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WELCOME TO MY AUTHOR WEBSITE!

If you love beautifully-written and critically-acclaimed historical fiction based on true events, you've come to the right place!  I dreamt all of my life of becoming a novelist. I finally did at age 70 years old! (See BIO.) After struggling for years with kidney failure, then a related heart attack, my husband Evan was able to donate his kidney. He saved my life and my life dream! I hope you enjoy my books. Thank you for stopping by.​ I'd love to hear from you! You can reach me on my CONTACT page.

My Two Historical Novels

2024

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2026

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Press the cover image to learn more about each book or go to the main menu

New in 2026!

From the Amazon #1 national bestseller and Book of the Year author of BLOOD TO RUBIES, Deborah Hufford, comes her second novel, THE FIRE BORN. Just published on October 6, 2026, it is already a bestseller and has topped the charts in 19th Century Historical Fiction and Gilded Age Historical Romance. Read more about this "stunning" novel, based on true events, The Great Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo fire the same night, ten times more deadly but forgotten in history!

Early Praise for The Fire Born

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I love doing author events for bookclubs, libraries and civic groups!

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Back Cover Synopsis of The Fire Born

  For my debut novel, BLOOD TO RUBIES, I did more than 100 speaking engagements for book clubs, libraries, reading circles, civic groups, churches, Women's Clubs, and historical societies. I  LOVE talking to other book lovers and history lovers!

 

I offer free in-person or ZOOM author events, schedule permitting. Please contact me at dhufford@wi.rr.com or via my CONTACT page to schedule an event. 

About My National Bestselling Debut Novel,  BLOOD TO RUBIES

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Blood to Rubies is the scorching saga of injustice, love, and redemption in the western wilderness. A young frontier photographer goes West to escape the Civil War draft and settles in the Bitterroot Mountains, ancestral home of the Nez Perce Indians. There he becomes obsessed with a young Irish pioneer woman he spies swimming nude in a mountain lake. He comes to admire the Nez Perce and photographs the young leader, Chief Joseph, and a Nez Perce woman warrior (based on a real historical person). Their stories tangle in a ruthless convergence of fates. As he chronicles Chief Joseph’s desperate struggle to save his people and their harrowing 1,500-mile exodus to the Canadian border—the medicine line—to join Sitting Bull in freedom, he feels complicit in their demise. Blood to Rubies has already garnered early praise from New York Times bestselling authors, calling the book "brilliant," "heartbreakingly beautiful," "unforgettable,"  "a riveting debut," "phenomenal," and "destined to be a classic."

BLOOD TO RUBIES SHORT VIDEO

Coming Soon! Book Club Discussion Guide

Ten book club discussion questions can be found at the back of The Fire Born books and Kindle. A more extensive downloadable Guide is coming soon!

CLICK NOTES ICON FOR SOUND LOWER RIGHT.

Special thanks to Peter Buffett for use of this track from Kevin Costner's 500 Nations​​

BLOOD TO RUBIES LONG VIDEO

Available at Book Stores & on Amazon

PRESS AN ICON BELOW TO PURCHASE

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LITERARY PRAISE FOR BLOOD TO RUBIES
FROM NYT-BESTSELLING NOVELISTS

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Book Clubs  are the heart and soul of  Blood to Rubies'  readers❤️
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and feedback.
I've created a fun Book Club Guide to help you all enjoy my book even more.  
Press here to download: BTRBookClubGuide.pdf
I offer in-person or ZOOM author events for book clubs and special groups.
Please contact me at dhufford@wi.rr.com to schedule an event.
nd book clubs get other perks, including signed book plates and bling!
My Book Guide includes a delicious Native-inspired  menu
(Including cocktails/mocktails) and other
activities. I'd love to share pictures of your club under
 New Novel/Book Clubs 

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Book Club Fun❣️❣️

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Try This
Delicious
Nez Perce-
Inspired Menu
in my Book
Club Guide!

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Thank you Chicago radio station, WRLR-FM & "Word of Mouth" host, Jim Wunderlich, for a great one-hour interview about Blood to Rubies!
Listen to the Feb. 1, 2024 interview at this YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep_57YuWd1o&pp=ygUPYmxvb2QgdG8gcnViaWVz
 

For more information about
The Fire Born or Blood to Rubies
go to NEW NOVELS

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Press the image below or go to the Main Menu

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In The News!

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My Struggle with
Kidney Failure

Notes from the Frontier
My Popular History Blog

Follow me on Facebook or these other links to stay in touch!

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A final note!
My life has been filled with some very hard knocks but also many miracles. Just like all of you. Thank you all for supporting me on my miraculous author's journey and helping my life dream come true❤️

Believe in miracles❣️🙏🌈🦄

 

©2027 Deborah Hufford

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