When legally separated Muri Pond, a librarian, hauls her kids, teenager Nova and eleven year-old Truman, out to the tiny town of Murkee, Oregon, where her father, Joe Pond lived and died, she's confronted by a neighbor's harassment over water rights and Joe's legacy: a fence made from old oven doors.

The fence and accompanying house trailer horrify rebellious Nova, who runs away to the drug-infested streets of Seattle. Muri searches for her daughter and for something to believe in, all the while trying to save her inheritance from the conniving neighbor who calls her dad Chief Joseph. Along with Joe's sister, Aunt Lutie, and the Red Rock Tabernacle Ladies, Muri must rediscover the faith her alcoholic dad never abandoned in order to reclaim her own spiritual path.

Linda S. Clare  is an award-winning coauthor of three books, including Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them (with Melody Carlson and Heather Kopp), Revealed: Spiritual Reality in a Makeover World, and Making Peace with a Dangerous God (with Kristen Johnson Ingram). She has also published many essays, stories, and poems in publications including The Christian Reader, The Denver Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Linda grew up in a part of Arizona, where the dirt is as red as it is in Central Oregon. She graduated summa cum laude in Art Education from Arizona State University and taught in public and private schools. She has taught college-level creative writing classes for seven years, and edits and mentors writers. She also is a frequent writing conference presenter and church retreat leader. She and her husband of thirty-one years have four grown children, including a set of twins. They live in Eugene, Oregon, with their five wayward cats: Oliver, Xena the Warrior Kitty, Paladine, Melchior, and Mamma Mia!

Linda S. Clare is the coauthor of three nonfiction books. The Fence My Father Built is her debut novel. In addition to writing books, she also is an award-winning author of short stories and essays. Linda teaches college-level classes and mentors writers. The parents of four adult children, she and her husband Brad live in Eugene, Oregon.

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Author: Linda S. Clare
Located in: Eugene, Oregon
Submitted: December 17, 2009

    Tell us a little about yourself.  I'm the author of three other nonfiction books and a long-time writing teacher for Lane Community College as well as several writing conferences in the Northwest. I have four grown children and I live with my husband of 32 years and our five wayward cats.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  All my life I longed to meet my biological father, who left my mom and me when I was three. Although I was adopted by a wonderful stepdad, I couldn't shake the yen to know my roots. I finally located my bio dad when I was an adult and discovered my heritage, which includes a significant Native American component.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  I hope readers will take away the idea that we are all redeemable. That although you may not like what you find if you search for a lost loved one, this type of longing is deep and ultimately helps you know not only your past, but also yourself.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Working on this book was very meaningful. I had only reconnected with bio dad a few years before I started writing. The novel also acted out my personal longing to be closer to God after a series of heartaches initially made me unable to trust the Father.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  I love reading Barbara Kingsolver, Elizabeth Berg and Anne Lamott. I've also become a fan of Native American flute artist Mary Youngblood, whose haunting music is included on my book's trailer. And I'm getting better at reading the Bible.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  Take a chance--risk your heart in edging closer to the God of second chances. I predict you won't be disappointed.

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