Bestselling author Vickie McDonough is launching a new Historical Fiction series ~ Land Rush Dreams! And we get to celebrate with her! Vickie is our Guest Author today and will be giving away a copy of Gabriel’s Atonement, Book 1 in her new series featuring the Oklahoma land runs.
Romantic Times Magazine gave Gabriel’s Atonement 4 ½ stars. Congratulations, Vickie!
If Vickie McDonough and her books are new to you, here’s a little bit about Vickie.
Bestselling Author Vickie McDonough
Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is the award-winning author of thirty-five published books and novellas. Her books include the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and End of the Trail, which was the OWFI 2013 Best Fiction Novel winner. Whispers on the Prairie was a Romantic Times Recommended Inspirational Book for July 2013. She recently tried something different and wrote Rancher Under Fire, a contemporary suspense. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, watching movies, and traveling.
![twin territories map[1]](https://www.monahodgson.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/twin-territories-map1.jpg)
Just a little over 125 years ago, the part of Oklahoma where I live was called Indian Territory, and it was part of the Creek Nation. While territories all around the Oklahoma were becoming state, “the great American desert” became the place many of America’s Indian tribes were relegated to. Though they were promised the land for eternity, it wasn’t to be.
Ranchers, Railroad men, and Boomers—those seeking to settle on the Unassigned lands—pushed for the opening of land in Oklahoma. For decades, Texas cattlemen had driven their herds east from northern Texas to the railroads in southern Kansas, and they, more than most, knew the value of the western grasslands. You’ve probably heard of the Chisholm Trail, which was one of four cattle trails that ran through the Twin Territories.
From 1890 to statehood in 1907, many referred to Oklahoma as the Twin Territories. The eastern half of the state was Indian Territory while the western half was the Oklahoma Territory.
There was a large chunk of land in the center of Oklahoma, which no Indians had settled on. This was called the Unassigned Lands and the first to be offered for settlement. When all was said and done, five land runs were held to settle millions of acres of land.
Dates of the land runs:
- April 22nd, 1889 – The Unassigned Lands
- 1891, September 22 – Iowa, Sac, Fox, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee Lands.
- 1892, April 19 – Cheyenne and Arapaho land opened by land run.
- 1893 September 16 – Cherokee Outlet opened by land run.
- 1895, May 3 – Kickapoo lands opened.
Oklahoma Land Rush
In 1905, Leaders from each territory pushed to have the Twin Territories submitted to the union as two separate states, but Congress passed the Enabling Act in 1906, uniting the two territories forever.
President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation declaring statehood for Oklahoma in the morning of November 16, 1907. A large crowd in Guthrie, the original capital, received a telegraphed message that the “Twin Territories” had been merged to form the forty-sixth state. In a mock wedding ceremony, symbols of these two diverse communities – a woman representing the Indian Territory, and a man from Oklahoma Territory – were united in marriage.
Book 1 in new Land Rush Dreams series
Vickie’s latest book, Gabriel’s Atonement, is set against the exciting backdrop of the first land run.
Gambler Gabe Coulter is content with his comfortable life—but when a man with a gun confronts him in a dark alley, everything changes. Guilt riddles him for killing Tom Talbot, even though it was self-defense. The dying man said the money he lost to Gabe was meant for his destitute wife and son. The only way Gabe knows to rid himself of the guilt over killing Talbot is to return the money he won to the man’s wife.
Lara Talbot doesn’t believe Tom had money. She sees Gabe as a charming con artist like her irresponsible husband and wants nothing to do with him. She struggles to feed her family, keep her rebellious sister in line, and care for her young son and sick grandpa. The land rush in the Oklahoma Territory seems the only way for them to get a home, so Lara rides, but her dreams don’t turn out as planned. Could God have a bigger dream for her than she could imagine?
Vickie, what a fantastic article! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing all that rich history. We appreciate the Book Giveaway, too. Continued blessings to you in 2015!
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN CONNECT WITH VICKIE!
Vickie’s Website While you’re there, be sure to sign up for Vickie’s newsletter.
BOOK GIVEAWAY!
CONGRATULATIONS to Cynthia Fernstaedt Martinez, who won the signed copy of Gabriel’s Atonement by Vickie McDonough!
What historical tidbit from Vickie’s post fascinated you most? Have you read any of Vickie’s books?
Comments 33
Love historical western fiction; I’ll be sure to check this one out.
Andrea, If you like the movie Far and Away, you’ll probably enjoy my book. Those days in OK were exciting ones.
Good to see you here, Andrew. Blessings in the New Year!
I just love Historical Fiction ! Love your books also ! I’m so glad Mona had you come share today ! Learned something new !
Linda Marie Finn
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate hearing from one of my readers. If you don’t already get my newsletter, I’d love for you to sign up to receive it. There’s a link on the Home page of my website. Look for the wanted poster. Click on it and you’ll be taken to the sign up page. Blessings!
Happy New Year, Linda. Good to see you here!
Hi ! I found it interesting to read about the statehood of Oklahoma and the mock wedding ceremony. The book sounds really good. I have read several of Vickie ‘ s book and always enjoy them.
Brittany
Author
Glad you enjoyed the post, Brittany. Blessings!
My grandmother remembered the Land rush. She told of the high hopes people had and the miseries they suffered. I have never read a book by Vickie but I am sure I would really enjoy reading this book, Thank you.
Gwen,
The land runs were an incredibly hopeful time, but many, many people had their hopes dashed when they didn’t win a claim. And those who won one still had to face the hardships of life on the prairie. I hope you get a chance to read one of my books.
Hello, Gwen. Good to see you here!
Sounds
Ike a good story. My great grandfather rode in the landrace ush!
Author
Good to see you here, Anne. Happy Reading!
Hi Mona & Vickie . I love a good historical book and this one sounds good . I have not read any of Vickie’s books , but always love to try new authors . Thanks for the chance . I jus went to blog and signed up for her newsletter .
lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
Elizabeth, Thanks for signing up to receive my newsletter! I love to sit down and read a good historical novel too–when I get the time.
Author
Good to see you here, Elizabeth. Happy Reading!
I didn’t remember the panhandle was the No Man’s Land. Love Oklahoma history ~ a graduate of Will Rogers in Tulsa, we were well versed. Now it is a College High School with combined classes. Oklahoma Land Openings map very interesting. I would love to win a print copy of Gabriel’s Atonement. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Kathleen, My mom is a Will Rogers grad. 🙂 Fancy that. As someone raised in OK, you should love Gabriel’s Atonement. Lots of local history, but also a fun romance.
Author
Hi, Kathleen! Thanks for joining us here.
Hello Mona ans Vickie. Enjoyed this post. I still have relatives in the Oklahoma Panhandle. My folks home was there from the time I was about twelve until my dad passed away.Texhoma has two sides. Half Okla. and half in Texas. There used to be two towns but eventually in later years the town part was in OK. Altho there was a lumberyard on Tx. side where my dad worked, a motel, a small grocery, and a school for first thru eighth grades, Later I had to go to High School on OK side and TX had to pay for us to go on that side of town.After I had been gone for lots of years, the schools finally combined. Heard about the Land Rush most of my life. That was really something.
No wonder the Indians didn’t like white folks, since they just pushed them out of lands they had first. I would love to win Vickie’s book.
Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Author
So glad you enjoyed the post, Maxie. Sounds like your kind of read. Blessings!
I also moved here from a small town in Kansas where the cowboys drove there herds of cattle to to load onto the train. (Elgin, KS.) I lived across the road from where there was a big dip in the ground where they had a big vat that the cattle had to go through in doctored water to kill the Texas ticks. Now it is just a tiny town with just people who have lived there since childhood live and some from CA. who bought some of the ranches and farms They have to go to another town 14 miles away for food, and whatever they need. (Sedan, KS.)
Maxie
Maxie,
Thanks so much for the interesting info. I’ve driven through Elgin. Oklahoma certainly has some interesting history.
I don’t know that much Oklahoma history, but I did know a little about the land runs. My daddy was from Marlow, Oklahoma. I, however, am a Texan. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book. It looks very interesting.
Hi Susan,
One of my grandpas was a Texan, so I claim that state too. 🙂
Author
Sounds like your kind of book, Susan. Glad you enjoyed the post.
I love history, especially history of each state. I had heard of the land runs, but find it interesting there was an area considered unassigned lands.
Oklahoma’s history fascinates me. It’s so unique compared to other states.
Author
Cynthia, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Blessings!
CONGRATULATIONS, Cindy!
You won the signed copy of Gabriel’s Atonement. Please email me ([email protected]) with your mailing address and we’ll get the book out to you.
Blessings. Mona
Love your books,would love to win Thanks
Good to see you here, Martha. Happy Reading!
I grew up in Oklahoma, so the landrun movement was a celebrated part of my life. Far & Away is a family favorite movie for us! Thank you.