow "An excellent sense of place and time period...with historical details...that don't get in the way of good fiction or interrupt the flow of the narrative. A difficult balance and one that Kirkpatrick admirable achieves."FaithfulReader.com Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available on this site at this time. Please visit the Aurora Colony Gift Shop to purchase. The people of Bethel, Missouri, seek to live with simplicity and generosity, existing in the world of the 1850s but remaining set apart from its distraction and vanities. Rather than finding peace in the would-be utopia, spirited young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of a culture that values conformity over independent thought, especially women. When Emma’s outspoken ways growing skepticism lead to a clash with the colony’s beloved leader, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.  Based on a true story. The first book in the Change and Cherish trilogy. Awards:
    • Finalist, 2006, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Finalist, 2007, WILLA Literary Award, Historical Fiction, Women Writing the West 
    Other books in this series: #2) A Tendering in the Storm, #3) A Mending at the Edge Reviews:  "A Clearing in the Wild is a joy to read as a coming of age story, a story of the western frontier, or as a spiritual quest. It satisfies on every level."—Historical Novel Reviews "A Clearing in the Wild is Jane Kirkpatrick at her finest. The story is quickly paced and engaging from the first to the last. One of the most difficult tasks for a writer - and Kirkpatrick's specialty - is to contemplate the lives of real and to re-create a believable episode in those lives that is accurate yet interesting, to both inform and entertain. The dialog sings masterfully with perfect tone, building characters and pushing the storyline in succinct phrasing that never overstates.  Emma Wagner Giesy's story feels a genuine as if she herself were telling it." —Nancy E. Turner, best-selling author of Sarah’s Quilt and The Water and the Blood Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available at this site at this time. Set in turn-of-the-century Florida, this frontier saga traces the life of Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the first English-speaking teacher in the region, as she struggles to teach school in the Seminole Nation and lead Indian families to Christ. Ivy is disliked by tribal leaders in spite of her obvious love for their children, yet she eventually overcomes their resistance and serves as their spokesman in negotiations with the U S government. Already scarred by her mother's tragic death in childbirth, Ivy overcomes her husband's suicide and other devastating disappointments to share her faith with her adopted people and eventually earn their love. Like all of us who search for meaning, Ivy yearns to experience the power of faith, understand the limitation of human protection, and learn the importance of perseverance in caring for those we love.  Other books in this series: A Sweetness to the Soul, Love to Water My SoulA Gathering of Finches Reviews:  "Spinning a tale of love, adventure and history, Kirkpatrick draws readers into the lives of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, real-life influential settlers of Florida.  Readers will forget this is fiction based on fact as they read about the unusual love story that took place amid daily danger and great hardship....Kirkpatrick thoroughly researched this couple and their impact on the Seminole tribe and the founding of Fort Lauderdale. As a result, readers will feel they're a part of the Stranahan life and times. Highly recommend this book to men and women." —Christian Booksellers Association Market Place “Her research gives the book depth; her empathy gives it a soul.” The Sunday Oregonian "With a compelling literary style, the reader is drawn into the story and immersed in the hardships and triumphs of the early settlers and the surviving Seminoles...Ivy is revealed to be an early visionary and crusader for the environment and women's rights." —Marco Island Eagle, Florida Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available at this site at this time. So begins the tangled tale based on the life of Cassie Hendrick Stearns Simpson, who crossed the Oregon coastal tidewaters in 1899 to begin her life beside the prosperous entrepreneur Lewis Simpson on Oregon's wild and rugged coast.  Cassie seems to have it all: an adoring husband, a loving sister, a daughter, and social position. She inspired a luscious four-acre garden that today is an Oregon state park. She had wealth to buy anything her heart desired, but fluttering beneath the surface of her seemingly charmed life were self-doubt, fear, and the pain of living with the consequences of poor choices. All robbed her heart of peace, and left her empty and still longing for something more. Others attempted to lead her toward decisions that would bring her peace, but as with each of us, only Cassie could make the choices that would truly change her life. Other books in this series: A Sweetness to the Soul, Love to Water My SoulMystic Sweet Communion Reviews:  "...Drawing upon extensive research, including interviews with descendants, Kirkpatrick weaves a tale of a beautiful and dynamic woman who left a mark on everyone who knew her...To fully appreciate Kirkpatrick's research and interest in the lives of her subjects, read her 'Acknowledgements and Author's note" prior to beginning this entertaining and informative novel." —Critics corner, Presbyterian Magazine "Jane Kirkpatrick takes readers on a journey so real that they'll forget they're reading a book.  It is the perfect blend of historical intrigue, spiritual insight and literary ambiance." —Eugene Register-Guard Price includes shipping and handling.
  • A remarkable story of God's constancy and provision for all lovers of history, romance and faith...  Based on historical characters and events, Love to Water My Soul recounts the dramatic story of an abandoned white child rescued by Indians. Among Oregon's Paiute people, Shell Flower seeks love and a pace of belonging...only to be cast away from her home.  In the years that follow, she faces a new life in the world of the white man--a life filled with both attachment and loss--yet finds that God faithfully unites her with a love that fills all longing in this heartwarming sequel to Jane Kirkpatrick's award-winner, A Sweetness to the Soul. Awards: 
    • Guideposts Condensed Books, 1998
    Other books in this series:  A Sweetness to the Soul, A Gathering of Finches, Mystic Sweet Communion Reviews:  "...Rich with sensory imagery, well-developed characters, and peppered with native words, the novel brings alive the traditional and transitional lives of the native people of Oregon in the late nineteenth century. The details about the flora, fauna, and tribal traditions bear evidence of meticulous research...." —Christian Library Journal  “This is a book that is impossible to put down....Kirkpatrick's prose is chiseled in graphic wrenching images that drive one into the story and engage one's senses....It is this flowing miracle of love which, in the words of the old Puritan prayer, watered the lost child's soul...Kirkpatrick has written another fine western novel." —Persimmon Hill Magazine, a Publication of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center “Like a tumbleweed blown by a desert wind, this book carries the reader along. The wide space of Oregon history and the inner space of personal growth fill the pages of this treasure of a book. It is about the individual and community, the internalizing of values reflected from one’s childhood family, and the journey toward wholeness that most of us make.”—Sally White, Scio Public Library Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not Available At This Time. Based on historical characters and events, A Sweetness to the Soul recounts the captivating story of young, spirited Oregon pioneer Jane Herbert who at the age of twelve faces a tragedy that begins a life-long search for forgiveness and love.  In the years that follow, young Jane finds herself involved in an unusual and touching romance with a dreamer sixteen years her senior, struggles to make peace with an emotionally distant mother, and fights to build a family of her own. Filled with heart-warming insight and glimpses of real-life pain, A Sweetness to the Soul paints a brilliant picture of love that conquers all obstacles and offers a powerful testimony to the miracle of God's healing power. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 1995-1996, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Winner, 1996, Western Heritage Wrangler Award, Western Novel, National Cowboy Museum
    • Oregon Humanities Award: Oregon 100 (one of the best books about Oregon published between 1800-2000), Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission
    • Oregon 150, (one of the best books about Oregon for 150th anniversary of statehood), State Library of Oregon
    Other books in this series:  Love to Water My Soul, A Gathering of Finches, Mystic Sweet Communion Reviews: “Jane Kirkpatrick’s particular gift is for capturing the authentic feel and flavor of frontier life; A Sweetness to the Soul is absolutely true to the people and the land as they once were. This is a novel that calls up a period early in the history of Oregon marked not only by hardship, sudden death, spiritual fortitude, and physical endurance but also by community, one person reaching out to help another so that they might all survive.” Molly Gloss, winner of the Whiting Writers Award and author of The Hearts of Horses “This book portrays a love that conquers all obstacles and offers testimony to the miracle of God’s healing power.” —Bookstore Journal “In A Sweetness to the Soul, Kirkpatrick offers a testimony to God’s ability to fulfill our dreams, in spite of our human propensity to question the why and how of situations. Through the eyes of Jane Sherar, readers come to recognize that blessings are hidden in the midst of everyday life and often only understood within the context of the passing of time.” —Cascades East Magazine Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Did photography replace an absence in her life or expose the truth of her heart’s emptiness?   While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.    Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life. Based on the author’s grandmother’s life as a turn of the century photographer in Winona, Minnesota.  This coming of age series of two books captures the interplay between temptation and faith that marks a woman’s pursuit of her dreams.  Actual historical photos from the collection of Jessie Ann Gaebele are included.  Awards:
    • Finalist, 2011, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction, Women Writing the West 
    Other books in this series: A Flickering of Light Reviews:  “Life is really made of:  the settings, props, and poses we encounter, then put aside so we can cherish family and faith,” writes Jane Kirkpatrick in An Absence So Great.  Jane embraces the finest qualities of the human spirit in all her writing, including this absorbing story of an early 20th century photographer, based on the life of her own grandmother. In An Absence So Great, Jane’s readers—and I am one of her most faithful of them—will be swept up in Jessie Gaebele’s struggle for independence against a backdrop of prejudice and forbidden love, beautifully written by one of America’s favorite storytellers.—    Sandra Dallas, author of Prayers for Sale “Jane Kirkpatrick has written a gentle and captivating account of people caught between reality and desire, taken from her own ancestry. Her depiction of photography during the early 1900s is fascinating. It filled my senses like delicious aromas permeate a home during the holidays.”—Cindy Woodsmall, best-selling author of The Hope of Refuge and the Sisters of the Quilt series Watch the book trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • She took exquisite photographs, but her heart was the true image exposed. Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F.J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality. With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man's profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attraction to the very married Mr. Bauer. This luminous coming-of-age tale deftly exposes the intricate shadows that play across every dream worth pursuing–and the irresistible light that beckons the dreamer on. Based on the author’s grandmother’s life as a turn of the century photographer in Winona, Minnesota.  This coming of age series of two books captures the interplay between temptation and faith that marks a woman’s pursuit of her dreams.  Actual historical photos from the collection of Jessie Ann Gaebele are included. Awards:
    • Best Book (top 10) List, 2009, Library Journal
    • Winner, 2010, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction (Trade or Mass Market), Women Writing the West 
    • Finalist, 2010, Christy Award, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
    • Finalist, 2011, Oregon Book Award, Portland Literary Arts Organization
    Other books in this series: An Absence So Great Reviews:  "...exceptionally authentic...exquisite nuance...compelling portrait...aching and hopeful…,"—Publishers Weekly **Starred Review** “… Jessie Ann Gaebele is talented and shows great promise; however, she begins to dream of more than photographs when she falls for her married boss. Inspired by the life of the author's grandmother, this is a beautifully told story of temptation and God's redeeming grace. Highly recommended for CF and historical fiction collections.”—School Library Journal **Starred Review** Watch the book trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • A mother's tragedy, a daughter's desire and the 7000 mile journey that changed their lives.    In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn $10,000. Bringing along her nineteen year-old daughter Clara, the two made their way on the 3500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks and motivated by the money they needed to save the family farm.  After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone by leaving the family and changing her name. Her decisions initiated a more than 20-year separation from the only life she had known.   Historical fiction writer Jane Kirkpatrick picks up where the fact of the Estbys’ walk leaves off to explore Clara's continued journey. What motivated Clara to take such a risk in an era when many women struggled with the issues of rights and independence? And what personal revelations brought Clara to the end of her lonely road?  The Daughter's Walk weaves personal history and fiction together to invite readers to consider their own journeys and family separations, to help determine what exile and forgiveness are truly about. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2011, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    Reviews:  “Kirkpatrick has done impeccable homework, and what she recreates and what she imagines are wonderfully seamless. Readers see the times, the motives, the relationships that produce a chain of decisions and actions, all rendered with understatement. Kirkpatrick is a master at using fiction to illuminate history’s truths. This beautiful and compelling work of historical fiction deserves the widest possible audience.”Publishers Weekly**Starred Review** "Jane Kirkpatrick brings immense integrity to historical imagination, using her consummate skills as a historian sleuth and psychologist. A compelling portrait of Clara's own bold entrepreneurial spirit gives readers believable insight on how a mother and daughter's love survives financial hardship a courageous thirty-five-hundred-mile walk, family tragedy, and estrangement. Bravo!." Linda L. Hunt, award-winning author of Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America "Jane Kirkpatrick's attention to detail and ability to craft living, breathing characters immerses the reader into her story world. I come away entranced, enlightened, and enriched after losing myself in one of her novels." Kim Vogel Sawyer, best-selling author of My Heart Remembers Watch the book trailer here. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • One woman, an impossible dream, and the faith it took to see it through, inspired by the life of Hulda Klager German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eighth-grade education—and a burning desire to create something beautiful. What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time-consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth-century expectations for a simple housewife.   Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus. In a time of practicality, can one person’s simple gifts of beauty make a difference?   Based on the life of Hulda Klager, Where Lilacs Still Bloom is a story of triumph over an impossible dream and the power of a generous heart. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2012, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Winner, 2013, Carol Award, American Christian Fiction Writers (AFCW)
    Reviews: I have enjoyed Jane Kirkpatrick's gift of "enhanced biography"--her true stories of women of the northwest enhanced by her gift of fiction and storytelling. This lovely book is no exception. I am not a gardener but this story made me wish I was! I now understand why people pour themselves into creating beauty from dirt. And I will never look at lilacs the same way again. Hulda Klager's gift was truly remarkable...and inspiring! - Wynn, Amazon Reviewer This book will inspire your dreams and refresh your soul. Hulda's simple life belies her incredible gifts as a gardener. Her thoughts and words reached deep into my heart and soul. Her German heritage mirrors my mother's, as does her indomitable spirit and deep abiding Faith. Thank you Jane Kirkpatrick for sharing the realities of Hulda's amazing story by making it personal in its fictionalization. - Janet, Amazon Reviewer Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Not available on this site at this time. Please visit the Mental Health Museum in Salem, OR to purchase.  Born to an unavailable mother and an abusive father, Dorothea Dix longs simply to protect and care for her younger brothers, Charles and Joseph. But at just fourteen, she is separated from them and sent to live with relatives to be raised properly. Lonely and uncertain, Dorothea discovers that she does not possess the ability to accept the social expectations imposed on her gender and she desires to accomplish something more than finding a suitable mate. Yearning to fulfill her God-given purpose, Dorothea finds she has a gift for teaching and writing. Her pupils become a kind of family, hearts to nurture, but long bouts of illness end her teaching and Dorothea is adrift again. It’s an unexpected visit to a prison housing the mentally ill that ignites an unending fire in Dorothea’s heart—and sets her on a journey that will take her across the nation, into the halls of the Capitol, befriending presidents and lawmakers, always fighting to relieve the suffering of what Scripture deems, the least of these. In bringing nineteenth-century, historical reformer Dorothea Dix to life, author Jane Kirkpatrick combines historical accuracy with the gripping narrative of a woman who recognized suffering when others turned away, and the call she heeded to change the world. Reviews:  “Jane Kirkpatrick has the rare ability to use what’s known about historical women as the foundation for compelling historical fiction. Here, Kirkpatrick shines her light on the remarkable life of Dorothea Dix, seamlessly blending fact and fiction to illuminate Dix’s journey from a girl struggling to save her family to a woman championing all those in need. Dorothea Dix can still inform and inspire modern readers, and One Glorious Ambition is a story to be treasured.” —Kathleen Ernst, award-winning author of the Chloe Ellefson Mysteries “Read this book and have Dorothea Dix transform your life. Be uplifted not simply by the grand trajectory of Dix’s singular journey but by the irresistible voice that Jane Kirkpatrick compels you to hear. A deeply sensitive and intelligent young woman overcomes trenchant pain and social barriers to fight tirelessly for those who have neither a voice nor an advocate. Her impossible life is unraveled and liberated in this novel. And read with a sense of urgency, for the battles fought by Dorothea Dix more than a century ago are very much in need of being waged again.” Charles Kiselyak, producer and director of award-winning films including Completely Cuckoo, Fearful Symmetry, and A Constant Forge “A must-read! I was moved to tears by the sense of history, tragedy, and hope of Dorothea’s life work accomplished on behalf of people with mental health challenges. Every human being should know Dorothea Dix’s story. Jane Kirkpatrick captures it magnificently!” Gina Firman Nikkel, PhD, president and CEO, Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care Price includes shipping and handling.
  • In this insightful devotional, New York Times best-selling author Jane Kirkpatrick provides comfort and inspiration for those in the midst of life's challenges. Promises of Hope for Difficult Times is a personal yet universal journey to find new beginnings in the face of loss or unwelcome change. Jane offers a needed reminder that God longs to show compassion and care, rest and refuge to those who hurt.  The 140 Scripture-based reflections bring hope and encouragement in the wilderness places of our lives and remind us all that in the midst of life's winters, there remains the promise of spring. A Scripture reading accompanies each of Jane's personal reflections, making this a comforting gift for those who need a daily dose of encouragement to face their pressures and problems. Reviews: There are some things that only people who have lived through them can understand. She has lived and is living through them now. The more I read of her stories, the more I appreciate how she processes and shares the challenges of life. Kate, GoodReads Reader  Every page will inspire you or challenge you to look at your own imperfect life and persevere. The author's observations about life are insightful, such as giving value indiscriminately to others, or learning not to judge a life by its productivity but “just because they exist.”  She speaks of  “word wounds” and the time and energy needed to heal those kinds of wounds. Kirkpatrick believes in giving hope and she does it with grace and dignity. “Giving is the yeast of life,” she writes, “it always rises more than expected and gives us more than imagined.”  You will receive the precious gift of hope as you read this beautiful devotional.  (5 Star)-Lela Buchanan for Readers' Favorite Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Three very different women. One dangerous journey. And a future that seems just out of reach. Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause most white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him. Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband and she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost. Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for. As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip your heart and mind as you travel on the dusty and dangerous Oregon Trail into the boundless American West. Based on a true story. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2012, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Bestseller List, 2014,  Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Winner, 2015, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction, Women Writing the West 
    • Finalist, 2015, Spur Award, Best Western Historical Novel, Western Writers of America
    Reviews: Kirkpatrick exercises her considerable gift for making history come alive in this real-life tale of a freed slave who travels across the country to Oregon Territory in the late 1840s. Kirkpatrick draws an indelible and intriguing portrait of Letitia Carson, an African-American woman who obtains her freedom and then determinedly makes her own way in a unsympathetic society. Kirkpatrick’s historical homework is thorough, and her realization of a little-known African-American pioneer is persuasive and poignant. Publisher's Weekly In January 2022, The Letitia Carson Legacy Project began. The project will use Letitia Carson’s land, and transfer it into a 21st century version of her Soap Creek homestead to inspire, educate, and nurture Oregon’s future generations of Black and Indigenous growers, gatherers, foragers, entrepreneurs, and leaders Listen to the book trailer. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • "We were old enough to know better, yet still young enough to dream.”  I wrote those words in 1984 as we prepared to leave suburbia and move to 160 acres of rattlesnake and rock along Oregon’s wild and scenic John Day River.   While my husband, Jerry, had long hoped to make this transition to the land, I struggled with the leap of faith.  My skills as a mental health professional would have little place on property seven miles from the mailbox and eleven miles from a paved road.  For nearly five years, I resisted the move. But one day when I asked, “What will I do there?” a still, small voice said, “Trust. Go to the land and write.” Jane Kirkpatrick Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 1991, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Word Book Guild Choice, 1992, Word Publishers
    Reviews:  Homestead is one of my all-time favorite works of nonfiction. It literally makes me laugh and cry. Jane’s experiences amaze me, her gift of writing inspires me, and the way she lives her life gives me real courage to face the challenges in my own. Homestead is a must-read for anyone who wants to embrace the realities and rewards of a well-lived life. Well done, Jane!” —Melody Carlson, author of Crystal Lies and Finding Alice Homestead is a moving adventure story of modern pioneers, full of courage, hard work, tender moments, and life-changing experiences.”—Barbara Jenkins, co-author of The Walk West and The Road Unseen “Homestead is a rich, compelling story that combines the spirit of adventure with the warmth and humor of a James Herriot tale..” ..it's an uplifting testimony to love, hope, family, friends and faith —Oregon Historical Quarterly Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847. Now a mother of two, Eliza faces a new kind of dislocation; her impulsive husband wants to make a new start in another territory, which will mean leaving her beloved home and her mother's grave--and returning to the land of her captivity. Haunted by memories and hounded by struggle, Eliza longs to know how her mother dealt with the trauma of their ordeal. As she searches the pages of her mother's diary, Eliza is stunned to find that her own recollections tell only part of the story. Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick's literary journey which will take readers into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman's heart. Get swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2015, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Winner, 2016, Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award, Inspirational Fiction
    • Finalist, 2016, Spur Award, Best Western Historical Fiction, Western Writers of America
    Reviews:  "Kirkpatrick exercises her considerable gift for making history come alive."—Publishers Weekly "This heart-stirring new historical novel has romance, mystery, and adventure." — RT Book Reviews Listen to the book trailer. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Drama, Adventure, and Family Struggles Abound as Three Generations Head West on the Oregon Trail Tabitha Brown refuses to be left behind in Missouri when her son makes the decision to strike out for Oregon – even if she has to hire her own wagon to join the party. After all, family ties are stronger than fear. Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. The trials they face along the way will severely test her faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family's survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn't know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life--and the greater part she had to play in history. With her signature attention to detail and epic style, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to travel the deadly and enticing Oregon Trail. Based on actual events, This Road We Traveled will inspire the pioneer in all of us. Awards:
    • Bestseller List, 2016, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Finalist, 2017, Will Rogers Medallion Award, Inspirational Fiction
    • Finalist, 2017, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction, Women Writing the West 
    • Nominee, 2017, Book Award, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    Reviews:  "Kirkpatrick's vivid, rich prose will keep readers in awe and on the edges of their seats." —Publishers Weekly, **Starred Review** "Kirkpatrick's novel embodies a true pioneering spirit."—Booklist **Starred Review** "An unforgettable story of hardship, survival, and the bonds of family, based on true events. Tabby's indomitable spirit proves that women, as well as men, helped to tame the West." —Suzanne Woods Fisher, bestselling author of Anna's Crossing Listen to the book trailer: Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s is an unforgiving place--especially for a single mother. To support herself and her young son, Jennie finds work caring for an older woman. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman's widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal--but the road forward is uncertain. New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites you to leave behind your preconceived notions about love and life as you, along with Jennie, discover that dreams may be deferred--but they never really die. Based on a true story Awards: 
    • Finalist, 2017, WILLA Literary Award, Original Softcover Fiction, Women Writing the West
    Reviews:  “Kirkpatrick is wonderful with historical detail and recreating the life of this inspiring woman and other female doctors of that period.”—Publishers Weekly **Starred Review**  “Strong characters, exceptional settings, and a tender romance make this a story most readers will appreciate.”—Library Journal “The stories found in these pages are heartbreaking, poignant, and uplifting. Readers who enjoy romance and character building will find this to be pleasing…”—Compass Book Ratings Listen to the book trailer: Price includes shipping and handling.
  • In 1911, Carrie Strahorn wrote a memoir sharing some of the most exciting events of 25 years of shaping the American West with her husband, railroad promoter and writer Robert Strahorn. Nearly ten years later, she’s finally ready to reveal the secrets she hadn’t told anyone – even herself. Certain that writings will be found only after her death, Carrie confronts the pain and disappointment of the pioneering life with startling honesty. She explores the danger a women faces of losing herself within a relationship with a strong-willed man. She reaches for the courage to accept her own worth. Most of all she wonders, Can she ever feel truly at home in this rootless life? New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick draws out the emotions of living--the laughter and pain, the love and loss--to give readers a window not only into the past, but into their own conflicted hearts. Based on a true story. Reviews:  “Kirkpatrick seamlessly blends fact and fiction such that readers cannot tell where historical accounts end and the brilliance of her imagination begins. Kirkpatrick illuminates the subtext of Strahorn’s work with incredible spirit, depth, and creativity, illustrating the compelling ways in which people of the past filtered their lives and experiences.” — Booklist **Starred Review** “In Everything She Didn’t Say, bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick expertly captures the indomitable spirit of a woman who is just as comfortable reveling in her pioneering adventures as she is maintaining the composure of a Victorian lady.” —BookPage “In this enjoyable historical novel set on the 19th-century American frontier, Kirkpatrick fleshes out the story of real-life pioneer Carrie Strahorn.”—Publishers Weekly Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Adversity can squelch the human spirit . . . or it can help us discover strength we never knew we had. In 1844, two years before the Donner Party, the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend company leaves Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada. They enjoy a safe journey--until October, when a fierce mountain snowstorm forces difficult decisions. The party separates in three directions. Some go overland around Lake Tahoe. Others stay to guard the heaviest wagons. The rest of the party, including eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River awaiting rescue. The months ahead will be long and at times terrifying. But with friendship, family, and enough courage to overcome their fear, these intrepid pioneers will discover what truly matters in times of trial. Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick plunges you deep into a landscape of challenge where fear and courage go hand in hand for a story of friendship, family, and hope that will remind you of what truly matters in times of trial. Awards:
    • Winner, 2021, Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award, Inspirational Western Fiction (Read more about this award here.)
    • Bestseller List, 2019, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Bestseller List, 2020, Christian Booksellers Association (CBA)
    • Finalist, 2020, Will Rogers Medallion Award, Inspirational Western Fiction
    Reviews:  “Kirkpatrick is a commanding innovator of the historical genre with her depth of research and lifelike characters.”—Booklist **Starred Review** "Jane Kirkpatrick has turned a scrap of history into a story of courageous women strong enough to meet the challenges of nature--and of men." —Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author "What an incredible journey this novel is! It's moving and beautifully told, and I absolutely loved it." Molly Gloss, award-winning author of The Jump-Off Creek and The Hearts of Horses Listen to the book trailer. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • "If you’re looking to learn some history you may not have been taught in school, Eminent Oregonians: Three Who Matter should be your next read. By authors Jane Kirkpatrick, Steve Forrester and R. Gregory Nokes, this quick read recounts the lives of three trailblazing Oregonians that paved the way for future generations: Abigail Scott Duniway, Richard Neuberger and Jesse Applegate. As with any biography on influential people throughout history, this book provides merely a snapshot into the lives of these individuals within the context of their time. As Forrester, a co-author, tells Eugene Weekly, “Oregon has become such a myth, but these are reality tales.” A consistent theme for me while reading through this book was, as Forrester put it, a string of “‘I didn’t know that’ moments.” For all the history classes I had taken, including a few at the University of Oregon, I’d not heard of anyone like Duniway, who was one of the first women to ever form her own newspaper. So for any history buffs out there looking to expand your knowledge of historical Oregonians, be sure to pick up this volume and give it a read." —  Sienna Riley, the Eugene Weekly "An inspiring and moving account of three people who helped create modern Oregon. One was a pioneer who fought attempts to make Oregon a slave state. Another was a legendary female journalist and advocate for women's rights. A third was a senator who overcame anti-Semitism and helped nurture modern environmentalism. Oregon has a complicated history, sometimes a painful one, and this is history that is sometimes painful as well as inspiring. But it's always riveting!"-Nicholas Kristof, Author, Pulitzer Prize winner, Human Rights advocate Read the Nov. 3, 2021 Wilmette Week review here! NOTE: This book is not available for sale on this website (JKBooks.com) Discover more and order here. View Jane's interview conducted by moderator Kerry Tymchuk for the Oregon Historical Society. Her co-authors Steven Forrester and R. Gregory Nokes participated in a lively discussion of the book. Interview was conducted on October 5, 2021.
  • Not available at this site at this time. In 1853, Abigail Scott was a 19-year-old school teacher in Oregon Territory when she married Ben Duniway. Marriage meant giving up on teaching, but Abigail always believed she was meant to be more than a good wife and mother. When Abigail becomes the primary breadwinner for her growing family, what she sees as a working woman appalls her - and prompts her to devote her life to fighting for the rights of women, including the right to vote. Based on a true story, Something Worth Doing will resonate strongly with modern women who still grapple with the pull between career and family, finding their place in the public sphere, and dealing with frustrations and prejudices when competing in male-dominated spaces.  Awards: 
    • Finalist, 2021, Will Rogers Medallion Award - Maverick (new category in 2021)
    • Bestseller List, 2020, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
    • Bestseller List, 2020, Library Journal, Christian Fiction
    Reviews:  “Kirkpatrick offers a powerful fictionalized version of the remarkable life of Abigail Scott Duniway, a fierce advocate for women’s rights.”—Booklist ** Starred Review** (See the review here) "A phenomenal read. The emotional journey immediately swept me up into the book."—Urban Lit Magazine "Kirkpatrick has a wonderful voice in historical fiction. The stories that she creates are out of this world! This book definitely deserves more than 5 stars!"—Interviews & Reviews "This is a moving account of a formidable woman... I found it both fascinating and inspiring and a joy to read."—Historical Novel Society Listen to the book trailer. Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis isolated herself for five years after a breakdown just before she was to debut with the New York Philharmonic. Guilt-ridden and songless, Natalie can't seem to recapture the joy music once brought her. In 1902, her brother invites her to join him in the West to search for healing. What she finds are songs she'd never before encountered—the haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans. But their music is under attack. The US government's Code of Offenses prohibits American's indigenous people from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages as the powers that be insist on assimilation. Natalie makes it her mission not only to document these songs before they disappear but to appeal to President Teddy Roosevelt himself, who is the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law. Will she succeed and step into a new song . . . and a new future? Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick weaves yet another lyrical tale based on a true story that will keep readers captivated to the very end. Reviews: "Another enthralling work of historical fiction inspired by real events. Kirkpatrick's portrayal of Natalie's fight for equality and cultural preservation will resonate with readers." —Publishers Weekly "A very interesting and informative story about a little known but very important author and champion of indigenous people."—Evangelical Church Library Association (more here) “A fascinating, expertly researched and vividly presented period piece, The Healing of Natalie Curtis is highly recommended.” Midwest Book Reviews (more here) "This tale focuses on resiliency ... Reflective and informative."—Booklist Endorsements: "You will find yourself drawn in by the story of Natalie Curtis, an early twentieth-century musical prodigy nearly broken by the rigid conventions of her era, who leaves her loving but somewhat smothering New York family to travel with her brother through the wild expanses of the American Southwest. Curtis finds her health, her voice, and her calling in recording the music of the Southwest’s Native cultures, and determinedly fighting for their rights. Fair warning: once you begin this compelling tale, you won’t be able to put it down." -  Susan J. Tweit, author of Bless the Birds: Living with Love in a Time of Dying "Jane Kirkpatrick presents us with talented musician Natalie Curtis, a woman broken by the very thing she loved, in search of hope and healing yet extending both to those Native singers her path inevitably crosses. Natalie grows across these pages to be a heroine worth rooting for—all the more because this story is true.” - Lori Benton, award-winning author of Burning Sky, Mountain Laurel, and Shiloh Awards:
    • Winner, 2022, Will Rodgers Gold Medallion, Western Fiction - Modern
    • Finalist, 2022, Western Writers of America Spur Awards, Best Western Historical Novel
    • Finalist, 2021, Women in Writing the West, WILLA Award, Historical Novel category
    Interested in discovering more about Jane’s writing process for this book? Click here to watch the video! Price includes shipping and handling.
  • Mollie Sheehan has spent much of her life striving to be a dutiful daughter and honor her father's wishes, even when doing so has led to one heartbreak after another. After all, what options does she truly have in 1860s Montana? But providing for her stepfamily during her father's long absences doesn't keep her from wishing for more. When romance blooms between her and Peter Ronan, Mollie finally allows herself to hope for a brighter future--until her father voices his disapproval of the match and moves her to California to ensure the breakup. Still, time and providence are at work, even when circumstances are at their bleakest. Mollie may soon find that someone far greater than her father is in control of the course of her life--and that even the command to "honor thy father" has its limits. New from New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick, Beneath the Bending Skies is a sweeping story of hospitality, destiny, and the bonds of family. Reviews: “Readers will enjoy the sweeping landscapes, complex father-daughter relationship, and the unassuming power and relevancy of this wonderfully multilayered novel.” — Booklist "Kirkpatrick tells the story of real-life woman of the frontier Mary “Mollie” Sheehan in this pleasant fictionalized account of her life. ...her travels across the Western U.S. offer an enjoyable look at hardscrabble life on the frontier. Inspirational historical fans will find plenty to delight in." — Publishers Weekly "This book will interest anyone who loves a true story, historical novels, forbidden romance, and SPOILER…a happy ending.” — Interviews and Reviews (Read the full review here.) Endorsements:  "Mary Sheehan Ronan is the kind of gal I want in my corner. And Jane Kirkpatrick did a stellar job of bringing her back from the grave and onto the pages of Beneath the Bending Skies. It takes a woman of courage to stand up to a manipulative father and marry the man she was clearly meant to be with. As the wife of the 'White Chief,' Mary's ministry to the Salish Kootenai Natives and friendship with Shows No Anger in Montana during times of unrest between Natives and non-Natives is one of inspiration. This story celebrates the ties that can and do take place between cultures in the past and present. A story that will linger in your thoughts and heart for years to come." — Carmen Peone, award-winning author of Lillian's Legacy "Jane Kirkpatrick never fails to take us away on unforgettable journeys. Her carefully crafted layers of colors, textures, music . . . transport us to eras of history that we might otherwise miss. Mollie and Peter's story is no different. What amazing lives they led! Their resilience and love was a legacy that lives on--thanks to Jane's gifted storytelling!" — Melody Carlson, author of Westward to Home series "Jane Kirkpatrick's latest book is about the struggle between a father and daughter and the challenges of seeking a better life during the 1800s. Jane's story shows a sensitive and compassionate approach to the coming-of-age of a daughter and the conflict between two men who love her. I will not easily forget Beneath the Bending Skies nor the eloquent prose used to connect the reader with the characters. I will recommend this book to all my customers, friends, and family and look forward to discussing the book with them." — Judi Wutzke, owner/manager of ...and BOOKS, too! "Jane Kirkpatrick's Beneath the Bending Skies is one of the best novels I've read in a very long time. Set primarily against the backdrop of Montana's Big Sky country, the story narrates the life of Mollie Ronan. At times tragic, yet always compelling, it is overall the uplifting account of a woman's struggles to find her place in life, within her extended family, and in the arms of the man she's loved since childhood. Told with warmth and respect for the land and its people--especially her relationship with the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille tribes--Beneath the Bending Skies is a fascinating journey and a worthwhile read." — Michael Zimmer, author of The Poacher's Daughter. Awards: Price includes shipping and handling.

Title

Go to Top