Wealth Woman

"Caught in the whirlwind of the gold rush in Alaska was Kate Carmack, the Tagish Indian wife of prospector George Carmack. Either Kate, her husband, or her brother found the nugget of gold that set off the Klondike Gold Rush. The truth is lost to history, as she almost was. Fiction author Vanasse became fascinated with Kate and spent three years combing through historical records, oral histories, and memories of family members to rediscover the life of this remarkable woman... A very enjoyable biography of a woman on the cusp of change in the North. Recommended."
—Choice

"A blend of narrative nonfiction and biography that offers the first in-depth look at Kate Carmack's life. The book is a formidable feat of research."
—Alaska Dispatch News

"A compelling narrative of differing perceptions of wealth."
—True West Magazine

"Vanasse’s carefully researched, beautifully written biography, Wealth Woman, helps to fill many of the information gaps in the chronology of Kate’s event-filled multi-cultural life. . . . There is much to learn, enjoy, and recommend in this book."
—Pacific Northwest Quarterly

With the first headlines screaming “Gold! Gold! Gold!” in 1896, the Klondike Gold Rush was on—and it almost instantly became the stuff of legend. One of the key figures in the early dis- coveries that set off the gold rush was the Tagish wife of prospector George Carmack, Kate Carmack, whose fascinating story is told in full here for the first time.

In Wealth Woman, Deb Vanasse recounts Kate’s life from her early years on the frontier with George, through the history-making discovery of gold, and on to her subsequent fame, when she traveled alone down the West Coast through Washington and California, telling her story and fighting for her wealth, her family, and her reputation. Recovering the lost story of a true pioneer and a fiercely independent woman, Wealth Woman brings gold-rush Alaska to life in all its drama and glory.