Can the love that binds this family deliver Christmas miracles?
Or will the unforgiving wilderness crush their holiday spirit?
A Pioneer Christmas Beyond the Oregon Trail
A Ghosts Among the Oregon Trail Holiday Novella
by David Fitz-Gerald
Genre: Historical Holiday Western Adventure
Dorcas and her family endured a harrowing trip along the Oregon Trail in 1850. Now, they face their first brutal winter in the rugged wilderness. Can they survive the harsh realities of frontier life?
Devastating setbacks threaten their lives, crush their hopes, and test their faith in timeless traditions. Their cabin is unfinished. Wild animals shred their tents, ruin their food supply, and wreck their camp.
As winter closes in, a powerful storm strikes their remote homestead. How much more can they endure?
Dorcas suggests skipping Christmas to focus on survival, but her children balk. They don’t want to give up on the cherished holiday. Is Christmas a luxury they can’t afford?
When her husband, Agapito, fails to return from a critical supply run, Dorcas ventures into the wilderness with a rifle in search of food for her children.
She must brave the elements as a mountain lion stalks her through a violent winter storm.
Can the love that binds this family deliver Christmas miracles? Or will the unforgiving wilderness crush their holiday spirit?
Start reading A Pioneer Christmas Beyond the Oregon Trail today. Get wrapped up in this gripping western adventure of love, survival, and the enduring power of hope. Perfect for fans of frontier fiction and heartwarming holiday tales, this novella will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Christmas-Beyond-Oregon-Trail-ebook/dp/B0DHYNBNDR/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219752155-a-pioneer-christmas-beyond-the-oregon-trail
**Don’t miss the rest of the series!**
Find them on Amazon!
Series Trailer:
Guest Post
Interview with Andrew Moon, 11 in 1850
Blogger’s Introduction: Today, we step into the dreams of Andrew, a thoughtful and determined young man from A Pioneer Christmas Beyond the Oregon Trail. Andrew’s mind is always working.
While journeying across the wilderness, he published his own daily newspaper. Someday, he hopes to attend college and become a true newspaperman.
Let’s hear his story and get a glimpse of the hopes and determination that fuel him.
Blogger: Hi Andrew! It’s wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard you published your own newspaper on the trail. What inspired you to do that?
Andrew: [Nods, eyes focused] Yeah, I did. It was called The Rolling Home Times. The trail was full of things happening—storms, stampedes, wagon troubles.
I thought folks needed a way to know what was going on and share news between wagons.
I’d talk to people, listen to their stories, and write it all down. It made me feel like I was part of something bigger, like I was helping keep us all together.
Blogger: That’s incredible. You must have quite the knack for storytelling. Do you still want to be a newspaperman when you grow up?
Andrew: I do. I’d love to be a real newspaperman, maybe even have my own paper someday. And I’d like to go to college, too, though I ain’t too sure what that would be like.
I just know it’s a place where you learn more and get better at things like writing and printing. But until then, I figure I’ll just keep learning out here on the frontier. And it doesn’t hurt to remember to say your prayers now and then. [He nods solemnly]
Blogger: Wise words, Andrew. I heard you helped build the family’s cabin. What was that experience like?
Andrew: [Smiles with a touch of pride] It was a lot of work, but it felt good. Agapito, Dunk, and I worked from sunrise to sunset most days. And you know, Mama cut down most of the trees herself, like she was a lumberjack.
She’s stronger than most men. Dunk and I would haul logs and notch them while Agapito made sure everything fit just right. By the end of the day, my arms ached, but it was worth it, seeing the walls go up and knowing we’d have a place to keep warm.
Blogger: Your Ma sounds amazing. And I hear you have a special way of sensing things before they happen. Is that true?
Andrew: [Looks down thoughtfully, then back up] Sometimes I get this feeling, like I know something before it happens.
It’s hard to explain, but it’s helped a time or two, like when trouble’s on the way or when there’s something important we need to do.
I don’t know if it’s luck or something else, but I trust it when it comes. Out here, you gotta take all the help you can get.
Blogger: That’s remarkable. I heard you wrote a song for Christmas, too. Can you tell me about it?
Andrew: [Smiles softly, eyes lighting up] Yeah, I wrote a song called Hope on the Horizon. It came to me while I was out working one cold morning.
I wanted to write something that made us all feel like there was a point to all our hard work. Like we were more than just settlers out here fighting the land. The chorus goes:
In this land of promise, where dreams come alive
We build a home, where hope can thrive
Through the darkest night, we find our way
Bringing light, keeping shadows at bay.
When I sang it at Christmas, Mama and the others joined in, and for a moment, it felt like we were back home, safe and warm.
Blogger: That’s beautiful, Andrew. What’s your biggest hope for the future?
Andrew: I want to write for a real newspaper one day, and I’d like to learn enough to make a good life for my family. Sure hope I can find my way to college one day.
But I know one thing for sure: telling folks about the world around them is important work. That’s what I tried to do with The Rolling Home Times. And if I can, I want to make Mama proud.
Blogger: I’m sure you already do. One last question: if you could give other kids a piece of advice about life out here, what would it be?
Andrew: I’d tell them to be ready for anything, because the frontier doesn’t play by the rules. Work hard, help your family, and don’t be afraid to dream.
And remember, even when times are tough, there’s always something to hold on to—whether it’s a song, a prayer, or the people around you.
Blogger: That’s wonderful advice, Andrew. Thank you for sharing your dreams and your story with us. Merry Christmas!
Andrew: Merry Christmas to you, too. And if you ever need news or a song, just come by. [He gives a small, proud smile as the dream fades]
Giveaway:
Giveaway
$20 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
https://bit.ly/aPioneerChristmasTour
About The Author:
David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850.
Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society.
Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head.
He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level.
Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music.
It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Author Links
Website: https://www.itsoag.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDaveFITZGERALD/
X: https://twitter.com/AuthorDavidFG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordavefitzgerald
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/david-fitz-gerald
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Fitz-Gerald/author/B076CJK284
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17341792.David_Fitz_Gerald
