Join the Trahern family as they journey westward to Walla Walla, Washington, and down to Texas. Each novella in this collection takes one member of the family as he or she finds a mate. In the process, they build a country. There are also two short stories included. #1 Mally always wanted to marry The Handsomest Man in the Country, but finds her mules are better looking than her new husband, Trey Trahern. #2 Hero might have been The Smartest Horse in Texas, but he didn't belong to Matthew Trahern, who had claimed Trey's stallion as his own. #3 Ruth Trahern knew she wasn't The Prettiest Girl in the Land, but she wanted a husband, and set out with her rifle and a stray dog to find one.
Nancy Radke grew up on a wheat and cattle ranch in SE Washinton State. She attended a one-room country school through the eighth grade. She learned to ride bareback at age 3 and when she got off or fell off, she would pull her horse's nose to the ground, get on behind its ears, and the horse would lift its head so she could scoot down onto its back. She spent most of her childhood exploring the Blue Mountain trails that bordered the ranchlands. She and a friend once took a trail that turned out to be a two day trip. They always rode with matches and pocket knives, so made camp and returned the next day. These long rides worried her parents, but provided plenty of time to make up stories. TURNAGAIN LOVE was the first one published. It rated a four star review from Affaire de Coeur. Scribes World said "Turnagain Love has some fascinating twists and turns, unexpected complications, and charming scenes." It is light and humorous. Her next book was CLOSED DOORS, a novel about a man who couldn't read. This was especially interesting to Ms. Radke, as she taught remedial reading, sixth grade, and other classes as a school teacher. All her stories are linked by characters who know each other from book to book. For example, Zack and Jennel show up in two more books besides TURNAGAIN LOVE. Also her books have a theme, such as the theme for TENNESSEE TOUCH, which is that just being alive is dangerous, so you can't be so cautious that you miss out on life. She has gone through survival and outward bound training, including long-distance ocean swimming. Facts from this training shows up in COURAGE DARES and SPIRIT OF A CHAMPION. Her western ranching background shows up in the pioneer series, The Traherns, and APPALOOSA BLUES, which is now available. Her critique group used to say that she talked and wrote backward. This really helped when writing the Traherns, as the dialect seemed very natural. APPALOOSA BLUES, an AMAZON TOP 100 BEST SELLER, is the final book for both the Trahern series and the Sisters of Spirit Series. The first volume of the SHOW AND TELL BIBLE is two hours long, contains 650 hand-drawn pictures, and gives the impression of a picture book being read by a well-loved parent or grandparent. Little children are absolutely enthralled by it. The second volume is three hours long, 850 pictures, concluding with Esther. The feedback from parents and kids has been tremendous. Nancy is working on the third volume now, which will complete the Old Testament.
