Julie
McDonald Zander – Bringing an Oregon Trail Pioneer’s Story to Life
Southwest
Washington author, journalist, and historian Julie McDonald Zander joins Patty
Grasher on Northwest Book Talk to discuss The Reluctant Pioneer,
her historical novel inspired by the true story of Matilda Koontz Jackson.
After discovering Matilda’s story while volunteering at a local museum, Julie
spent five years researching Oregon Trail diaries, historical records, and
firsthand accounts to understand how this remarkable woman survived a
2,000-mile journey west and the hardships that followed.
In this
conversation:
- The real-life story behind The
Reluctant Pioneer - What women experienced while
traveling the Oregon Trail - Julie’s five years of historical
research and her own journey retracing the trail - Turning a nonfiction history
into a compelling historical novel - The role faith played in
Matilda’s life and Julie’s portrayal of her - Julie’s experiences with
independent publishing and finding readers for regional historical fiction
Julie also
shares how her career preserving personal and regional histories eventually led
her into fiction—and why she now considers writing novels part of her
“retirement plan.”
Discover
more author conversations and books at NorthwestBookTalk.com.