About the Author

Mary Barmeyer O’Brien was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, and received a B.A. in Sociology from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. She is the author of eight previous books about women’s history and pioneers on the overland trails, including The Promise of the West: Young Pioneers on the Overland Trails, Jeannette Rankin: Bright Star in the Big Sky, Across Death Valley: The Pioneer Life of Juliet Wells Brier; Outlasting the Trail: The Story of A Woman’s Journey West; and May: The Hard-Rock Life of Pioneer May Arkwright Hutton (all by TwoDot/Globe Pequot). Mary writes from her home in Polson, Montana, and enjoys hiking, camping, and reading. She and her husband, Dan, have three grown children.