Pioneers crossing the Oregon Trail...American Legionnaires returning from the Great War...pilots soaring across skies while dodging anti-aircraft flak...Rosie the Riveters sacrificing life as homemakers and mothers to weld ships and pound rivets into aircraft wings...these are the stories author Julie McDonald Zander loves to share. Read on to learn more about her critically acclaimed historical fiction and biographies.
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Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence
Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical World War I Fiction, 20th Century History of the U.S.
4.7 stars, 15 ratings
From $4.99
A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past.
When former Navy Seabee Colleen Holmes inherits an old house in Centralia, Washington, she sees it as a chance to escape her own ghosts and start anew. But when she discovers a faded diary and a bundle of love letters, she unveils the tragic choices that shattered lives and fractured a town, and learns that the wounds of yesterday still shape today.
Inspired by true events, Shattered Peace is a gripping time-slip novel of love, loss, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network and The Girl You Left Behind, this haunting tale of resilience, redemption, and the pursuit of truth will linger long after the final page.
Praise for Shattered Peace
"A heartbreaking story of families torn apart." ~Melanie Dobson, author of Catching the Wind
"Forges new paths toward peace and understanding in ways readers won’t see coming." ~Midwest Book Review
"An incredible dual-time story." ~Leslie Gould, A Brighter Dawn
The Reluctant Pioneer
Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Western & Frontier Christian Romance, Christian Historical Romance
4.8 stars, 89 ratings
From $9.99
A pioneer woman’s journey, inspired by a true story.
Matilda Koontz cherishes her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm. But her hardworking husband wants to claim free farmland in the Pacific Northwest, so in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward on the Oregon Trail.
Disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threaten Matilda's family on their journey, causing her to wonder if they will reach the trail’s end and if the babe growing inside her will survive. But when tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?
Praise for The Reluctant Pioneer
"A heart-rending, beautiful tale inspiring us to relate to the courage, heartbreak, and joys of an amazing woman.” ~Barbara Tifft Blakey, Bertie’s War
"Captures the unwavering hope of one woman who began the walk to Oregon Territory in 1847." ~Melanie Dobson, Where the Trail Ends
"A must-read for fans of historical fiction and of strong women.” ~Dawn Shipman, author of the Lost Stones of Argonia Series
Winning a War
Genres: Historical Fiction, History of Pacific Northwest U.S., World War II History
From $3.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Stories of those who served, suffered, and sacrificed during WWII.
Ten Southwest Washington residents describe their participation in the fight to protect our freedoms...
A Dutch woman recalls her brothers' activities in the Dutch resistance, the Jews who took refuge on their family farm, and the price paid by her family when the Nazis arrived... Three survivors of the attack at Pearl Harbor share their views of the battle from the USS California, the USS Nevada, and Ford Island... After the Japanese torpedoe the USS Selfridge, a sailor salvages materials to build an ice cream maker and boost the crew's morale... A Northwest native in the Sixth Army Rangers raises the flag on Dingagat Island in the Philippines, heralding General Douglas MacArthur's return... and more.
Praise for Winning a War
★★★★★ "An amazing account of veterans and heroes who fought to keep us free during World War II.” ~Amazon Review
★★★★★ "Amazing true stories of World War II." ~Goodreads Review
About the Author
"Zander intersects history, letters, and experiences to create a rich connection and threads of thought between past and present worlds.” ~Midwest Book Review
Julie McDonald Zander earned a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington and worked two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor before launching a personal history business to capture and preserve life stories. Her company, Chapters of Life, has published more than seventy-five books. Learn more at Julie's website, get a free copy of Retracing the Oregon Trail in Pictures when you sign up for her newsletter, and be sure to follow her online:
