The Oregon Trail almost broke her, but Lizzie wouldn't give up... not even if she was only seventeen years old with an infant. If she had to travel 2,000 miles across prairies, mountains, and deserts in a covered wagon to be with her husband, so be it. If her friends ridiculed and threatened her because of her friendships with Indians, she wouldn't budge. If people questioned how a woman could be a doctor to her neighbors and a medicine woman to the Indians, she just shrugged and did what she felt called to do. The governor of the state applauded her 'lifetime of kindness.' A respected writer of the time wrote that she answered '...the call of Indian and white man by foot, by horse, and by canoe...' wherever she was needed. The hummingbird and bear claws were symbols of help and healing, and these were the symbols of Lizzie Perry. This heroic story shows the strength and determination of a real pioneer woman as she settled in the American wild west. 'The First Medicine Woman' is a standalone novel which is also the third book of the Restless Journeys series.

Steve Stephens has been a counseling/clinical psychologist, life coach, seminar speaker, radio talk show host, university professor, and author of over 20 nonfiction books. He has a minor in literature and an unending curiosity about history. He has spent much of his career as a psychologist helping people deal with trauma and all the difficulties that come their way. Steve and his wife Tami have three grown children. They live in the Pacific Northwest where they love to hike, explore, laugh, play games, read, travel, encourage people, and dream exciting dreams.