“Fletcher’s Woman” was my very first published book. Pocket released it in August of 1983 as part of their Tapestry line. I will never forget the thrill of holding that cover proof in my hands for the first time, seeing MY name and the title in raised letters.
The story was set in and around Seattle, in 1889. That same year, Washington became a state, and Seattle was devastated by a terrible fire. The city on Puget Sound rose valiantly out of the ashes, and businesses and homes sprang up immediately–in canvas tents and shacks cobbled together with scraps of wood. Around that same time, a dam burst above Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and the results were, of course, disastrous. Most of the town was swept away, and many lives were lost. In true American spirit, Seattlites, after all they’d been through, still managed to send generous donations to a place where the need was even greater. They did so with smiles, grateful that they had something to give.
Now, Pocket Books is rereleasing this book of my heart, with a lovely new cover. It will be in stores at the end of March and the beginning of April. I’m still proud of the story. It has stood the test of time, and now it will be available again, for those of you who missed it, and those of you who still have one tattered copy. It’s thick and it’s meaty, with lots of subplots.
If you’re on the list, you’ll receive a newsletter. If you’re not on the list, you can sign up on the site.
