Laurie Winn Carlson analyzes the lives of the first six white women-missionary wives-to cross the Rocky Mountains.

Carlson's research gives a fresh and sometimes startling view of these pioneers of the women's movement.

Laurie Winn Carlson is the author of several successful books and was named 1993 Idaho Writer of the Year by the Idaho Writers League. Her articles have been published in several magazines and newspapers. She is a member of the Western Writers of America, Women Writing in the West and served on the Idaho Public Television advisory board. She is a Cheney, Washington resident.