University and Stanford, before leaving academia for employment as a technical writer
and editor.
Brown is the author of Under a Flaming sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894. The book
highlights the story of a massive firestorm in Hinckley, Minnesota in 1894, where 2 massive fires,
assisted by just right weather conditions, came together. Brown's grandfather lived in Hinckley at
that time and was one of the survivors. The heat was so intense the railroad tracks melted
and warped, thousands of acres burned and approximately 500 people perished.
The American Library Association named this as one of the best books of 2006.
Brown is also author to The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner
Party Bride. This book focuses on the fate of a 21 year old woman who in 1984 set out
from Illinois with her family, new husband, and other families, on a wagon train
to California led by George Donner. The promised short cut exposed the pioneers to dry land,
minimal water and Indiana raids. When the snows came, the pioneers faced
starvation, hypothermia and dementia.....and eventually cannibalism. At the end, 47 died and
40 survived.
On a personal note, Brown is married with 2 daughters. They live with cats, dogs, chickens
and honeybees outside of Settle, Washington. Brown enjoys nature, playing in the garden and
fly fishing.
Book Discussion: Thursday, April 6th