Well-known Canadian Author Janette Oke, who has written more than 70 books, was recently at the PasKaPoo Historical Museum for an afternoon tea and quilt show, where she signed people's books and chatted with them.
Growing up in the Hoadley area, the home Oke lived in was the community's first post office. It also had a general store. That home was brought to the museum in 2019, and is now shown to people through guided tours.
The Smithson International Truck Museum also expanded its exhibit, showcasing all of Oke's life's work for those to view.
Oke is known best for her series Love Comes Softly, and has even had movies made from her books. The TV series When Calls the Heart was based off of some of her books. She has also won several awards in her time.
She grew up loving books. Her mom used to do a bit of writing for the local paper when she was older, and her grandpa also wrote for a local paper before her.
"My mom and dad were both readers, and so was our teacher at school, so I grew up loving stories, and I also grew up enjoying writing stories, school assignments and whatnot," said Oke in a recent chat, adding that it was just a part of who she was.
Oke always wanted to write, but put it off for a number of years as she was busy with family. When she finally came to a place where she felt it was the right time to jump into it, she was already 42 years old, which also happened to be when she wrote her first book, titled Love Comes Softly, which became very well-known.
"Because of it being sort of seen as the old west, I think it appealed to lots of hearts, because of the nostalgia with the progression of opening up the country and the many things that the people of that day had to go through."
Reflecting back on her life, Oke said she's had lots of pretty fantastic experiences. Even now, she's got quite the exciting life. She travels every year to the filming site in B.C. where they are filming When Calls The Heart, based on another one of Oke's books.
"Every year, we gather out there. People come from as far away as Australia and Europe," said Oke, adding that they have to limit the group to about 300 people.
Every Fall, Oke and others meet again with the actors, actresses and movie makers, which Oke says is a pretty good time.
The group started out with friends calling friends and discussing what was happening on the show until it grew to many thousands, so they like to get together. They call themselves 'The Hearties.'
And Oke is still busy writing. She will have a new book coming out around Easter time titled Pharisees Wife, which is currently at the publishers.
"This one took me rather by surprise. I had thought that I was done writing. I haven't written anything for a few years."
The last stories she did write, she wrote with her daughter Laurel, which were in response to the filmmakers who wanted some books written to accompany the filming they were doing.
Oke's newest book is a different story than what she's written before, as her books are mostly considered pioneer-type stories.
Her newest book goes back further, looking at the time of Christ's ministry on earth and looking at the confusion in society at that time, trying to sort out whether he really is who he says he is.
After living in many places in her life, Oke has returned to her roots and is now residing in Rimbey to be near her family.
"There are still lots of my family around, so it's kind of coming home for me. Now, in my old age, I think I'm just going to stay right here."
