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In commemorating Women's History month, President Bush has said, "Since its beginnings, our land has been blessed by noteworthy women who played defining roles in shaping our nation."

He mentioned the names, some famous, some not so famous, of pioneering women who helped explore and settle this enormous country. From Abigail Adams, an early advocate of women's' rights, to Sarah Pierce and Catherine Beecher, who helped open the doors to higher education for women, and even Sacagawea, who helped Lewis and Clark explore the great Northwest, all made priceless contributions.

Laura Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series immortalized the everyday life of pioneer women. Willa Cather, herself a pioneer from Virginia to Nebraska, wrote several books about the pioneer experience. "O Pioneers" is her story of a Swedish immigrant woman left alone to work the family farm in the Great Plains.

The stories of these pioneer women almost always are linked to a family experience, or to a wife following her husband. Rarely, are there found instances of women striking out on their own for westward adventure.

There is a new historical novel by Linda Weaver Clarke to help fill this void. In "Melinda and the Wild West," a young New England woman felt the same urge as so many men of her time, to seek the freedom and adventure of the Wild West.

With a genuine sense of place and memorable characters, this is historical fiction guaranteed to give the reader an authentic taste of the time. Promised as the first in a series, the book is available from American Book Publishing, www.pdbookstore.com, or at bookstores everywhere.

Concluding his remarks, President Bush said, "The history of American women is an expansive story of outstanding individuals who sacrificed much and worked hard in pursuit of a better world.

"American women of strength, vision and character have long influenced our country by contributing their time, efforts, and wisdom to improve our government and communities, and our schools and religious institutions. I encourage every American to learn more about these important contributions, and to celebrate their noble legacies."