Writing Hallie's story has been a labor of love. For a long time I had contemplated writing a book encompassing the Oregon Trail, and the more research I did as the story unfolded, the more I fell in love with the pioneers who gave up everything to follow their dreams and the Native Americans adversely affected by westward migration. The hardships endured by both groups are unimaginable.
In writing this story, I am in no way attempting to typify the lives of those who braved the Oregon Trail or the Native Americans affected. My story has been written solely as romantic entertainment, but with the added aspect of research.
The Oregon Trail began in Missouri, not far from St. Louis, and crossed in greater or lesser degrees, the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. For much of the trail's history, however, these states were considered territories. In the time frame of my book, 1866, Oregon was already a state of the Union, as was Kansas.
Since many of the reviews I receive on my other books request longer stories, I made sure to give these characters lots of adventure, romance, and challenges to lengthen their tale.