About Louise Lenahan Wallace
A storyteller of faith, family, courage, and the American West.
From Wyoming Territory and the Civil War era to the Nez Perce homeland, Louise Lenahan Wallace brings history to life through stories rooted in truth, shaped by faith, and inspired by the strength of the human spirit.
Explore Louise’s Story
Meet Louise
Louise Lenahan Wallace is an award-winning author of historical fiction and nonfiction whose books illuminate the American West, the Civil War era, family devotion, faith, perseverance, and the quiet courage of ordinary people living through extraordinary times.
Her first historical novel, The Longing of the Day, was twenty-five years in the making before it found a publisher. When it was released, the first printing sold out in just six weeks.
Since then, Louise has continued writing novels, short stories, essays, and nonfiction works that reflect a lifelong love of history, character, and the emotional truth behind the events we remember.
“History is not just what happened. It is the hearts of the people who lived it.”
At a Glance
Home
Olympic Peninsula, Washington State
Olympic Peninsula, Washington State
Education
B.A. in Human Resources, Western Washington University
B.A. in Human Resources, Western Washington University
Career
Retired legal assistant
Retired legal assistant
Books
Six published books of historical fiction and nonfiction
Six published books of historical fiction and nonfiction
Recognition
Western Writers of America Spur Award winner
Western Writers of America Spur Award winner
Themes
Faith • Family • Courage • Resilience • Leadership • American West
Faith • Family • Courage • Resilience • Leadership • American West
Louise’s Journey
A story of patience, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the power of a well-told story.
Early Years
A Love of Story
Louise discovered early that words could capture attention, stir emotion, and bring stories to life.
Family Years
Writing in Stolen Moments
She began her first novel while raising two young daughters, writing whenever time allowed.
25 Years
The Long Road
For twenty-five years, Louise kept writing, revising, submitting, and believing in the story.
2000
The First Yes
The Longing of the Day was accepted and its first printing sold out in six weeks.
2025
Chief Joseph
Her first nonfiction book, The Windows of His Heart, was published.
2026
A Spur Award
The Windows of His Heart received a Western Writers of America Spur Award.
Why Louise Writes
Louise has loved writing stories since childhood, when classmates once pleaded with a teacher to let her finish reading her story aloud. That early response never left her.
Her writing is shaped by the belief that history is not only dates, battles, migrations, or places on a map. History is also grief, hope, courage, family, separation, endurance, and faith.
Her novels and nonfiction are drawn toward the people behind history—the families who endured hardship, the leaders who carried impossible burdens, and the quiet lives that deserve to be remembered.
Stories with Heart
Louise writes about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, whether on the Wyoming frontier, during the Civil War, or through the life and leadership of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.
Her work invites readers to step beyond the surface of history and see the courage, uncertainty, love, and faith that shaped real lives.
Awards & Recognition
Louise’s writing has been recognized through awards, anthologies, reviews, and publication credits spanning decades.
Western Writers of America Spur Award
The Windows of His Heart received the Best First Western Nonfiction Book award in 2026.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Louise’s stories have appeared in beloved Chicken Soup for the Soul collections, including Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul and The Joy of Christmas.
Pacific Northwest Writers
Her fiction and essays have received recognition through Pacific Northwest writing competitions.
San Mateo County Fair
Her short stories and memoir pieces have earned awards and anthology publication.
Wyoming Writers, Inc.
Louise has received honors for both nonfiction and short fiction work.
Decades of Writing
Her body of work reflects more than forty years of writing, research, and perseverance.
“I write about ordinary people living in extraordinary times because their stories deserve to be remembered.”
Invite Louise
Louise’s stories of patience, rejection, perseverance, faith, historical research, and publication offer encouragement and inspiration to readers, writers, book clubs, libraries, historical organizations, and community groups.
Whether the gathering is centered on books, history, writing, leadership, faith, or the long road to publication, Louise brings a thoughtful and personal perspective shaped by decades of writing and research.
Speaking Topics
Louise enjoys speaking with book clubs, libraries, historical societies, community organizations, churches, and readers about the people, history, and experiences that have shaped her writing.
Presentation topics include:
The Long Road to Publication
Writing Historical Fiction
Chief Joseph & Leadership
Perseverance Through Rejection
Faith, Family & the American West
Ready to Start the Conversation?
Whether you’re interested in inviting Louise to speak, arranging a book club discussion, scheduling an interview, or simply sharing how one of her books touched your life, she’d love to hear from you.
Publishing Timeline
From early essays and short stories to historical novels and award-winning nonfiction, Louise’s writing career reflects a lifelong commitment to story.
2000
The Longing of the Day published by Ogden Publications.
2001
Day Star Rising published as the sequel to The Longing of the Day.
2007
Days of Eternity published, later republished as Length of Days.
2010
Day Unto Day published as the sequel to Length of Days by All Things That Matter Press.
2015
Children of the Day published as the sequel to Day Unto Day by All Things That Matter Press.
2025
The Windows of His Heart: Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce published by Cedar Fort, Inc.
2026
The Windows of His Heart recognized by the Western Writers of America Spur Awards for Best First Western Nonfiction Book.