"I just finished A light in the Wilderness a few minutes ago, and I can't dismiss the emotion that sharing Letitia's life has brought to me. "Thank you" hardly seems enough to say to you for letting me spend the last few days immersed in the heart and soul of Letitia Carson. You have an amazing knack for putting flesh on the bones of historical people."

Jean Hendrickson, Asotin, Washington. A fiction reader.

"I finished A Light in the Wilderness

last evening and found it a captivating read. Excellent work! Jane writes with great sensitivity to the feelings of Letitia Carson and other characters, and to the environment in which they lived and traveled. Her extensive research into the life of the Carsons is reflected in the depth of her writing. Several passages were especially moving to me "Findin' time like it was lost. I looked in nooks and crannies trying to find more time for us...minutes driftin' like snowflakes meetin' on the taste buds." Very nice writing. R. Gregory Nokes, author of Oregon book Award Finalist Breaking Chains, Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory.

"Thank you for telling our story. I'm not sure how you got inside the skin of a black woman, but you did. I loved this book!" Gwen Carr of Oregon Black Pioneers.

I thought I'd give you a taste of what has consumed my life this past year - A Light in the Wilderness - with words from readers, people who care about story, history and authenticity in both. As one seasoned author wrote: "At the first sign of a negative word in a review I throw it away. I also throw away good reviews but I read them all the way through first." Me too. It's been great to have several reviews to read all the way through. Pub Weekly used words like "indelible and intriguing...persuasive and poignant." More than 98 bloggers signed up to review after watching the book trailer (click for link). And I thank in advance the many Story Sparks folk who have or will post their reviews at both Independent bookstores and on-line book dealers, Facebook and on their own blogs. This story of one of the first African-American women to cross the Oregon Trail and find her place in a less than hospitable Oregon Territory of the 1840s-50s won my heart the first time two researchers brought the story to me. I'm hoping Letitia Carson will win your hearts as well. My deepest thanks go out to Bob Zybach and Janet Meranda for not allowing a story that called their name to be silenced. See their continued efforts to expand her story at Friends of Letitia Carson on Facebook.

In the book business world, the more people who purchase the book on a single day, the higher the book goes in the ranking. So if you think you might purchase my latest, the release day is Tuesday, September 2 (my brother's 60th birthday!) I'd love to have you buy it that day! But anytime will be great. Or check it out from your local library. Come see me at one of my upcoming events (look at the side panel for dates and places) and I'll sign your book or request a signed bookplate. I heard recently from a New Zealander who said she'd be checking out her library for more of my books after finishing reading Homestead. I hope they have A Light in the Wilderness on order.

Bonks...Solutions to the Little Things

My brother and his wife are besotted by fainting goats. Their buddies weigh maybe 40 pounds full grown, the billy goat maybe 80. The breed is distinguished by their nervous system that shuts down at the first sign of stress. Caught in a vine while munching on blackberries? Bonk! Flat on their back, or side, legs straight out, stiff. A loud noise? Bonk! Crossing a stream and the cold is a surprise? Bonk! My brother had to chase after one of their little ones floating down a creek, four legs up attached to what looked like a beach ball. He thought he'd have to blow into its nose but as soon as he picked her up she shook her head and was fine. Apparently they don't breathe either when in that fainting state that lasts just a few seconds. The goats go on twice daily walks with my brother and sister-in-law, bonking every now and then as they go. They have a great area to run in, can come into the barn where they have an old couch to lounge on. They have a good life. They aren't milked or sheared, they just are adored.

While we visited last month, we also witnessed what I call a stroke of insight. The billy goat, Twister, has big horns. His pal, a whether named Bat Man, shares a pen with him. Bat Man decided to pester Twister. The bigger goat turned on him, poked him once with his horn and Bonk! Bat Man fell over. Twister did not persist beyond the faint. When Bat Man got up a few seconds later there was no recollection, apparently, of any altercation. He went about chewing his food. I thought that was a great response. For his part, Twister never pursued his opponent when he was down, either. Once Bat Man bonked, that was it. No need to go in for the kill.

As Jerry and I enter our 39th year of marriage, I'm taking new cues from Twister and Bat Man. Those little skirmishes Jerry and I have really don't deserve to keep rising to a higher occasion. "We're not having this conversation," I might say when it looks like we're getting into a twit about whether something happened in 2013 or 2010. How important is that, really? He'll toss up his hands when I'm inclined to pursue something inane, giving up being happy just to be, well, right. Both actions remind me of Twister and Bat Man and how much better we'd be if we just fainted away at the first sign of stress; then came-to refreshed. Twister gave one volley; Bat Man succumbed and that was that. No memory. It's also true that if Twister decides to pester Bat Man, Bat Man also bonks. And that is that. Jerry and I have a lot more fun these days for having let go of the little things, creating our own Bonk! Moments. Then getting up and moving on letting resentments wither away like the mist over a river. Something to consider in this world of tensions; something we can do to bring peace to our world, one bonk at a time.

Word Whisperings

Mistaken by Karen Barnett (Abingdon, 2013).

The winner of the Cascade Award for Published Historical Fiction given by the Oregon Christian Writers association is Mistaken. No, they weren't mistaken, that's the book's title. And it's a great book. It's set in Port Angeles, a Puget Sound town in Washington, State in 1926 when rum-running was rampant and women were just entering the workforce in new ways. Laurie Burke is the protagonist who works at the local telephone company where she is solicited by Federal agents to "listen in" as the law tries to find out the kingpin of an alcohol smuggling operation during prohibition. The problem is Laurie thinks she knows who's involved and doesn't want them to get into trouble. Her efforts to keep a family secret, not rush to judgment about a new pharmacist in town (pharmacists could access alcohol for medication purposes) and her own confused disappointments about the men in her life gives us a fast-paced novel. I took this on vacation. It's the perfect beach read except for one thing....I couldn't put it down so I ran out of book before vacation! Karen's characters are authentic, poignant, funny, and honestly, I didn't know until the end who I was mistaken about! You'll enjoy this debut novel and I expect to read many more. Karen is an Oregonian, by the way. We've never met but she has a new fan in me.

Family: Near & Far

Barb, Clayton, Craig (my brother) and Cohlman

I survived my 50th High School Class reunion in Mondovi, WI, in fine fare. Great people, most of whom I recognized despite the change in weight, hair color changes or in some instances, no hair at all. The time with friends as we traveled around the state was precious, reassuring to know that we can go years without seeing someone face to face and pick up right where we left off years before. And the evenings with my brother and his family, my uncle and friends meant the world to us. We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary at a little restaurant in Ellsworth, WI with my nephews

Jerry, Cohlman, me and Uncle Ron

joining us. It's pretty great when young men in their late 20s are comfortable with and willing to spend an evening with their parents and older aunt and uncle. Family can be tension-filled and it can bring the greatest joys. We've had both in recent weeks. I much prefer the joys as I'm sure you do as well.

May we keep finding ways to let go of disappointments and instead appreciate the presents of the present. Happy reading! And please check out my schedule on the right side-bar!

Warmly,

Jane Kirkpatrick

Jane's Schedule

Note: Additional information and/or registration info can be found by clicking the event names, when highlighted!

September

2 - Powell's Book,

Cedarhills Crossing,

Beaverton, OR.

Book releases.

6:30 pm Presentation and signing

5 - Waucoma Books,

Hood River, OR

5:00 - 8:00pm

First Friday signing and chat.

6 - Sunriver Books and Music

Sunriver, OR

5:00 presentation and signing

7 - Sunriver

Habitat for Humanity walk

bring your dogs

11:00am at Sunriver books

11 - Douglas County Library

Roseburg, OR

7:00pm presentation & signing

12 - Umpqua Community College

Extraordinary Living Day.

Jane will keynote and teach a workshop about stories that

get in the way and how we can re-write them.

8-4. Register on line https://www.regonline.com/ or Phone: 541-440-4668, Email:

Robin.Vanwinkle@umpqua.edu

13 - Benton Co Historical and Genealogical Societies invite Jane to speak and sign.

11: 00 am to 1:00.

Philomath, OR

13 - Willamette Valley Christian

Corvallis, OR

3-5:00 signing and chat.

14 - Historic Soap Creek School, 37465 Soap Creek Road,

8 miles north of Corvallis, OR.

A celebration of Letitia's life: Dr. Bob Zybach will share the history of where Letitia and Davey Carson settled, Truman Price will fiddle music from that period (with CDs of his work for sale) and Jane will read, sign and sell books.

1:00-3:00 PM

16 - PEO Bend, OR

presentation and signing.

PEO raises money for womens scholarships.

6-8:00 PM

Partners in Care Conference Room,

2075 Wyatt St., Bend.

Fee includes copy of book.

16 - Tigard Library,

13500 SW Hall, Tigard, OR

7-9:00 pm.

"A Light in the Wilderness - an Oregon Story."

Presentation and signing.

18 - Gresham Center for the Arts Foundation

kick-off event in support of the arts in this Northwest City.

"Third Thursday Lectures"

6:30-8:00pm.

Presentation - the power of art to heal, inspire and transform.

19 - Paulina Springs Books

Redmond

6:30-8:00.

Wine, cheese and books!

20 - Paulina Sp;rings Books

Sisters

6:30 - 8:00

Wonderful friends gathering for presentation and signing.

25 - Book Bin

Salem, OR

presentation and signing

7:00-9:00m

26-28 - Pacific Northwest Book Trade Show

Tacoma.

Book buyers gather. Jane will present at the Author's Feast and fill herself up with other author stories being newly released.

October

9 - Crook County Bowman Museum

Prineville, OR

6:30 pm

Join Jane as she presents "The Color of the Pioneering Spirit."

10 - Wasco County Historical Society

The Dalles, OR

3:00 to 6:00pm.

Presentation, signing and chat about the important role The Dalles played in Letitia's story - and in many of Jane's books.

11 - Keizer Faith Lutheran Church

4505 River Road

Fundraiser for Kezier Faith's food bank.

1-3:00

An Afternoon with Jane Kirkpatrick. Fee.

For more information see www.flckeizer.org

12 - Oregon Historical Society

1300 Park Ave, Portland, OR.

Sunday Speaker Series.

2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Join Jane and author R. Greg Nokes as they talk about their stories of Oregon history and the role of black persons - freed and slave - in the Oregon Territory. Signing to follow.

For information on the release of

A Light in the Wilderness,

click here.

Additional information on Jane's events can be found by clicking on Jane's Event Calendar - below.

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