I had the pleasure of getting a preview of Katie Grindeland’s debut novel The Gifts We Keep, published by the student cooperative at Ooligan Press. Grindeland’s book was the winner of the 2016 Multnomah County Library Writers Project, and richly deserved this honor.

My endorsement was published as part of the Ooligan Press annual book catalog, and I’m pleased to recommend this interesting story of family, heartbreak and generational connection.

Grindeland works as a fire fighter and 911 responder and this novel is Grindeland’s first published book. I was impressed by her command of language, character and diction.

The new book was just published, and you can buy the book here.

I enjoyed seeing a stack of copies of The Gifts We Keep at the North Portland library today, and here’s a picture, so you can share the reading joy!


The Gifts We Keep by Katie Grindeland is a beautifully written book that weaves together a complex multi-voiced story that brings together voices of different generations into a complex quilted narrative of family separation, heartbreak and loss, along with redemption and reconciliation. A powerful and important book that echoes the best of Alice Hoffman and Anne Tyler.”

— Ned Hayes, author of the national bestseller The Eagle Tree


>> Buy THE GIFTS WE KEEP <<