Janette Oke

Janette Oke (née Steeves) is a Canadian author of inspirational fiction, best known for pioneering the genre with her debut novel Love Comes Softly in 1979, which launched a series and sold millions of copies worldwide. Born in 1935 to a farming family on the Canadian prairie during the Depression, she drew from pioneer stories for her books featuring female protagonists in historical settings like the Canadian West series, which inspired the TV show When Calls the Heart. With over 75 novels sold exceeding 30 million copies, she has received awards including the ECPA President's Award and CBA Life Impact Award.