It has been nearly a month since The Forest Primeval has been officially released, but things are progressing slowly—very slowly. The way this is supposed to work is that books are available from writtendreams.com, meaning the publisher, but also through Amazon and Barnes and Noble on August 1. As of yesterday, however, the book still has not appeared on the latter two websites. Written Dreams is supposed to ship the book within a few days of receiving an online order, but from what I am hearing, people who pre-ordered the book two years ago and should be at the top of the list, have still not yet received their books. Others have gotten their books, however, so all I can do is urge patience. In short, this is out of my control, and I am dependent on a publisher who has proven to be unreliable at best. If it makes you feel any better, I have not received all of the books I ordered and paid for two months ago either. These are the books that I buy and then sell at these various events for a reduced rate and without shipping charges.
In the meantime, I am busy scheduling events for the near future, and here is the updated information on those events:
Chicago Book Launch—Saturday, September 20, 2025, 115 Bourbon Street Bar in Merrionette Park, just outside Chicago at 3359 W. 115th Street, from 1:00 to 4:00
Local Author Fair—Saturday, September 27, 2025, Ellsworth Public Library, Ellsworth, Wisconsin, 12-3:00.
Nashville Book Launch—Thursday, October 23, 2025, Harpeth Hall School, Richards Room, 3801 Hobbs Road, Nashville, Tennessee, 5:30-7:00
I am also trying to set up an event for the Chapter Two Bookstore in Hudson, Wisconsin. I’ll let you know when I have the details.
Finally, Dan Woll, a writer, guitar player, and retired educator, had a review of the book appear in our local newspaper, the Pierce County Journal. Here is the review:
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
By Dan Woll
“There Ain’t No Cure For the Summertime Blues”
River Falls author and raconteur, Jack Henderson begs to differ on the basis of his newly published mystery, The Forest Primeval. It’s the perfect end of summer read for those final vacation days, or a lazy evening on the porch. Just be prepared to set aside some time because it’s hard to put down.
Henderson tells the story of a Wisconsin Native American teen, Will Jarrett, suddenly yanked from her home in the deep forests of Northern Wisconsin and placed in a questionable foster home in Chicago. As the last surviving member of her small tribe, she finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game of land lust as she discovers that her gang-linked foster father wants to use her to control valuable property.
Forest Primeval will remind readers of True Grit but Forest Primeval is much more relevant than that iconic Western. Primeval is a riveting drama featuring a teen-age girl with an indomitable spirit, but it’s also a history lesson about the logging industry and consequences for Wisconsin tribes.
Set in 1969, protagonist Will’s hair-raising escape from Chicago to Wisconsin is believable in a way that internet, drones, GPS, and ubiquitous surveillance cameras would make impossible in 2025. Think David Janssen in the old black and white TV series The Fugitive. Will’s story works because of the 1969 setting. It was a time when strangers on the run could travel the highways unnoticed.
Henderson’s roots enhance his story telling. Will’s high school life and participation on her school track team sound real because the author was a teacher and a coach. He also spent time as a folk singer in dusky Chicago clubs and venues and it shows in the realistic Windy City settings. Heroine Will is a little too smart and a little too talented for unimpeachable verisimilitude, but a fun summer read never lets the facts spoil a good story and Forest Primeval is a great story.
The book is available now at writtendreams.com and will soon be available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles. Meet Author Henderson and other local authors at the Ellsworth Library Author Fair from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 27.
Dan Woll lives in River Falls with his wife Beth. His writing is informed by his years in education and summers on the great walls of Yosemite Valley. His books include “North of Highway 8,” “Further,” “Paperclip” (co-author), and “Death on Cache Lake” (co-author).