Monday, September 11, 2017

ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND - Jane Kirkpatrick - One Free Book

 Bio: Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than thirty books, including A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious 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, USABestBooks, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com .

Based on true events, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick uses engaging storytelling to relay the intriguing account of Jennie Pickett, a young woman who dreams of practicing medicine in Oregon. Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie longs to become a doctor but the Oregon frontier of the 1870s doesn’t approve of women attending medical school.

To support herself and her son, Jennie cares for an elderly woman using skills she has developed on her own. 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 will be winding and the way forward will not always be clear. Will Jennie find shelter in life’s storms? Will she discover where healing truly lives?

Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to leave behind their preconceived notions about love and life as they, along with Jennie, discover that dreams may be deferred—but they never really die.

Welcome back, Jane. I love your headshot. Tell us a little about All She Left Behind.
It’s a book I’ve been thinking about for twenty years. Jennie is so little known, in part because her husband was so prominent, but she made a difference in her own right. She wanted to be a doctor but it was a long journey of overcoming challenges before she hung out her shingle, working with women and children.

Why did you decide to write about the life of Jennie Pickett?
When I learned that she was one of the first women to graduate from a medical college in Oregon I was intrigued. As I explored more, I realized she attended college after she was the mother of three children! This was highly unusual for a woman, let alone a wife and mother. I wondered how that dream was nurtured through the years and how she overcame the barriers.

You generally write stories about strong women of the West. Why and when did you decide to start writing about these women?
Way back in 1995! I always loved biographies but there weren’t many written about women. Then I learned about this fascinating woman who lived and worked with an Indian tribe that I also lived and worked with. I couldn’t find information about her—only her husband, brother, and father, and if she had sons, I know I’d have learned of them too. But women’s history is often lost. Because I couldn’t find letters or journals or newspaper accounts, I thought of her life as “reflected” in the life of the men who surrounded her. I interviewed descendants of both the tribe and her and began to piece together a remarkable life. I knew I’d need fiction to discover who she really was—and who so many women were whose history must be as Virginia Woolf said: “both invented and made up.” It turns out these lost women were both strong and courageous in their ordinary days and are inspirational for our lives today.

What was the most interesting thing you learned while researching Jennie Pickett’s life?
The degree to which alcohol use and abuse damaged the lives of settlers, and how women and children were especially negatively affected. I also found it interesting that medical students usually “read” with a physician for a year or more before attempting to enroll in medical school, which was usually two years long followed by a year of surgery study, usually back east. Becoming a pastor—which Jennie’s husband was—took six or seven years, but perhaps work with the soul is more complicated than work with the body. At least Jennie thought so.

What lesson(s) do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?
That some things are worth doing regardless of how they turn out. And also that even though we may not heal the troubles in our own family, that should not deter us from following God’s call in our lives to work to heal the lives of others.

In what way would you say your faith is worked into the book?
As a former mental health professional whose family struggled with substance abuse and other family challenges, I often thought I “should” be able to fix things; after all, I’m trained! But my faith tells me that I can only do what I’m called to do, and God provides the healing. I think Jennie came to understand that as well. A second insight came with the realization that Jennie didn’t practice very long, but that does not negate the power of the influence she had in part because she listened to that call and followed it. In my own life, I took a risk because I thought God was asking me to do something that didn’t seem realistic. And my life changed forever because I trusted. It was stepping out onto a cloud of faith believing I wouldn’t fall through. Jennie’s journey reminds me of that faith.

What are you working on next?
It’s the story of yet another fascinating woman, Carrie Strahorn. She came from a wealthy family and married a printer who then took her from Illinois to the wilds of the West. Together they traveled fifteen thousand miles by stage on behalf of the railroad to identify potential town sites and promote land buying to populate those seemingly remote places. She wrote a memoir, and it was the happy-happy presentation of those adventures that intrigued me because there must have been some rough times. I’ve ridden in a stage and it is not pleasant! So, what was really going on between the lines? That’s my working title: Between the Lines. I wanted to explore their relationship and what eventually was the triumph of her life.

How can readers connect with you?
Visit me at www.jkbooks.com and contact me there. Also, please sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, called Story Sparks, which contains words of encouragement. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter, though I confess I’m more active on the former than the latter. I also lead retreats, speak at various events around the country, and would love to meet readers face-to-face. My schedule will tell people where I’ll be next, and that’s at the website jkbooks.com. Thank you so much for your interest!

Thank you, Jane, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. I know they will want to read it as much as I do.

Readers, here are links to the book. 
All She Left Behind - Christianbook.com
All She Left Behind - Amazon paperback
All She Left Behind - Kindle
All She Left Behind - Amazon Audiobook

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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.

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26 comments:

Wendy Newcomb said...

Thank you for sharing, I would love to win a copy of Jane's book, thank you for the Chance.

Wendy from South Sioux City, NE

wfnren at aol dot com

Diana Flowers said...

I love Jane's books �� and this one has been on my wishlist! Thanks for the interview & the giveaway opportunity!

Diana in stormy SC �� ��

dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

Diana Flowers said...

Phooey! My emojis didn't show up but they were books, a raindrop on my head from Irma (lol) and an umbrella.

Paula Shreckhise said...

This looks so fascinating. I love books written about real people. Thanks for the chance to win. Paula from Missouri.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great book! Shelia from Mississippi

Tammie Edington Shaw said...

Sounds like a wonderful book by Jane Kirkpatrick. Writing from Illinois.

Unknown said...

Sounds fascinating! :) Thank you for the chance to win.

Melody B (Que, Canada)

kim hansen said...

Love jane's books. north platte nebraska.

Abigail Mitchell said...

Looks good!
Abigail in VA

Winnie said...

Thanks for the interview, Lena and Jane. It was fun to learn more about Jane and her writing. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I've heard so many wonderful things about this one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

Winnie T from Utah

VanG said...

I love the books I have read by Jane and would be thrilled to win a copy of this one. Thanks!

Vangie in NC

Pam K. said...

I'm a big fan of Jane's books. I love that her books are based on actual women and that she's keeping their history alive. I'd be extremely happy to win a copy of All She Left Behind. Thanks for the interview with Jane and the giveaway.

pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Kansas

Vivian Furbay said...

I've read three of Jane Kirkpatick's books. What an awesome author! Would love to win a copy of All She Left Behind.

Trixi said...

I love Jane Kirkpatrick's writing!!! I'm so excited for this newest novel by her :-) Thank you for the chance to win.

Trixi in OR

Melanie Backus said...

Sounds like a winner!

Melanie Backus, TX

Elma brooks said...

Greetings from Sanford,NC
Love reading Mrs Kirkpatrick books and would love to win a copy.
Thanks for the giveaway and interview.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lena for the interview with Jane. She is a new author to me. I love reading historicals.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York

Dianna said...

I read a great J. Kirkpatrick book earlier this year -- I think it was called "Mark of the King." would love to read this one, too.
Dianna in TN

Jane said...

Thank you Lena and thanks to each of you who have commented. It's great to see the many people from all over the country loving historical novels. I hope All She Left Behind will be one you all love as well.

A Cooking Bookworm said...

I have been looking forward to this newest historical by Jane!

Stephanie
Binghamton, NY

mybabyblessings AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I really love reading historical novels by Jane, have been reading them for years. I can't wait to read this one.

Deanne in PA

Patty said...

I've read several of Jane's books, always great historical info!

Patty in SC

Sharon Richmond Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I know that this will be another great book from Jane. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

rubynreba said...

Historical novels are a favorite of mine! Enjoyed the interview and review.
Beth from IA

Caryl Kane said...

I love historical novels! This one sounds amazing!

Caryl K in TEXAS