Carol
Bodensteiner
author
Welcome! Whether you're a first-time visitor or long-time friend, I'm glad you found your way here. I'm a writer who's inspired by the people, places, culture, and history of the Midwest.
My Books
One of the best things about writing is the opportunity to share experiences with readers. The stories in my memoir and my historical novel encourage readers to recall their own growing up years and the lives of their ancestors, whether they 'grew up country' or not. Because of the stories readers share with me, I've developed a deep appreciation for the value of preserving everyday stories - the fabric of our lives and culture.
Stitched Through Time: The Story of Libbie Jensen’s Quilts
Stitched Through Time shares the journey of the author's family’s heirloom quilts through five generations, a journey that spans hopes and dreams lost, reconciliation and redemption.
Simple Truth
Angela Darrah gets the job of her dreams only to find her client may be exploiting immigrant employees. With each new revelation, she finds herself questioning not only the client but also herself. Ultimately, she must answer: What is she willing to risk to help someone else?
Go Away Home
Set in World War One-era Iowa, GO AWAY HOME is a captivating coming-of-age novel that explores the enduring themes of family, friendship, and love, as well as death and grief.
Growing Up Country, Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl
GROWING UP COUNTRY delivers a treat as delicious as oatmeal cookies hot out of the oven—a memoir of a happy childhood growing up on a family farm in the middle of the country in the middle of the 20th Century.
On the Blog
“Let’s be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.” – Lena Dunham After reading my post on struggling to read and write, my friend Jean Balser shared her book review column Book Notes from an Eighth Day Reader, inspired by Dunham’s suggestion. While I enjoyed a vacation…
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I know when I lost my urge to write. Or at least to write positively. It was shortly after Donald Trump was elected President. All my efforts to blog came out angry or flat or angry and flat at the same time. I tried to write, but within a year, my desire to write had…
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