Carol receiving 2009 Spur award for Best First Novel
My foremothers came West in the nineteenth century not because they thirsted for adventure, but because they wanted decent lives for themselves and their children. They were desperate, and poor, and they met drought, winter, poor land, and evil.
I grew up on their true stories. I am their daughter, (great-great and great-) granddaughter. They inspire me, and through their stories and stories of people like them, they will inspire you, too.
They prevailed. They are us.
My Books
Three Montana Vigilante Novels
The Devil in the BottleDecember 2011. Over three days in March 1864, Joseph A. (Jack) Slade challenges the Vigilantes for the rule of Alder Gulch. How they meet that challenge is the story of The Devil in the Bottle.
Gold Under Ice Finalist, 2011 Spur Award for Best Long Novel from the Western Writers of America.
God’s Thunderbolt: the Vigilantes of Montana Winner, 2009 Spur Award for Best First Novel from the Western Writers of America.
Before coming home to Montana, where I switched to writing historical fiction set in Montana, I wrote three nonfiction books:
Wordsworth’s Gardens (Top Ten Finalist in the Washington State Book Awards for 2002)
The Backyard Sanctuary Garden (1999)
Brother Crow, Sister Corn: Traditional American Indian Gardening (1997)
Currently, I’m at work on my fourth novel about the Montana Vigilantes. I didn’t set out to write a series about them, but their story isn’t finished yet.
I live with my husband in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana, where I can see the towering Swan Range, a chain of mountains that begins at the southern border of Glacier National Park. When not writing, I hike the mountains or the Park, which the Blackfeet Indians call the “Backbone of the World.” I also love to ride or just be with Gus, my 21-year-old horse. He teaches me about his species and about myself.
I like your “About Carol” statement. It is inspirational.
Hi, Darla,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m pleased you like the “About” statement. It’s what keeps me writing the Vigilante novels.
Carol
Hi Carol,
The new blog looks nice. I had wanted to leave a comment about the Listening to Gus post. I really enjoyed that. I couldn’t find a comment tab, however, and was glad to find one here on your “about” page.
A belated congrats on your SPUR. I was a WWA Member for more than 30 years. Not going to conventions anymore. If you were at the 2003 convention in Helena, we probably met.
Hi, Kae,
I didn’t join WWA until 2008, and didn’t even know the convention was in Helena or I would certainly have attended. I’m hoping to go to Bismarck in 2011. I just read your current post. The cover for Richard Wheeler’s Flint series looks great. Very kind of you to rearrange your furniture for your neighbor’s dog.
Take care!
Carol