The Reluctant Pioneer: Inspired by a True Story

By Julie McDonald Zander

More than a dozen years ago, wandering through the Lewis County Historical Museum in Washington State, I read a small placard about a pioneer mother of four who crossed the Oregon Trail in 1847 and suffered a sudden tragedy. 

What did this mother of young children do, thousands of miles from home, in a wagon train headed into an unsettled land?

The question tugged at my heart so much that, during a lull in my personal history business, I decided to find out how Matilda Koontz survived her heartbreaking loss. It wasn’t easy, given that most historical resources focused on men and ignored women. 

I spent five years unearthing her history, reading newspaper articles, sorting through archival boxes at the Washington State Library, and delving into the stories of early Pacific Northwest pioneers at the Oregon Historical Society’s research library.

I debated about whether to share her story in a nonfiction book or as a novel. When critique partners suggested adding dialogue, I told them I couldn’t put words into the mouth of a woman who died in 1901.

As a longtime journalist, I knew how to write nonfiction, and since her story had never been told, I opted for a nonfiction version with publication in 2019 of Washington Territory’s Grand Lady: The Story of Matilda (Glover) Koontz Jackson. The book was a finalist for the Wester Writers of America Spur Award and the Will Rogers Medallion. 

While the story had been recorded, the audience for a nonfiction local history book was limited. I wanted people to know the heroic story of this woman who survived such heartache and tragedy to become known for her gracious hospitality throughout the Pacific Northwest and even in Washington City, the nation’s capital. She entertained Isaac Stevens, Washington’s first territorial governor, and his family as well as future president Ulysses S. Grant and Generals Philip Sheridan and George McClellan.

I spent the next five years attending writers’ critique group meetings and many conferences to learn fiction writing techniques so I could share Matilda’s story with a wider audience. The result is my debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, which was published by St. Helens Press in September 2024. Following is the back cover blurb:

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. When he suggests selling the farm to trek two thousand miles across the Oregon Trail, she balks. 

But in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward. Fresh graves testify to dangers of disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threatening her family and her beloved’s dream.

With new struggles at every turn, Matilda wonders how she can protect her sons on such a perilous journey. Will they reach the trail’s end? Will the babe growing inside her womb survive?

When tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?

This pioneer woman’s journey is inspired by a true story.

I’m honored to have received endorsements for the novel from well-known prolific fiction authors, such as Leslie Gould, the No. 1 bestselling and award-winning author of more than three dozen novels, and Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of more than thirty books. 

“The Reluctant Pioneer by Julie McDonald Zander is a gripping debut novel about the westward journey of historical figure Matilda Koontz and her family,” Gould wrote. “Julie’s meticulous research recreates the harrowing and heart-stopping trip. She transported me back to 1847 and put me on the trail with Matilda as she overcame heartbreaking trials to reach Oregon City. Julie is an incredible storyteller! I couldn’t put The Reluctant Pioneer down until the very last word.”

“I’ve been fascinated by the Oregon Trail pioneers since I was a girl, and their courage continues to intrigue and inspire me,” Dobson wrote. “Julie McDonald Zander’s debut novel captures the tumultuous journey of these pioneers through the heartbreaking trials and unwavering hope of one woman who began the walk to Oregon Territory in 1847 with her husband and four boys. The Reluctant Pioneer invites readers to join Matilda Koontz on the trail and experience her joy and sorrow as she perseveres in her husband’s search for a new home. If you enjoy reading Jane Kirkpatrick’s fiction or other historical novels about women who overcome tremendous hardship for the sake of their family, you’ll love The Reluctant Pioneer!  

Marilyn Rhoads, Oregon Christian Writers past-president, wrote that “The Reluctant Pioneer is a heart-grabbing read about a courageous woman with incredible faith and fortitude. Based on a true story, walking alongside this woman on her journey from Missouri to the Oregon Territory grips your emotions. You find yourself cheering for her and grieving with her. I couldn’t put it down. It encouraged me to keep trusting in our powerful God. He alone brings us through our trials.”

The novel also received rave reviews on Net Galley and sits on Amazon with 4.8 out of five stars. It is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and bookstores.

BUY HERE

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About the Author:

Julie McDonald Zander, who holds a bachelor’s in communications and political science from the University of Washington, worked as a newspaper reporter and editor before launching Chapters of Life (www.chaptersoflife.com) to capture and preserve life stories. She has published more than 70 nonfiction books. This is her debut novel. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, where they raised two children.

Tags: featurred, women writerrs

Category: Contemporary Women Writers