September 25, 2002

Novelist Judith B. Glad will sign two of her books from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Bookstore at Boise State University. Glad was born and raised in Boise.

The first book, "Twice Victorious," is about a world-class bicyclist who dreams of riding in the Sawtooth Classic, a woman’s race as challenging as the Tour de France. A serious racing accident postpones the realization of her dream, but she doesn’t forget. Finding work as a model for a new line of cycle wear, she has no room for romance. She harbors only one obsession — qualifying for the race.

The second book, "The Duchess of Ophir Creek," tells the story of Silas Dewitt. The newly arrived prospector at the Idaho gold camps, he saves two Chinese boys from a mob of drunken miners. But one of them turns out to be an independent, stubborn and lovely woman. The book deals with the danger and prejudice faced by the two as they search for gold.

Glad was born and raised in Boise, where she developed a love for Western American history. Living all her life within 25 miles of the Oregon Trail contributed to her fascination with life in the 19th century. In spite of this, her early writing was primarily science fiction, which never sold because it was filled with romance.

Finding little success as a writer, she returned to school after her children were grown and earned a degree in biology from Albertson College and a master’s in botany from Oregon State University. Her thesis resulted in the discovery of two new plant species and she worked for a number of years as an environmental consultant. But her love for writing never waned, and she eventually found success as a romance novelist.

Her Behind the Range series, of which "The Duchess of Ophir Creek" is the fourth, is based on events that helped shape the West. The first book in the series won several writing awards. She is also interested in contemporary romance, as evidenced by "Twice Victorious."

Glad and her husband live in Portland, Ore.

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Mike Reed

Bookstore

426-1296

Kathleen Craven

communications and marketing

426-3275