Dear Readers, I first heard of Jane Kirkpatrick when a book club at our church read one of her books at least ten years ago. Her historical novels are amazing. Actually, at that time we shared the same agent, but I didn't find out until much later. I've gotten to know her ponline through that agency connection.
Bio: Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and
CBA bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A Light in
the Wilderness and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the coveted
Wrangler Award from the Western
Heritage Center .
Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book
Award, and Reader’s Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award and
Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Many of her titles have been Book of the
Month and Literary Guild selections. You can also read her work in more than
fifty publications, including Decision, Private Pilot, and Daily
Guideposts. Jane lives in Central Oregon
with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.
Welcome back, Jane. How did you decide to
write this particular story?
The
unanswered question always brings me in! Eliza Warren’s memoir noting her
mother’s death, a space in the text, and then the very next sentence being “In
1854 I married Andrew Warren” intrigued me. What might have gone inside that
space that she didn’t want to talk about? Added to that question was hearing of
and later reading about her father’s crying through town, “My daughter is
dead!” following the marriage. What was that about? There had also never been
an exploration of Eliza the child as an interpreter during the Whitman tragedy.
I wanted to study that as well.
How did you decide to tell one woman’s story
through diaries and letters and the other as a first person?
I
wanted the two stories to be distinct in the readers’ minds, and I didn’t
really want to rewrite all of the stories about the Spaldings as missionaries.
After all, there are many volumes of works written about them. I wanted to
consider what the mother might have experienced following the tragedy and her
own survival, and especially about her husband’s insistence that their daughter
attend the murder trial. Speculation also exists about Henry’s state of mind
after the tragedy, and I wanted to show his wife’s faithfulness but also some of
what may have been worries about his volatile behavior. I thought the diary
format could serve as a border to that story. I really wanted this to be more
of the daughter’s story, so I felt having her tell it and not be aware of her
mother’s perspective until later added interest. Plus, I think the daughter did
have a hard life, carried great wounds, and was both stoic and stumbling. I
hoped that the first-person format with a wider narrative could soften her and
help the reader see the scared ten-year-old child within some of the more
controlling actions of her later life.
As you noted, many people have chosen to
write about this family. How did you know where your story was going to go, and
how is it different?
I
don’t always know. I start writing before I think I should or I’d just keep
researching! There are no novels to my knowledge based on the daughter’s life,
and the mother is only a minor character in some fiction written about that
time period. So the daughter was the focal point for me. A novel allows us to
speculate about the why and about how one felt regarding an incident. Biography
or nonfiction allows us to explore what and when but must hesitate about
exploring people’s feelings. Novels are meant to move us, to bring emotion to
the surface, and to help us see our lives in new ways. To paraphrase French
writer Marcel Proust, “The real journey of discovery is not in seeking new
landscapes but in seeing with new eyes.” I wanted to show Eliza’s journey
toward seeing with new eyes.
You wrote about the bond between people who
have survived a tragedy as Eliza and Nancy Osborne did in this story. Have you
experienced anything like that?
Several years ago my husband and I flew in our small
plane with two friends, Ken and Nancy Tedder. She was seven and a half months
pregnant with their first child at the time. We hit a clear-air wind shear and
crashed, missing three houses, power lines, and trees, and hitting the ground
450 feet from the end of the runway. My husband and I had many broken bones
while the Tedders fortunately did not. Thank you, Jane, for sharing this new book with us. I'm eager to read it, and I know my readers are, too.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Memory Weaver - Christianbook.com
The Memory Weaver: A Novel - Amazon
The Memory Weaver: A Novel - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
52 comments:
Wow, this looks like a great book to read.
I have this book on my wish list, Sounds like it will be as good or better than some of her other books I've read.
Ingrid from Missouri
Looks interesting--I don't know anything about these missionaries!
-Melissa M. in TN
I would love to read THE MEMORY WEAVER!
Caryl K in TEXAS
I'm not familiar with the events and people that inspired Jane's novel so I am especially interested in learning more!
Connie from KY
cps1950 (at)gmail (dot)com
I so enjoy your books! I would love to win The Memory Weaver! I like how much history you weave into the books and still make the story fabulous. Thank you! sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Tragedy can bring people closer together.
This looks like a wonderful read.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I've just started reading Jane Kirkpatrick's older books. She's a beautiful writer.
Terrill - WA
This book really sparks my interest, and I would love to read it!!
Thank you for the great interview and giveaway!
Raechel in MN
This sounds like my type of book thanks for the chance to win
live in ND
I read a light in the wilderness not long ago and really enjoyed it , would love to read more by Jane .
Patty in SC
This book is on my wish list! A Light in the Wilderness was my first book to read by this author. Rachael in ME
Looks like a great read. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom. North Platte NE
I'd like to win this for my wife. I think she would enjoy it.
Edward A in VA
Jane Kirkpatrick makes history come alive - I would love to read this! Have kept it on my wish list since I first learned it was coming out. Thank you for the opportunity to win, and all congratulations to Jane Kirkpatrick on this release - go with God!
Jeanie in Phoenix, AZ
Jumping in with all four feet on this one! Sounds great and what a cover!
Melanie Backus, TX
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Jane Kirkpatrick is a wonderful writer and I've enjoyed several of her books over the years. This one sounds just as good!
I can't believe that you were in a plane crash, how scary that must have been, especially for Ted and Nancy! I'm so thankful that God protected everyone and they were able to deliver a healthy baby girl months later. It could have been much worse! And it helped solidify your friendship :-)
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of "The Memory Weaver", this ones been on my want-to-read list since it's come out! I enjoyed reading this interview too.
Trixi in OR
Hello to Lena and Jane. Thanks for this interesting interview. I have tried several times to win one of Jane's book give-aways with no luck. maybe this will be my time. Thanks to you both for the chance. Maxie(TX) > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
I love reading Jane Kirkpatrick's books & have just gotten my 21 year old daughter hooked on them also. This is definitely going on my list of books to read! Elaine in Wisconsin
I'm so excited about Jane's latest book. She has an amazing writing ability.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
~Cindi Altman from Pennsylvania.
I hope you can find it. Thanks for your interest
I've been spending time in Missori Ingrid as my work in progress starts there!
They were the first to serve the Nez Zoerce people Melissa. I hope you find the story intriguing
I hope you win!
They were an interesting couple who came west with another couple who served the Cayuse people.
Thank you!
It can bring people closer and sometimes separates people too this was an interesting blend of that to write
Thank you Terrill!
You can thank Lena for the questions!
I hope you do!
The story of Letitia really captured me I'm glad you enjoyed reading about her and her friends
I hope you'll look for this book!
Thanks for entering!
You are a good husband! Thanks for entering
Thank you Jeanie. I'm glad it's been on your wish list!
I love that cover too! Great cots!
You are in!
Nancy still has no memory of the crash! God is good!
Wishing you luck!
Hi Elaine thanks for sharing my stories with your daughter. And I'm from Wisconsin originally!
I wish the best for you Cindi. You are entered!
Can't wait to read this one. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Brenda in VA
Thanks for entering, Brenda!
Looks awesome!!! Please enter me.
Blanch, NC
LOVE Jane Kirkpatrick! Having lived in Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho and then having visited the Oregon, Washington area...I love to read the stories of the women and people who influenced these areas. I would REALLY love to win this book...and it would, no doubt, get passed on to mothers, sisters,friends, etc. :)!
Thanks both Abigail and Any, I couldn't figure out how to respond to you, Abigail so forgive my tech deprivation! Thank you for entering and Amy, the states you mention having lived in are some of my favorites in the West. I grew up in the Midwest but always longed for the mountains and the high desert. I made the choice to come to Oregon right out of high school to work before starting college in Wisconsin. I knew I'd be back. It only took me 10 years! I hope you enjoy The Memory Weaver and maybe you'll be the lucky winner.
Looks like my technology impairment is continuing! Thank you to each of you who have entered and for Lena for hosting me. I love hearing where you're from...from Maine to Australia and points in between. We are joined by books, aren't we? I think I could travel anywhere, find a bookstore and know I was among friends. Thank you for taking the time to read the interview and for entering. I wish you each could win...and if you don't, there is always the library, right? I love libraries, too. Be well, Jane
I really enjoy Jane's books, so would love to win this one! I live in northern California.
Great interview. This book sounds very interesting. Please enter me in the contest.
Blessings,Tina
Jane's books are special to me, and I enjoy recommending them to my friends. I am very much looking forward to reading The Memory Weaver. It would be a lovely Christmas gift to win. I live in Twisp, Washington.
Such an interesting interview! I'd love to read this!
Beth from IA
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