1438:Proving Her Claim: Resilient Women Homesteaders & Historical Fiction with Award-Winning Author CK Van Dam
She sold her advertising agency to write stories about the fierce, overlooked women who built America. CK Van Dam’s debut novel, Proving Her Claim, has already won two Spur Awards and immerses readers in a frontier romance as bold and expansive as the Dakota plains themselves.
In this episode, CK shares the inspiration behind her “On the Dakota Frontier” series, why she chose to spotlight unconventional heroines like Anna Olson, and how historical fiction can challenge the myths we’ve been told about the American West. If you’re looking for adventure, romance, and action all woven into a powerful story of resilience and reinvention, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Quotes:
“History is full of women who were strong, resourceful, and too often forgotten.”
“Romance on the frontier wasn’t just about love—it was about survival.”
“Fiction lets us reimagine the past and reclaim voices that history left out.”
Resources:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:38 — 39.3MB) | Embed
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