Books published by publisher Filter Press

Dottie Lamm is a former first lady of Colorado and social activist. This biography of the wife of three-term governor Dick Lamm gives insight into Dottie's childhood, her role as first lady, and her continuing advocacy for women and children. It brings to life one of Colorado'd most influential and accomplished women. This is part of the 'Now You Know Bio' series from Filter Press.

When the bloodiest labor dispute in U.S. history burst forth in 1913-14 in the coal fields of Southern Colorado, the miners knew whom to praise, and the owners knew whom to blame. Mary Harris Jones, known from New York to Colorado as Mother Jones, could incite a riot or calm a crowd with her amazing oratory gifts. She dedicated her life to helping miners organize to negotiate, even demand, better wages and working conditions.“I hope there is no war in Trinidad,” Mother Jones had said, referring to the entire Trinidad coal field expanse, “for it will cause suffering. But if the war has to be made that the boys in the mines may have their rights let it come!” In the long run, did she help or harm the progress toward workers’ rights? Were the deaths of mothers and children at Ludlow too great a price to pay?“It is extremely important that readers of all ages know what happened at Ludlow, and the role played by that spectacular rabble-rouser, Mother Jones. Lois Ruby has told this gripping story with just the right balance of fact and dramatic power. The eyes of the nation were on southern Colorado in 1914, when much that has made America what it is—the lives of immigrants, the conflict between corporate power and organized labor—lay in the balance. This story will speak to our time as provocatively as it spoke a century ago, and this book will engage and inform anyone who gives it attention.”—David Mason, Colorado Poet Laureate

When Run Through Fire, a half-white, half-Cheyenne boy, is captured in the aftermath of the Battle of the Washita, he makes a daring escape. Run Through Fire leaves his mother and the other prisoners and sets out to find his white father in a place he has heard about called Boulder, in the Colorado Territory. Along the way he meets General Custer, Buffalo Bill, and a brave and funny friend, a girl he calls “Orange Head,” and changes his name to Billy Tull, son of William Tull. In Boulder, a ghost appears and then disappears as he uncovers the secret the town thought was buried.Elaine Pease has written an excellent novel full of ghostly spirits of the past, filled with mystery and Cheyenne trails. —Gordon Yellowman, Cheyenne Tribesman

Nancy Harkness Love (1914-1976) earned her pilot’s license at age 16 and worked as a test pilot and air racer in the 1930s. During World War II she convinced General William Tunner to set up a group of female pilots to ferry aircraft from factories to air bases. Her proposal was approved as the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). Nancy commanded this unit and later all ferrying operations in the newly formed Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). She was awarded the Air Medal and was appointed lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Reserve in 1948.“Sarah has a gift for telling compelling stories about the WASP, the women pilots of World War II. Young readers will enthusiastically absorb her love for and fascination for this area of U.S. history.”—Erin MillerAuthor of Final Flight Final Fight, chronicling the fight to have her WASP grandmother buried at Arlington Cemetery“In Nancy Love: WASP Pilot, author/historian Sarah Byrn Rickman records Love’s unique contributions on behalf of women pilots in World War II and how her efforts paved the way for today’s women pilots.”—Iris Cummings CritchellWASP ferry pilot, WWII

Nancy Harkness Love (1914-1976) earned her pilot’s license at age 16 and worked as a test pilot and air racer in the 1930s. During World War II she convinced General William Tunner to set up a group of female pilots to ferry aircraft from factories to air bases. Her proposal was approved as the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). Nancy commanded this unit and later all ferrying operations in the newly formed Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). She was awarded the Air Medal and was appointed lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Reserve in 1948.“Sarah has a gift for telling compelling stories about the WASP, the women pilots of World War II. Young readers will enthusiastically absorb her love for and fascination for this area of U.S. history.”—Erin MillerAuthor of Final Flight Final Fight, chronicling the fight to have her WASP grandmother buried at Arlington Cemetery“In Nancy Love: WASP Pilot, author/historian Sarah Byrn Rickman records Love’s unique contributions on behalf of women pilots in World War II and how her efforts paved the way for today’s women pilots.”—Iris Cummings CritchellWASP ferry pilot, WWII

In this exciting historical novel for ages 9 through 12, the main character, ‘Run Through Fire,’ a half-white Cheyenne boy, is captured in the aftermath of the Battle of the Washita. He escapes and sets out to find his white father in the city of Boulder in the Colorado Territory. Along the way he meets General Custer, Buffalo Bill, and a brave and funny friend—a girl he calls “Orange Head.” In Boulder, he uncovers a secret the town thought was buried. “Elaine Pease has written an excellent novel full of ghostly spirits of the past, filled with mystery and Cheyenne trails.” – Gordon Yellowman, Cheyenne Tribesman “While readers will pick up this book to read the ghost story, for parents, the enticing aspect is that it is, in essence, a history lesson cleverly disguised as a wonderful adventure story. The author introduces many historical figures, from General Custer to Chief Black Kettle, along with actual events such as the Washita River Massacre that happened during the time of Billy’s travels.” – Feathered Quill Book Reviews

In 1891, nineteen-year-old Irwin “Ike” Hoover was sent by the Edison Electric Company to assist in the wiring of the White House for electric lights. Like many Americans at the time, President Benjamin Harrison and his wife were extremely afraid of electricity. In fact, the Harrisons were so afraid they didn’t want to turn the lights on and off. After completing the wiring job, Ike was asked to stick around to make the transition to electric lights easier. He stayed, and held jobs in White House for forty-two years.

Hides Inside is thirteen winters—old enough to yearn to be a warrior. His brother, Standing Tall, has given him the first lesson, “A Cheyenne does not fight his own people.” Not even when other boys taunt him because he cannot speak.On a dim night during the season of the hard face moon, Hides Inside witnesses the unprovoked attack on the Cheyenne that came to be known as the Sand Creek Massacre. His determination to join a warrior society is hardened, but will he follow Standing Tall in the ways of peace?

"At first I thought everything in America would look like New York City, with shops and crowded streets, but I have discovered, the farther west we travel, that there are long stretches of nothing. Absolutely nothing.I only hope the place we are going to is not so empty."Nancy Oswald's historical novel is based on the establishment of a Russian-Jewish community in Cotopaxi, Colorado, in 1882. Emma and her family, along with their neighbors have escaped persecution in Tsarist Russia to seek a better life in America, but they face hardship and struggle in the harsh climate of the Rocky Mountains. Nothing Here but Stones is winner of the Willa Literary Award and a finalist for the Spur Award from Western Writers of America.

In Meadow Lark, the third book in Mary Peace Finley’s Santa Fe Trail Trilogy, 13-year old Teresita Montoya dreams of learning to read and of leaving her small village to follow her brother Julio and her father eastward. When she joins a wagon train headed to Bent’s Fort and beyond, her courage and resourcefulness are tested with each challenge along the way. Terisita’s adventure-filled journey from Taos, Mexico, to Independence, Missouri, marks the beginning of a future filled with possibilities. Winner of the Colorado Book Award; Finalist for the WILLA Award. “This exciting story of courage in the face of adversity is sure to please all ages.” —Rudofo Anaya