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I'm RESEARCHING the story of Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, WRITING my memoir, and ILLUSTRATING the Seattle Sweetbriar books for reissue. If you want to know more, you'll find updates in my Blog, easily tapped into by going to the sidebar and looking under Blog Subjects.1) NARCISSA PRENTISS WHITMAN
In 1831, three Nez Perce and one Flathead Indian went east to see General Clark of Lewis and Clark fame. They thought he could give them the white man's Book of Heaven and teachers.
The story broke two years later. Narcissa Prentiss just had to answer this modern-day Macedonian Call. She'd stop at nothing, even if it meant she had to marry a stranger.
In 1836, she and Dr. Marcus Whitman ventured West under protection of the American Fur Company brigade. While the Company could offer protection from the Pawnee and Sioux, it could do nothing to protect Narcissa from her old nemesis, Henry Spalding. Years before, she'd spurned his demands for marriage. Now he traveled in her shadow as part of another missionary couple. His bitterness had only deepened. Is the mission in jeopardy before it begins?
Narcissa's litte sister Harriet gave her the goodbye gift of a portable writing desk so she could write letters home. A natural born writer with an ear for language and an eye for beauty, Narcissa wrote letters and journals. I use these and dozens of other resources to inform her tale, but write in first person so you can become her friend—and experience with her all the trials of the trail and triumph at her journey's end.
2) LIVING IN EXILE
The story broke two years later. Narcissa Prentiss just had to answer this modern-day Macedonian Call. She'd stop at nothing, even if it meant she had to marry a stranger.
In 1836, she and Dr. Marcus Whitman ventured West under protection of the American Fur Company brigade. While the Company could offer protection from the Pawnee and Sioux, it could do nothing to protect Narcissa from her old nemesis, Henry Spalding. Years before, she'd spurned his demands for marriage. Now he traveled in her shadow as part of another missionary couple. His bitterness had only deepened. Is the mission in jeopardy before it begins?
Narcissa's litte sister Harriet gave her the goodbye gift of a portable writing desk so she could write letters home. A natural born writer with an ear for language and an eye for beauty, Narcissa wrote letters and journals. I use these and dozens of other resources to inform her tale, but write in first person so you can become her friend—and experience with her all the trials of the trail and triumph at her journey's end.
2) LIVING IN EXILE
Every morning my coffee cup admonishes me to write my own story. An old-timey typewriter waits for me to curl in the paper. I’ve resisted. Who was my skinny child self, whose default was fear, who chaffed at the masculine world, was bruised by the medical profession and confused by the Church?
I grew up both sides of the Canadian/American border, shuffling back and forth across the continent. Thither and yon, I attended churches of many colors: mostly Baptist, some Christian and Missionary Alliance, a bit Presbyterian, a bit Evangelical Free, just enough Assembly of God to get myself thrown out by my ear. Such kerfuffle intensified my innate fear and reinforced my social isolation, ripening me for escalating victimization by the medical industry and, ultimately, the Church. Who wants to read this crap? Whine, whine, more whining. Let's stick with Becoming by Michelle Obama or Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land by Toni Jenson.
Except I've stumbled onto this notion of living in exile. I've spent my life in exile. From my country, the church, exiled even by my own health. Maybe I should curl in some paper. I've learned stuff. To start, I have an awareness that this world is not our home. There is something bigger and better than any of us can know.
Except I've stumbled onto this notion of living in exile. I've spent my life in exile. From my country, the church, exiled even by my own health. Maybe I should curl in some paper. I've learned stuff. To start, I have an awareness that this world is not our home. There is something bigger and better than any of us can know.
SWEETBRIAR ILLUSTRATED
When I wrote Skagway, I discovered how fun it was to illustrate the Alaskan gold-rush miners and everyone else "mining the miners." How fun would it be to illustrate Seattle's pioneers and earliest days? And reissue the Seatte Sweetbriar Series? The books have long been out of print, but I still get requests for copies. Last week I heard from three women, one in Australia, asking for reprints. I had to sigh and say a sorry, "No, nothing yet. But I'm working on it."In case you've forgotten about Louisa—or you're too young to know her—I give you the original back cover text.
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In 1833, Louisa Boren journeys West to carve out a new way of life. Out of her rugged determination and deep faith comes an enduring love and the founding of one of America's greatest cities.
Twenty-four and unmarried, Louisa is an unusual woman for the year 1851. And she knows what she wants—David Denny. An empire builder, David Denny is a born pioneer and destined to be the founder of Seattle, Washington. But he is only nineteen...and the younger brother of James, whose love for Louisa runs deep.
The saga of the Borens and Dennys, the conception and birth of Seattle, and more ...
Twenty-four and unmarried, Louisa is an unusual woman for the year 1851. And she knows what she wants—David Denny. An empire builder, David Denny is a born pioneer and destined to be the founder of Seattle, Washington. But he is only nineteen...and the younger brother of James, whose love for Louisa runs deep.
The saga of the Borens and Dennys, the conception and birth of Seattle, and more ...
Reminder: Research fun, writing a memoir, and
illustrations galore are indexed in the sidebar under Blog Subjects.
Look for NARICISSA, MEMOIR, and SWEETBRIAR ILLUSTRATED.
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Please feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from you.
