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 (1983), 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 (née Ruggles) 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, including a set of twins. Oke's daughter, Laurel Oke Logan, has co-written books with her.
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
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.