Janette Oke

Janette Oke (née Steeves; born February 18, 1935) (pronounced "oak") is a Canadian author of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer era and centered on female protagonists. Her first novel, Love Comes Softly, was published by Bethany House in 1979. , more than 75 others have followed. The first novel of her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart, became the basis of the current television series of the same name.

Biography Janette Steeves was born in Champion, Alberta, to Canadian prairie farmers Fred and Amy Steeves, during the Great Depression years.

Oke graduated from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of that college. The Okes have four children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. Oke's daughter has written several books alongside her mother.

Oke is a committed Evangelical Christian. She has written many books about her faith.

Awards Oke received the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association for her significant contribution to Christian fiction, as well as the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award, and the Gold Medallion Award for fiction.

List of books by Janette Oke Source:

Love Comes Softly series This series is published by Bethany House.

Love Comes Softly, 1979 Love's Enduring Promise, 1980 Love's Long Journey, 1982 Love's Abiding Joy, 1983 Love's Unending Legacy, 1984 Love's Unfolding Dream, 1987 Love Takes Wing, 1988 Love Finds a Home, 1989

This series has also been published into two boxsets, Volume 1–4 and Volume 5–8. New revisions with updated covers were published in 2003 and 2004, including the boxsets.

The Fox Faith film versions of the "Love Comes Softly" series, which aired on the Hallmark Channel, do not completely follow the books. They starred Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff, Corbin Bernsen, Erin Cottrell, and others. Directors of the films included Michael Landon Jr. and Lou Diamond Phillips.

There are also three prequels titled Love Begins (2011), Love's Everlasting Courage (2011) and Love's Christmas Journey (2012).

A Prairie Legacy series This series is published by Bethany House.

The Tender Years, 1997 A Searching Heart, 1998 A Quiet Strength, 1999 Like Gold Refined, 2000

This is a follow-up to the Love Comes Softly series. A republished edition is now available.

Seasons of the Heart series This series is published by Bethany House.

Once Upon a Summer, 1981 The Winds of Autumn, 1987 Winter Is Not Forever, 1988 Spring's Gentle Promise, 1989

This series was republished in 2002 with updated covers. It is about a young boy, Josh Jones, who is trying to find himself with his atypical family.

Canadian West series This series is published by Bethany House. The last two books came much later and focus on the children in the series rather than the main characters of the first four books. In 2015 all six books were released as a single ebook.

When Calls the Heart, 1983 When Comes the Spring, 1985 When Breaks the Dawn, 1985 When Hope Springs New, 1986 Beyond the Gathering Storm, 1999 When Tomorrow Comes, 2000

Return to the Canadian West series This series is published by Bethany House. The series is co-written by Janette Oke and her daughter, Laurel Oke Logan. Where Courage Calls, 2014 Where Trust Lies, 2015 Where Hope Prevails, 2016

When Hope Calls series Co-written with Laurel Oke Logan Unyielding Hope, 2020 Sustaining Faith, 2021 Unfailing Love, 2022

Song of Acadia series Co-written with T. Davis Bunn and published by Bethany House.

The Meeting Place, 1999 The Sacred Shore, 2000 The Birthright, 2001 The Distant Beacon, 2002 The Beloved Land, 2002

This series is continued on by T. Davis Bunn and Isabella Bunn in the follow-up series, Heirs of Acadia.

Acts of Faith series Co-written with T. Davis Bunn and published by Bethany House.

The Centurion's Wife, 2009 The Hidden Flame, January 2010 The Damascus Way, 2011

Standalone books Return to Harmony, co-written with T. Davis Bunn Another Homecoming, co-written with T. Davis Bunn Tomorrow's Dream, co-written with T. Davis Bunn Dana's Valley, co-written with Laurel Oke Logan The Pharisee's Wife

Women of the West books These books are standalone novels about different women of the West, where the author's intention is that they do not need to be read in order.

The Calling of Emily Evans, 1990 Julia's Last Hope, 1990 Roses for Mama, 1990 A Woman Named Dâmaris, 1991 They Called Her Mrs. Doc, 1992 The Measure of a Heart, 1992 A Bride for Donnigan, 1993 Heart of the Wilderness, 1993 Too Long a Stranger, 1994 The Bluebird and the Sparrow, 1995 A Gown of Spanish Lace, 1995 Drums of Change, 1995

Youth books I Wonder… Did Jesus Have a Pet Lamb? (picture book)

Janette Oke's Animal Friends series Source:

The Impatient Turtle The Prodigal Cat Spunky's Diary This Little Pig New Kid in Town Ducktails Prairie Dog Town Trouble in a Fur Coat Maury Had a Little Lamb Pordy's Prickly Problem A Cote of Many Colors Who's New at the Zoo? Janette Oke's Animal Friends Pack, vols. 1–6 Janette Oke's Animal Friends Pack, vols. 7–12

Other items by Janette Oke Celebrating the Inner Beauty of Women Dec 1997 Father Who Calls: Devotional insights for Daily Meditations Hunger of Your Heart: Finding Fulfillment Through a Closer Walk With God Janette Oke Engagement Diary Janette Oke 2001 Engagement Diary (Calendar) Janette Oke's Reflections on the Christmas Story Making Memories by Janette Oke and Cheri Bladholm My favorite recipes: Featuring devotional & selected recipes My Favorite Verse The Father of Love The Loving Heart-Calendar What Does Love Look Like by Janette Oke and Cheri Bladholm Nana's Gift (novella) 2011