Medicine

The Unsung Heroes of the Frontier–and a Giveaway

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The Unsung Heroes of the Frontier by Jill Dewhurst

Thank you for inviting me to be your guest!  Though now a historical Christian fiction author, my first profession was an RN in cardiac critical care.  Because of my nursing experience, medical subplots tend to find their way into my manuscripts.  Researching physician education in the United States during the westward has been enlightening.  When my husband studied to be a cardiologist, he invested fourteen years of post-secondary training between medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship. 

In 1820, however, only four medical schools had been established in the US:  Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania. 

All four are located on the northern Atlantic Coast, and most graduates never strayed far from these medical centers.  Those in the frontier who truly had an aptitude for healing and helping the hurting usually had neither the resources for the arduous and expensive journey east nor the connections to be accepted into one of the four prestigious medical schools. 

Photo Credit: By J.R. Penniman – Harvard University, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10300112

In lieu of formal academic training (only two years of classes, by the way!), prospective frontier doctors would apprentice under a practicing physician, both observing and assisting, all while immersing themselves in copious amounts of reading.  By necessity, their scope of practice was much broader than the academically trained doctors in the East, for they were often the only medical practitioners in their region.  These doctors would treat everyday ailments, as well as pulling teeth, delivering babies, setting broken bones, performing surgery, administering various herbal and mineral remedies, and sometimes caring for livestock and other veterinary patients.

These doctors were the unsung heroes of the frontier, for they would be on-call day and night, ready to travel several miles if necessary.  They willingly put themselves at risk during epidemics of cholera and influenza, tending the sick when no cure had yet been found.  By necessity, much of their apothecary treatments were made from herbs, roots, and bark native to their region with the knowledge of the collection and administration gleaned from the experience of the Native Americans in their area.

One example of a plant-based medicine frequently found in historical fiction is willow bark tea, a treatment for fevers and minor pain for over 4,000 years (first recorded use was during the Sumerian civilization, then later in Mesopotamia, China, and Ancient Greece).  In 1853, the isolated active compound was discovered to be acetylsalicylic acid, and the Bayer Company purchased the patent and mass produced it.  When you read of a patient receiving willow bark tea, think Aspirin.

In my Rugged Cross Ranch series, the Harvard-trained doctor in Prairie Hills invites one of the brothers on the ranch with an aptitude for medicine to train under him.  Watching Luke grow from an eager learner of veterinary medicine into a physician and surgeon made my author’s heart swell with pride.  Luke’s compassion does not dim his fortitude to make the right decision even when it is the hard decision.  He is intelligent and well-read with steady hands and neat stitches.  He has great skill in determining a patient’s diagnosis—well, unless that patient is his wife.  Then he is rendered utterly clueless.  (Referencing a humorous moment in Heidi’s Faith)

Meet Luke Hamilton in Julie’s Joy, the first book in my Rugged Cross Ranch series. 

Many of the homeopathic remedies we have today have their roots (pun intended) in generations of well-tried tradition.  The medical side of me is pleased that many of the most common remedies are now being included in well-constructed medical studies.  One of my personal go-to natural medicines is a blend of elderberry, echinacea, zinc, and Vitamin C to boost immunity during cold and flu season.  

Julie’s Joy

WHEN JULIE’S TENACIOUS JOY IS TESTED BY LIFE-SHATTERING TRAGEDY, HER INTENSE SORROW MIGHT LEAD HER TO UNEXPECTED LOVE.

Julie Peterson had been born into a family of faith and privilege, but when her dad decided to move his family West to homestead near his sister’s ranch in northeastern Oklahoma, disaster struck, leaving Julie a nine-year-old orphan.  Rescued and cared for by a migrating Kiowa village until her uncle found her years later, Julie has learned to find joy even when navigating the inherent challenges as a blind woman destined to remain unmarried.

Buck Matthews, the second oldest brother on the ranch, has given up dreams of a family, knowing no woman would accept his heritage.  When Julie arrives on the ranch, their friendship reveals they have a great deal in common.  Would Julie be willing to accept his love?

When tragedy overwhelms Julie, will sorrow extinguish her joy forever or will her faith in her loving Father lead to hope?  Follow God’s sovereign hand through this story of faith, family, and redeeming love and be inspired to trust the One who loves us all unconditionally.

Julie’s Joy on Amazon

What is one of your favorite natural remedies?  Was it recommended by a friend or passed down through your family?  Be sure to chime in!  I’d love to meet you! You’ll be entered in a drawing for an autographed copy of Julie’s Joy and a $10 Amazon gift card to one winner.

About Jill:

Jill Dewhurst’s is a Selah Award Bronze Medalist, Christian Author Award Winner, Will Rogers Medallion Award Gold Medal Winner, and bestselling author of historical Christian fiction, Jill Dewhurst writes novels that seamlessly weave a page-turning story with the truth of God’s unconditional love. With her varied experience as an RN, a musician, and a homeschool mom, Jill creatively weaves a part of herself into each story.  When not writing, she enjoys playing her flute and thanking God for the hubby who lassoed her heart for keeps. Publishing her Rugged Cross Ranch series has been a dream come true.  http://www.jilldewhurst.com 

Hear a Little About Early Hearing Aids

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I’ve had a big change in my life recently—one that took me a bit by surprise. I got hearing aids. Let me start out by saying I’m WAY TOO YOUNG to need hearing aids. But here we are, right? Truth be told, I had noticed some difficulty hearing things this past year. It became really apparent when I went to a conference and struggled to hear the speakers. So, not long after that off to the ENT doctor I went and got tested. I don’t like the word “profound” but that’s what he used when describing the level of my hearing loss. Sigh.

I decided to be optimistic about this change, and I’m glad I did. I actually love my new hearing aids. I have a good friend who talks very soft, and I used to miss about a third of what she said. No more. I hear every word! And who knew my favorite pair of shoes squeaked when I walk? Or that the neighbor’s dog barks all day (okay, maybe this isn’t a good thing). I told my husband, I can now hear the sun shine and grass grow.

This got me wondering a little about how people throughout history dealt with hearing loss. I mean, these devices I’m currently wearing are so technologically advanced, I think they could transmit a message into outer space while tracking a bald eagle in the Colorado Rockies (only slight exaggeration – ha, ha). So, I did a little research.

The first recorded use of hearing aids, which may date back as far as Egyptian times, were called ear trumpets. They were pretty much what you’d imagine them to be—a horned shaped object, small on one end and large on the other. Most were constructed of wood, hollowed out animal horns, and in later years, brass. During the old west, hollowed out buffalo horns were often used. These ear trumpets didn’t work all that well, amplifying sounds only directly in front of the user and then to a small degree. They functioned best when someone spoke directly into the ear trumpet at close range.

The interesting part, however, was how clever ear trumpets became in their design. No one likes admitting to having a hearing loss, so inventors created some pretty cool ways to make hearing aids less conspicuous and a true fashion statement. They hid the devices in wardrobe accessories like ladies’ fans and headpieces and men’s canes­. In the home, hearing aids could be hidden in vases. King John IV of Portugal had a throne designed for him with ornately carved lion heads on the arms. The lions’ open mouths transmitted sound to the back of the throne and into the king’s ear via a speaking tube.

In 1898, the first electric hearing aid, called an Akouphone, was invented. As you can imagine, it was huge and bulky and not very portable. But then in the early 1900s, carbon hearing aids came into being, using similar technology to early microphones and telephones. While they amplified sound, they weren’t all that effective. In the 1920s, vacuum hearing aids came along, an advancement that allowed the size to be greatly reduced. One of the biggest jumps came after WWII with the invention of transistors–which reduced the size of hearing aids even more. For a while, there were even hearing aids built into eyeglasses, though these were awkward to wear and didn’t last long.

In the early 1960s, some smart person came up with the first behind the ear hearing aids – a style still in use today by 70% of people who wear hearing aids. But everything changed around 1995 with fully digital versions hit the market. Rather than simply amplifying sound, the user could now differentiate between low, mid, and high frequencies and adjust the hearing aid to their surrounding.

Interesting, huh? You know what I like best about my new hearing aids, besides the improvement to my hearing? They are connected to my phone, and I can listen to audio books without earbuds or headphones. Now that’s cool 🙂

 

 

Fever and Ague in the West (Plus, a giveaway!)

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While researching what kind of disease might wipe out an entire town, sending the gunslingers of Red Ridge in a reluctant truce with the new town doctor one didn’t really trust, I was reminded of fever and ague. 

I was just a little girl when I first read about fever and ague, and it was in a Little House on the Prairie book. Perhaps you remember the story? The entire family came down with an illness. First, intense chills, and then a fever and body aches.

Pa Ingalls thought it came from night air. Others thought it was the watermelons growing nearby. No one realized that fever and ague was actually malaria, and came from mosquitoes.

Fever and ague was a common but also debilitating illness in the 1800s, particularly in the United States. In the 1830s in Oregon, two Native American tribes, the Kalapuya of the Willamette Valley and the Chinookan people along the Columbia River were nearly wiped out, losing an estimated 80-95% of their peoples. One estimate I saw said they went from 14,000 lives to just over 1,000. Can you imagine? There wouldn’t have been any family spared the devastation of loss. 

Chinook people in a canoe on the Columbia River. Library of Congress

While today, we understand fever and ague to be malaria, in the early 1800s that wasn’t known. There was speculation about how it started but one thing was certain. It was deadly once it struck. 

The only effective treatment (other than time and luck) was quinine, which came from the bark of the South American Cinchona tree. It was scarce, expensive, and ground up, but it was also incredibly bitter. However, it saved many lives. 

Science Museum Group. Quinine sulphate bottle. A664060 Science Museum Group Collection Online. Accessed 3 November 2025. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co189273/quinine-sulphate-bottle.%5B/caption%5D

 

It was sobering to write parts of The Doctor. When it comes to medicines and doctors and the fears of what might happen, I sometimes have trouble because it’s rather close to home. Many of you know that I have a child with a chronic illness and a suppressed immune system, and we spend a lot of time in the children’s hospital. Just recently, because his body, even after three months of antibiotics, can’t fight off a skin infection, he had to have a surgery to remove it, in hopes that it will finally respond to the medicine, and avoid the placement of a PICC line in him. Though it’s been scary and hard and there’s been so, so much stress, I can’t help but feel grateful that today, we have tools and knowledge and medicines to help. Back in the 1800s, so many towns didn’t have doctors, and they didn’t have medicines. When something like fever and ague raced through a town, there was little more than false hope that could be given, if there wasn’t a way to treat it. That’s something that the doctor in this book has to grapple with, and I pray none of us ever do. 

Thankfully, this is fiction, where HEAs exist, but tears still might pop up.

If you’d like a chance to read The Doctor, it releases later this month in ebook, paperback, and large print. 

Today, one of you is going to win an ebook from this series. You can choose if you’d like book 1, book 2, book 3, or…if you’ve already read those, if you’d like me to send you book 4 when it releases. (I promise, I won’t forget!) 

You can click right here, to see the books to choose from. 

To have a chance at winning, just tell me: Based on this blurb, how do you think the doctor will get the medicine he needs to treat the town?

Nora Madison returns to Red Ridge seeking a decision about her future, but when her overprotective brother tries to tell her what she can and can’t do, Nora resists; especially as a spark ignites between her and the enigmatic physician. Something is drawing her closer, and she’d like to find out what it is.

Dr. Aiden Rycroft’s plan is simple: practice medicine in a town far from his troubles, ignore the town’s drama (especially the possessive gunslinger), and leave when his contract ends. Yet, the more Billy Madison tries to keep him away from his intriguing sister, Nora, the more their paths seem destined to cross.

When a mysterious illness sweeps through the town, Aiden and Billy find their paths intertwined in a reluctant truce. The stakes become deeply personal when Nora falls victim to the very illness Aiden’s been unable to get medicine for. Now, any hope for their future faces its ultimate test as Aiden fights not only to save her life but also to prove his own worth, to himself and to the woman who sees beyond his guarded exterior.

Old Bull’s Heavenly Visitor & Give-away

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Howdy!

Welcome to another tantalizing Tuesday!  Hope y’all are doing well today.  And I have a special story for you today.  A true story — one I ran across in doing research for the story I’m currently working on.  This is from the book, BEAR CHIEF’S WAR SHIRT by James Willard Schultz, who is writing about his own true experience.

In June of 1877, Schultz’s mother had given him permission to go out west into what was then called Indian Territory on a buffalo hunt — he was to return that same year where he would attend a military academy, but he didn’t return until 1880 and even then, he was there for only 3 months before returning to Indian Country.  Indeed, James Schultz stayed with the Blackfeet and married into the tribe and became a white Blackfeet Indian.  There is a book he has written entitled MY LIFE AS AN INDIAN, and oh my, what a wonderful book it is — filled with thrilling stories.

This story is about one of Schultz’s adventures as a warrior going with a war party to retrieve Bear Chief’s War Shirt.  On the way to determining what tribe might have stolen the shirt and a way to retrieve it, he had many adventures.  The story I’m about to tell you he declares in his book is true. and is one he saw with his own eyes.

First let me tell you a little about a Blackfeet war party.  There was a man who led the party and it was his responsibility to sleep and live (to some degree) apart from the others so he could pray for a vision that would tell him what lay ahead of the war party.  Old Bull was part of this war party –he was a “Bringer of Plenty” — a man who called the buffalo to a cliff and over it so the tribe would have enough food to get through the cold winters of Montana.  He had what the Indians called much medicine.

Schultz describes Old Bull as a man about forty winters (years) in age.  Here is what Schultz writes about Old Bull:

“…I liked Old Bull best [of the war party}; in fact, I revered him.  He was a man of about forty winters — tall and well muscled, with long hair, keen eyes, and a pleasant face; calm, dignified, and honest; moreover, he was a sacred pipe man, a medicine man, as the whites say.  Old Bull was possessor of the powerful Eagle Head pipe, master of its long ritual of sacred prayers and songs.”

Old Bull was a man whom the war party needed to have a vision so as to alert the war party as to what they might face and it if would be successful.  But, so far, he had not been able to have a vision.

Old Bull stated that oftentimes he had to go someplace alone so that his spiritual helper would come.  He had told Schultz that often his spiritual helper would come to others as Old Bull prayed to their God, the Creator.  His spiritual helper would then tell the others gathered there the answers to what Old Bull was asking.  And so, not having a vision to help the war party, Old Bull went into a hollow tree and there began to pray.

And, I will quote from the book:

Bear chief was praying — “He had no more than spoken these words when his body stiffened, his face becoming tense and his eye balls rolling upwards in his head.  He leaned back against the inside of the tree.  Bear Chief and I were standing close to the tree when this happened….  Before us a white shadow was forming starting up from the ground and spinning up like a whirlwind, building higher and higher until it reached the height of Bear Chief.  Then the fluorescent white cloud began taking a man’s shape, the ears, nose, mouth, eyes, and the rest of the face forming first, then the body, arms, and legs. The figure took on such details as moccasins, a full head dress to the ground, necklaces, and some face coloring.  As I stood there, it seemed as though I could look through the Heavenly Visitor as one would look through a light colored window pane.

“The Visitor spoke in Blackfeet.  ‘Bear Chief, I am your helper.  I have been helping you all your life.  I have helped you in battles, I guide you and give you good thought.  My name is Gray Eagle.

“‘There is trouble for you ahead.  How much trouble will depend on how careful you are in your movements.  Do not travel this night.  You all will go to the Sand Hills someday, but those who are needed here now will stay for a while; those who are needed over there to help do the work of the Above Ones will go earlier.  Bear Chief, you will be rewarded.’  and with that the almost transparent visitor vanished into the sky in a streak of light.

“As Old Bull awakened from his trance, I asked him if he remembered anything that had gone on.  Said he, ‘I remember only that I slept.  What happened?’ I told him about the ghostly visitor and of his message.

“Old Bull continued, “Ever since I was a young man, there have been times over which I have had little control, when I have been seized by the Above Ones and when, as afterward related to me by my friends, Spirit people have built up and have been seen and heard by all present.  I would much rather have a vision, where I get the message direct, but when day after day has passed and I have received no message, often if I pray in an enclosure, as I did here, I am seized, and Spirit people come forth.”

The war party went on to be successful in regaining the war shirt.  Interestingly, Schultz writes, “After passing through several hands [the war shirt], the shirt came to the collection of Indian Americana at the Denver Art Museum.  No myth, this famed Indian relic is now on display for visitors to marvel at for its color, design, and decoration.”

Well, I hope you enjoyed this story.

Now onto other news:  My latest release, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD, is on sale starting today for $.99.  Don’t miss this chance.  Pick up your copy today.

Also, I will be giving away a mass market paperback of the book, Soaring Eagle’s Embrace, to one lucky blogger.  So come on in and leave your thoughts on this blog.  I love hearing from you.

SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBPKBXBZ?tag=pettpist-20

 

Margaret Borland: Rancher, Survivor, Trail Driver

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I’m constantly amazed at the larger-than-life men and women who settled the western states and Texas. Men and women who, despite great personal sacrifice, became a strong symbol of extraordinary strength and courage. The ghosts of those people hover around us to this day with a reminder to keep carrying the torch they lit for us long ago.

One such woman gave her all and scrawled her name across the land – Margaret Heffernan Borland. It’s fair to say that life dealt Margaret a poor hand, but she didn’t stand around crying and moaning. She anted-up and made things happen each time adversity came calling. I admire this woman’s tenacity and pure grit so much.

Margaret was five years old when she arrived on the first ship bringing Irish colonists to Texas in 1829. Her family settled on the wild prairies around San Patricio, but her father died in an Indian attack a few years after they put down roots. Then they found themselves in the crosshairs of the Texas Revolution. Margaret’s mother fled with her children to the fort at Goliad. When the Mexican army won the battle of Goliad, it’s said they escaped the massacre by speaking Spanish so fluently that the officers believed them to be native Mexicans. After the war, the Heffernan family returned to San Patricio where nineteen-year-old Margaret met and married Harrison Dunbar. Shortly after the birth of a daughter, Harrison was killed in a pistol duel on the streets of Victoria. Margaret found herself a widow and single parent at the age of twenty.

A year later, she married again, this time to Milton Hardy and they settled down to ranch on 2,912 acres of land. Margaret gave birth to a son and three daughters, one of whom died in infancy. Again, tragedy struck and her second husband along with her young son succumbed to cholera. She was left with one daughter.

In the four years that followed, she worked the ranch near Victoria and raised her children. Then she met Alexander Borland. He was one of the richest ranchers in South Texas. After a short courtship, she married him and bore this husband four children. In 1860, Alexander and Margaret Borland owned 8,000 head of cattle and they began to hear about trail drives from Texas to Missouri and beyond. They dreamed of together taking a herd to northern markets. But before they could realize their dream, Alexander died in a yellow fever epidemic. Despite Margaret’s best efforts, she was unable to halt the terrible toll yellow fever took on her family. Before it was over, in addition to her husband, she buried three of her daughters, a son, and an infant grandson. Only three children out of nine survived. I’m sure this rocked the very foundation of her soul. She’d given Texas almost everything she had.

After the devastating loss, she threw herself into running the ranch and managing the huge herd of livestock alone. Yet, tragedy again struck. A great blizzard swept down upon the plains during the winter of 1871-1872 and tens of thousands of Texas cattle froze to death, their carcasses dotting the landscape. The storm took a huge toll on Margaret’s herd. When early spring rolled around, Margaret weighed her options. In April 1873, she concluded that her only choice was to drive 2,500 head of the cattle that weathered the blizzard up the famed Chisholm Trail where she could get $23.80 per head compared to $8.00 in San Antonio. But no woman had ever driven a herd up the trail by herself.

Although Margaret was 49 years old, she never backed down from a challenge or doing what she felt in her gut she must. She gathered her three remaining children (aged sixteen, fourteen and eight,) a six-year-old granddaughter, her 25 year-old-nephew, and with a handful of hired drovers embarked on the long, grueling trip. It took them two months to reach Wichita, Kansas. Upon arriving, Margaret and the children took a room at a boardinghouse, The Planter House. Word quickly spread through town of the amazing feat she’d accomplished. The newspaper wrote articles about her saying she had “pluck and business tact far superior to many male trail drivers.” One article remarked that she had “become endeared to many in town on account of her lady-like character.”

Before Margaret was able to complete the sale of her cattle, she took ill. On July 5, 1873, the woman who’d spent her entire lifetime staring down the barrel of calamity and misfortune died in her room at The Planter House in Wichita. Speculation quickly spread that she died from “brain congestion” and “trail driving fever.” Whatever that was. It sounds like something quickly made up by men who envied her accomplishment. Cause of death was never determined but doctors today think she contracted meningitis. Here’s a map of the trail and you can see it went right across dangerous Indian Territory.

Compliments of artist Jose Cisneros

The nephew was saddled with the difficult task of getting her body home in addition to the children. She’s buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria, Texas.

The woman who’d once single-handedly managed over 10,000 head of cattle, and did it quite expertly, became a legend up and down the Chisholm Trail. She overcame such adversity and is revered to this day for her courage and strength to take what life handed her and make the best of it.

I always love when I find little gold nuggets like this that add depth and emotion to my books. History is full of these remarkable pioneers who did the impossible and etched their stories in the sands of time. They’re just waiting for us to stumble across the indelible marks they left.

I ran across Margaret’s story when I researched for  THE HEART OF A TEXAS COWBOY about cattle drives. CLICK HERE The story revolves around Houston Legend and his attempt to take two thousand head of longhorns up the Great Western Trail to Dodge City. I reference Margaret Borland in this book and her fame provides Houston’s new wife, Lara, ammunition in attempts to convince him to let her go along. He does but soon regrets it, when two days out, he discovers three shadowy riders trailing them. Soon, their very survival is left in question. This was one of my favorite stories to write but please note, this is not a sweet romance. There are a few love scenes.

I’m giving away an ebook copy only of my current book, Cade’s Quest to two commenters. Just tell me if Margaret Borland’s story touched you in any way. Would you have attempted what she did?

 

New Interview From Coffee Time Romance & e-book giveaway

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Howdy!  And welcome to another terrific Tuesday!

Hope your summer is going great!

Well, I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Coffee Time Romance, the subject being the writing of my newest series about the Medicine Man.

Hope you’ll love the interview and hope you’ll leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this new series of writing about the American Indian Medicine Man.  And, I will be giving away a free e-book to one of the bloggers — your choice.

To the left here is a Kiowa Medicine Man with his wife and child.  I love this photo.  This is a handsome young man and his wife is very pretty.  She’s also wearing long, braid holders.  They might be beaded; it’s hard to tell.  Or they might be made of cloth.  He looks to be wearing a cotton shirt  and a cloth breechcloth.  But he is wearing what looks to be hide moccasins and perhaps she is, also.  She also has a very pretty trade blanket around her waist.  When the buffalo were slaughtered and no longer roamed the Great Western Plains, cloth often became the material of choice which they would get from the trading posts and this was commonly used for their clothing.  Their baby looks to be wearing a homemade dress of cloth.  The medicine man is also holding rattles and a stick with quite a few feathers attached.  I do not know the significance of this stick, if there is any.  Anyway, this is what I see from their picture.  And now for the interview.

 

Welcome. Today I’m talking with Karen Kay, and her books revolve around the American Indian culture. What an interesting theme. Tell us why you wanted to write about this.

Well, historically, the American Indians have pretty much had a bad rap.  I can say this now having mounds of historical documents in my library of their own writings and/or stories they told to friends that they had personally been a part of, and those friends wrote those stories down.  History in movies, in texts and other means of communication has been pretty much written by the victors and, until more recently, lies about them and their ideas of government, culture, freedom, the spiritual nature of man, the institution of marriage, of honor, of truth and the willingness to come to the aid of a friend has been hidden or simply not taught.  And it is this culture which is unparalleled in many ways than any other society I have studied.  Later, after I had started writing about the American Indians, I found out through a neighbor and a family tree (now lost) that I had Choctaw heritage that was hidden from me.  This alone has given me a reason to try in my own humble way to write it the way I have found it to be.

How is your approach different?

I’m not sure my work is entirely different from others who write in this genre.  The only thing I try to add is to make (though I write in fiction) many of the happenings in my books based on or inspired by real people who lived through some of the events I write about.

In order to write about the American Indian Culture, you have to be knowledgeable. Where do you do your research?

Well, almost all of my research is done from reading historical accounts of true happenings told by the person who lived them.  The writings of James Willard Schultz; Charles Eastman; Walter McClintrock; Jeffrey Prather; Frank B. Linderman; Frederick E. Hoxie; William Tomkins, George Catlin and many, many others.  I have many, many books on the fur trade, the steamboats, the bull trains, the railroads, etc.  And that’s just in the West.  I have a whole other assortment of books on the Eastern Indian Iroquois Confederation.

Tell us a little about your sources — the people you’ve met, and how you contacted them.

When I first started writing these stories — all those years ago in 1994 — I was determined to learn as much as I could about what I was writing about and to write entertainment, it’s true, but to be as accurate as I could about the actual history of the American Indians.  Besides books, I visited all the reservations in Montana and many of the reservations in South Dakota.  I’ve been to reservations in Arizona and New Mexico.  My husband and I have visited every reservation in Montana personally and have gone to pow-wows and we were instrumental in bringing a literacy project to the Blackfeet reservation in Montana that was open and was helping people with literacy for about five years.  I have two almost-sisters on the Blackfeet reservation to this day.  And, in 2007, I was adopted into the Blackfeet reservation.

You’ve written several books in your Medicine Man series. Tell us about the role of the medicine man in American Indian culture. Who were they?

Well, this is a subject I am still learning about, to tell you the truth.  I had wanted to write about the medicine men for a while, but didn’t because I simply didn’t know enough about them.  And, it’s a subject that doesn’t have a lot of information about who they were or what they did because these men did not necessarily tell others their secrets.  But slowly, reading a lot of stories about them, I’ve come to know more about them through stories their children have told (Blackfeet), through Frank B. Linderman’s book Pretty Shield, Medicine Woman of the Crows (Crow), Jeffrey Prather’s book, INITIATION Boys are Born. Men are Trained (Apache), Thomas E. Malls book, Fools Crow (Lakota) and of course, Black Elk Speaks (Lakota) by John G. Neihardt.  There are many more.

One thing I have learned is that the medicine man’s path was not an easy path to follow.  There was a code of honor and a code of ethics they adhered to if they wished to be successful.  And one the of biggest things I discovered is that the medicine man was very aware that he was doing the Creator’s work and his life consisted of prayer every day.  The Creator or God was the one who was doing the healing through the medicine man.  These medicine men were very aware of this and believed that the spirit of the Creator, alone, healed.  He was a part of everything they did to help their people to heal.

There were/are those who use what might be called black magic to do deeds contrary to the Creator, but these men were not usually known as medicine men — often they were known as witches or a shaman and they were as different from a medicine man as day is to night.

I go into this in more detail in my book, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD.  I do try to share what I have learned with my readers.

What did they do to help people get well?

All medicine men and medicine women knew how to use herbs, teas, muds, the bark of trees and their leaves and other plants found in nature to heal.  But, they had their own way of healing that was theirs alone.  They used the rhythm of drums, a special song, dances, putting hands on the body of a person to discover their ailment to help heal.  But, their main way to ensure the person they were asked to help was through prayer and the prayer was usually done in a very certain way.

A medicine man is a fascinating — and highly interesting — person. What started you on this quest to know more?

That came to me in an entirely American Indian fashion — through a dream, really.  I used to talk a bit about this, but no longer do — having now the knowledge that one should not share the dream with anyone else except with a medicine man.

Are there still medicine men (or women) around today?

Yes, there are, although from the book, Fools Crow by Thomas E. Malls, I’ve learned that some medicine men in the present might not fully follow the path of honor that was so essential in the olden days and these men, according to Fools Crow, can tend to be not as successful as they might otherwise be.  But yes, there are definitely medicine men who still follow this difficult path and who are dearly loved by their people.

What was the greatest challenge writing this series?

I think it would be learning about who these men and women truly were.  It’s hard to discover who they were and what they accomplished and some of the things they used to heal when there is really not a lot written about them.  But, over time I’ve learned enough to at least show what they could accomplish and a little of how they did what they did.  And, again, the importance of the Creator or God was paramount in all they did to help another.

What in your opinion makes good chemistry between your leading characters?

In my stories, the one culture and its ideas and ideals are pitted against the other, and their cultural ideals rarely match one with the other.  It is the love and admiration they each have for one another, despite very real problems and differences they deeply hold, that cause them to be determined to be together despite what is going on around them and despite sometimes, even the characters, themselves.

Now a little about you, Karen Kay. What inspired you to become a writer?

It was during a very rough time in my life when my children were quite little (toddlers) that I began to really read a lot of romance.  Those books became friends.  Because I was raised in a household of music when I was young, I was used to being inspired by the aesthetics of music.  And during this tough time in my life, when I really needed some aesthetics in my life, books and writing became my outlet and to this day, my characters become my friends.

How long have you been writing?

My first book was published in 1994 by AVON BOOKS.  But I was writing this and that for about thirteen years before actually becoming published.  When I discovered historical romance, I was thrilled and my very first historical romance, LAKOTA SURRENDER, was bought and published by AVON BOOKS.

Are you a disciplined writer with a strict schedule?

Mostly, I am.  But, with four adopted new pets and helping out with grandchildren and all kinds of chores I have to do at home, my schedule has been disrupted and I am trying my best to get to a schedule that works for me now.  But, mostly I am a disciplined writer.

What inspires you?

Gosh, a lot.  I get inspired by the people around me, by my readers, by the research books I read and by happy every afters.  My heroines are based usually upon people I know and the same could be said about the heroes.  But, the main hero who inspires me is my husband.

Any other works in progress?

Yes.  I’m at work on book #6 in the Medicine Man series.  The working title for the book right now is IF SHE WERE MINE.  I’m also writing a Young Adult series under the pen name of Genny Cothern and I’m at work on book #3 in the Untamed Frontier series.  These Young Adult stories are novellas and they are a short, and I hope are easy to read, too.  They are sweet historical romances of adventure and young love.

Do you have any final words you’d like to share with your readers or anything else you want to tell us about your books?

I love hearing from readers.  Usually these emails I get from my readers are a bright spot in my day and so I would like to encourage readers to email me.  My email address is:  karenkay.author@startmail.com

Thank you, Karen Kay. And best of luck with your Medicine Man series.

Recent Interview for She Belongs In My World & Giveaway

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Howdy!

Hope y’all are doin’ well on this lazy Thursday, the last one in the month of June this year.  Cathy has kindly given her blog spot to me today and I only hope I can fill her shoes.

The big news in my part of the world is that I have a new release this month, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD, an American Historical Romance/Native American.

Only a few days ago I was interviewed about the book by Written Word and I thought I’d post it here.

Interview Written Word with Karen Kay, author of the book, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD.

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

This is the fifth book in The Medicine Man Series, and two of the characters from book four in the series needed to have their story told.  

Often these characters come alive once they have been created and this was the case with these two characters.  

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? 

It would be the country song by the late, great Jim Reeves, Welcome To My World.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write? 

Definitely Romance, whether historical or contemporary, paranormal or western, I love them all.  However, another genre is becoming a favorite and these are the true stories I read from James Willard Schultz about the Blackfeet Indians of long ago. 

What books are on your TBR pile right now? 

Many true adventure stories of Pitamakan and Thomas Fox;  true stories of Rising Wolf and Red Crow and his sister, Mink Woman and many other  true stories of the long ago.  For my other love, romance, I love the stories of Linda Broday, Pam Crooks, Shanna Hatfield and Cassie Edwards, Madeline Baker and many others. 

What scene in your book was your favorite to write? 

This would be a tossup, I think, between one scene where the hero first sees the heroine for the first time after a long four years apart; or it could be the scouts revenge scene where the villain is not killed, but is brought to his knees in order to pay for his injustice to the heroine; but perhaps the other favorite scene in the book is the snow scene where the hero and heroine have a snowball fight and where they learn more about themselves as individuals and as a couple.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? 

Perhaps.  I write to music.  I don’t edit to music, but I love having music that inspires me playing in the background when I’m newly writing a scene.  Also, with the acquisition of four new pets, I generally have quite a crew of the four leggeds around me nowadays when I write.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by? 

Help others as much as one can.  Be a willing ear to listen to another’s woes.  And be as kind as one can be.  There’s not enough kindness in the world today, I think.  There should be more. 

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be? 

I would like to take the reader on the journey along with the heroine and hero.  I’d like the reader to be able to experience the story as if she or he were there.  I’d like my readers to be able to forget their cares, if only for a little while. And if I can accomplish this, perhaps then all my study and research and doing my best to pour emotion into my stories will be worth the effort.

Well, that’s all.  Hope you enjoyed the interview.

Questions?  Comments?  I’d love to hear them.  Come on in and leave a post.  I’ll be giving away two e-books today to one lucky blogger, SHE BRINGS BEAUTY TO ME and SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD.

 

 

A Walk Through History: The Wheeled Chair

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Hello, Winnie Griggs here. I hope all of you are having a lovely May.

A few years ago, I found myself rolling through life in a way I never expected—literally. After a series of foot surgeries, I spent several weeks where I had strict doctor’s orders not to let my foot touch the floor.   During that time I made use of a wheelchair and a knee scooter.  And while I was grateful for the mobility, I quickly discovered how those devices shaped not just how I moved, but how I experienced the world.

Simple things—like going outside, feeling the breeze or warm sunshine on my face—became things to be carefully organized and usually involved the help of others.

That experience stayed with me.

So when I sat down to write Luke, my upcoming July release, I found myself drawing on those memories in a very personal way. Luke Dawson, my wounded Texas Ranger hero, suffers a serious injury early in the book—three broken ribs, thanks to an ambush gone wrong. His path to recovery is slow, painful, and not something he’s thrilled about. But helping him along that road is Hattie Brooks, the heroine—his former sweetheart and now the quietly capable assistant to her uncle, the town doctor.

Hattie isn’t just administering medicine and checking his bandages. She’s taking him out into her herb garden. Letting him soak up the Texas sun. Offering fresh air and green things and the quiet rhythm of growing life as part of his healing.

And yes, she’s doing it with the help of a wheeled chair. But I couldn’t just draw on my own experience, I had to research what wheelchairs were like in the late 19th century and what their availability was. Here is a little of what I found.

A Bit of History:

I used to think of wheelchairs as a modern invention, but the truth is, humans have been building ways to move the injured and infirm for centuries.

The earliest known mobility chairs date back to ancient China and Greece. Fast-forward to the 1500s, and I learned that King Philip II of Spain used an ornate chair with footrests and wheels—though it required someone to push him. In 18th-century England, the “Bath Chair” became a common sight, named for the spa town where invalids were rolled out to take in the healing waters or sea air.

. 19th Century Bath Chair

Of course, these early chairs looked more like rickshaws or high-backed baby strollers than what we know today. But their purpose was the same: to give an individual a bit of independence, to give them some form of mobility, however limited, during their convalescence—or at least provide comfort.

In 19th-century America, especially in rural towns like my fictional town of Tucker’s Gap, Texas, wheeled chairs weren’t exactly common. But they existed. A resourceful doctor or carpenter might fashion one out of wagon wheels or rocker frames. Or, as I imagine in Luke, a progressive or enterprising doctor might acquire one for their clinic to help their patients.

Interesting Facts & Trivia About Wheelchairs

  • The first recorded wheelchair dates back to 6th-century China. Although rudimentary wheeled furniture existed earlier, an image from around 525 A.D. shows a device clearly designed for mobility assistance.
  • Early wheelchairs were symbols of status as well as necessity. They were often custom-made, ornate, and considered a luxury—used by wealthier invalids who could afford attendants to push them.
  • Self-propelling wheelchairs didn’t become common until the 20th century. Before that, most designs required a caregiver to push from behind. The first modern self-propelling model appeared in the 1930s, changing mobility and independence dramatically.
  • Wheelchair racing has been part of the Paralympics since 1960. Since their introduction in the first Paralympic Games in Rome, racing wheelchairs have become marvels of speed, engineering, and athleticism.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt used a wheelchair—but the public rarely saw it. Due to stigma at the time and press cooperation, very few photos exist of the U.S. president in his wheelchair. His disability was widely known but visually hidden.
  • The world’s fastest motorized wheelchair hit a jaw-dropping 61.18 mph (98.3 km/h). Inventor Jason Liversidge set the record in the UK in 2020.
  • Hein Wagner, a blind adventurer, completed 1,000 km (621 miles) across South Africa in a manual wheelchair alongside adventurer Jaco van Gass. This currently holds the record for the Longest Distance Traveled in a Manual Wheelchair
  • The Most Ornate Historical Wheelchair: A mid-1800s Victorian invalid carriage designed for British nobility featured velvet upholstery, brass trim, lace curtains, and a parasol. These weren’t just for comfort—they were a status symbol!
  • Created by artist Tommy Hollenstein, the smallest functioning wheelchair (used for a doll as art) measures just 4.5 inches tall and includes tiny rubber wheels that actually turn.
  • The oldest preserved wheelchair is an elegant wood and iron rolling chair from the 18th century. It is displayed at the Museum of the History of Medicine in Paris. It belonged to a French noblewoman and has a surprisingly modern silhouette.
  • The Longest Use of a Personal Wheelchair is difficult to track officially, but many veterans from WWI and WWII used the same personally fitted wheelchairs for decades, often retrofitting them with homemade parts—a testament to both durability and limited access to medical tech in early 20th-century rural areas.

 

Back to my story:

Luke might be stubborn and hurting, but Hattie knows something he doesn’t yet: recovery isn’t just about the body—it’s about the spirit. And sometimes, a slow ride through a garden can work more wonders than any medicine.

Looking Ahead

Luke releases at the end of July, and I can’t wait to share more with you about these two characters who have unfinished business, unspoken feelings, and one last chance to get it right.

Until then, I’d love to know—have you ever had a season where your mobility was limited? What made you feel most yourself during that time? Or have you ever used the simple power of nature—sunlight, herbs, fresh air—to help someone you love heal?

 

And to check out all of the books in this great new series, go to the Amazon Series page HERE

Let’s chat. Leave a comment to entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.

It’s Raining eBooks!

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Howdy!  Welcome to a terribly terrific Tuesday!

Okay, so it’s not exactly raining books, but do you remember old pop song, “It’s Raining Men”?  I loved that song and it popped into my head while I was writing this blog.

What I mean by it’s raining books is that I intend to give an ebook to each person who leaves a comment on the blog.  Let me explain:  I plan on having two new books coming out soon (the Good Lord willing).  One is a Historical Romance/Native American, book #5 in The Medicine Man Series.  And the other is a Young Adult story, Novella #2 in The Untaimed West series.  So, to celebrate these two books that I hope will be soon released, I’m giving away either book #1 in the Young Adult series, THE ADVENTURES OF GOOD EAGLE AND MISS STARLING, or book #4 in The Medicine Man series, SHE BRINGS BEAUTY TO ME to each person who leaves a comment…reader’s choice.  This offer expires, by the way, at 11:59 PM on April 8th, 2025.  Also, if you could please let me know on your post which book you would like, I would appreciate it.

So, I should probably tell you a little about each one of these stories, and to do that, I’ll leave a synopsis of each story.

THE ADVENTURES OF GOOD EAGLE AND MISS STARLING

Montana, 1847 

When my life is turned upside down, I have no one to turn to except Uncle Jed, a fur-trader who lives deep in Indian Country; a man I have never met.  I was expecting to be greeted by my Uncle Jed at a place called Fort Union, a fur-trading fort some two thousand miles above St. Louis.  But, when I finally arrive at the fort, I am met, instead, by an eighteen-year-old Indian, Good Eagle, who swears my uncle has sent him to meet me.  Would you trust this boy, a youth only two years older than my sixteen years?  I certainly didn’t and I told him so.  However, although I was polite, he took offense.

As the steamboat continues its way to my uncle’s fur-trading post, Fort Lewis, the Indian boy, Good Eagle, has declared that my heart has panther’s claws around it.  Yet, though he seems to dislike me as much as I do him, because of the promise he gave to my uncle, he has no option but to guard me.

But, when my life is threatened and Good Eagle saves me, I experience a change of heart about this young man; I decide I will “bury the hatchet” and become friends with him.  Imagine my surprise when he refuses my offer of friendship.

Can I ever change Good Eagle’s mind about becoming my friend?  Or will his first impression of me remain to forever haunt us?

 

SHE BRINGS BEAUTY TO ME

 

A woman deserted.  A troubled warrior.  A passion denied.

1855

When eighteen-year-old Czanna Fehér is forced to flee her home in Hungary, she journeys with her younger siblings and her father’s manservant to Montana in search of her cousin. Mourning for her recently deceased parents, she sings a prayer to the grand, Montana mountains.  From the first moment Stands Strong hears Czanna singing, he is transfixed.  When he meets her, he is captivated as much by her dark beauty as he is by her voice.

But, after the family’s hired guide steals their money and runs, her father’s servant leaves Czanna to go and serve justice to the man, leaving Czanna desolate and in charge.  Being of the gentry class in Hungary, Czanna knows she and her siblings cannot survive in this land without help.  When Stands Strong comes to her aid, she realizes she must trust this man.

Lakota born, though raised by the Blackfeet, Stands Strong descends from a long line of medicine men, but this legacy seems to have skipped over him.  Accepting this, he has become an expert scout.  But, when Czanna attempts to hire Stands Strong as their guide, offering him the “evil gold rock” as payment, he suggests marriage to him instead.  Czanna refuses him, even though the flame of love is burning heatedly in her heart.

Can two people from incompatible cultures ever come together?  Or are their star-guided paths meant only to briefly cross?

Warning:  A sensuous romance that might cause a desire to go West in search of love and adventure.

I’ll leave you today with a little bit about the new book which is currently in editing, entitled, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD.

 

Coming soon: SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD

Beauty, treachery, and an untamed wild love

Liliann Varga had been too young the first time she met and fell head-over-heels in love with the Blackfeet Medicine Man, First Rider, the man who saved her father’s life. Besides, he was newly married to a woman of his own tribe. But years later, when Liliann’s husband has committed a terrible aggression against her, it’s First Rider who once again is called upon to put his healing skills to use.

First Rider has come to heal Liliann, not to seduce her. But his reaction to the grown up Liliann, the little girl who used to be his shadow, is entirely masculine and sensual. Though he’d vowed to bring his first wife back after her capture by an enemy tribe, he’d failed and she had died, causing First Rider to nearly lose his mind. Could Liliann be his second chance at love?

Enacting a “scout’s revenge” against Liliann’s cruel husband would leave the man alive but broken, and it would also set Liliann free. But, just as their love deepens, a report emerges: First Rider’s wife is still alive.

To discover the truth or lies of the report, they both embark on a dangerous journey through the Backbone-of-the-world Mountains. But, with little more than a bow and a gun, can they survive the beautiful but treacherous snows to find a world where they both belong?

****

Well, that’s all for today.  Hope you enjoyed the blog today and I hope, too, that you’ll leave a commit.

 

 

 

A New Book Soon to be Released — and a Give-away

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Welcome to another sensational Tuesday!

What am I giving away this month?  I’ll be doing a drawing for the mass market paperback (this is the original edition of this book) of RED HAWK’S WOMAN.

This is book #3 in THE LOST CLAN series.  Though all the books are related, they are all different stories and are all a stand alone book.  Originally published by Berkley in the early 2000’s, it is a solid historical book with a strong mystery connected to it, as well as a paranormal element.

But, please allow me to give you a synopsis of the book

RED HAWK’S WOMAN

Their passion is thunder and lightning.  Their fate could be a flood of sorrow.

THE LOST CLAN, BOOK 3

Red Hawk’s most precious childhood memory is of a single morning with a girl whose beauty seemed lit from within with magic.  Now, years later, she could very well hold the key to a centuries-old curse – but when his visions lead him to her again, no recognition lights her eyes.

At age twenty-five, Effie Rutledge has missed her chance for marriage, but the daughter of a renowned archaeologist would rather get her hands dirty on a dig than cleaning up after some man.

She is determined to finish her father’s quest to recover four precious artifacts that could free a lost clan from a half life in the mists, but with her expedition reported as jinxed, there are no guides to be had.  Except one tall, enigmatic native who draws her as naturally as water flows to the sea.

Even when memories reconnect, they struggle to trust each other.  Worse, their once-in-a-lifetime passion risks the Thunder god’s wrath – and the future of the entire Lost Clan.

Warning:  Within the pages of this book is an all-consuming passion, so deep, so sensuous, it might cause you to want to spend the night in a loved one’s arms.

To enter into the drawing for this book, just leave a comment.

And then, on another note, I thought I’d let you know that my latest effort, entitled, SHE BELONGS IN MY WORLD, is in editing right now and I hope to have the book published and out for sale in early April.

And so I thought I’d give you an inside glance at the cover for the book.  This is book #5 in The Medicine Man series.  As you can see, this is a winter scene and the hero of the book is wearing a capote, an item of clothing worn by many of the Northwestern tribes in the winter.

But, what is a capote?  The capote in these days of the past was a blanket made into a coat.  Usually it was white and might have strips on it or other decorations.  These commonly had a hood, were very warm and were preferred by the men of the tribes because of it’s white color, which blended in with the countryside and made it a little easier when they were hunting.

Nowadays, capotes are still in style in the northern regions of this country, but they are also a little fancier.  But, they are still made in the style of the original, which was a blanket made into a coat.  I’ll post some pictures here so you can see them as they were worn in the late 1800’s.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the time because it shows the style of the capote, the hair style worn at this time by many of the northern tribes and also shows the style of the white man’s clothing.  These two young men were obviously friends.  Note the beautifully beaded gun case our Blackfeet (Pikuni band) young man carries.  The coat the young Blackfeet man is wearing is a capote.

To the right here are a couple of Blackfeet (Pikuni band) men wearing capotes.  Notice also the style of the two women’s clothing in the photo.  All are wearing moccasins.
This is another Blackfeet young man, although he is of the blood band of the tribe, which resides in Canada.  He is holding some kind of weapon, perhaps a tomahawk or something similar to it.
This picture was posed in front of a tepee or lodge (as they were often called).  And note the hairstyle and moccasins.  The Blackfeet wore three braids.  One on each side of the face and one in back.
And this last picture is a painting by Karl Bodmer (the artist who accompanied Prince Maximillian in 1832 to Fort McKensie)  It is of special interest to me because the blanket he is wearing is one which could have been made into a capote.
Notice the difference in hairstyle between the 1830’s northern style and the later style abive (1850-1890).
Well, so much for men’s fashion in coats and the blankets they wore during the winter while hunting or attending to other chores.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little excursion into the past.
If you’d like to enter the drawing, just leave a comment
Have a beautiful and a blessed day as well as for rest of the week.