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Chris Flanders

Goodreads Author

Born

in Jamestown, NY, The United States

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction, History

Influences

David McCullough

Member Since

November 2014

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Chris Flanders is a historical nonfiction author dedicated to uncovering the forgotten stories, remarkable people, and transformative events that shaped 19th-century America. A retired Cardiac Nurse Practitioner with a lifelong passion for history, Chris combines rigorous research with deeply human storytelling to bring overlooked pioneers and regional histories back into the light.

Her love of history began with her father, Bill, who always had something for her to read whenever she visited—whether it was a clipping from last night’s newspaper or a bookmarked section from an 1868 tome on Civil War weaponry. His mission was simple: get her hooked on history. And it worked.

When Chris retired, her father revealed that he had nearly completed t Chris Flanders is a historical nonfiction author dedicated to uncovering the forgotten stories, remarkable people, and transformative events that shaped 19th-century America. A retired Cardiac Nurse Practitioner with a lifelong passion for history, Chris combines rigorous research with deeply human storytelling to bring overlooked pioneers and regional histories back into the light.

Her love of history began with her father, Bill, who always had something for her to read whenever she visited—whether it was a clipping from last night’s newspaper or a bookmarked section from an 1868 tome on Civil War weaponry. His mission was simple: get her hooked on history. And it worked.

When Chris retired, her father revealed that he had nearly completed the family genealogy. Instead of handing her the finished tree, he asked her to join Ancestry.com and begin with herself, her children, and whoever she could enter without help. Slowly, he gave her more and more branches to add. The process of typing each name, birth year, and life detail drew her in deeply—transforming genealogical research into personal discovery and sparking a richer understanding of the lives that came before her.

That early love of history and genealogy continues to inspire her writing.

Chris’s first book—a detailed history of the Bemus Point–Stow Ferry—was written as a gift to her community. All profits from the book supported the ferry’s major hull restoration in 2020, reflecting her dedication to historical preservation in Western New York.

Her newest book, The Image Maker, focuses on three real men who played defining roles in America’s first oil boom: photographer John Mather, industrialist Charles Miller, and writer Patrick Boyle. Drawing from archives, period materials, and regional history, Chris offers a vivid, narrative-rich portrait of 19th-century Pennsylvania and the rise of the early petroleum industry.

When she isn’t writing, Chris enjoys gardening, birding, volunteering with environmental organizations, and spending time with her two sons and their growing families. Every summer, she attends the Chautauqua Institution’s nine-week literary season, which continues to fuel her passion for historical research and storytelling.

Chris writes both historical fiction and narrative nonfiction, guided by a desire to honor overlooked pioneers, preserve regional heritage, and bring America’s past to life for modern readers. ...more

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Chris Flanders’s books

Average rating: 4.84 · 95 ratings · 79 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Image Maker 4.90 avg rating — 80 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lila's Story: A Story of War, Alaska, and the Open Seas 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Book of Fretz: An Emigrant's Story by Chris Flanders (Goodreads Author), William Flanders (Editor) 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Image Maker: Three Men Follow Their Dreams in the Pennsylvania Oil Fields it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	6 Knots it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lila's Story : A Story of War, Alaska, and the Open Seas really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Chris Flanders…

Chris is Currently Reading

Chris Flanders is currently reading

Extraordinary Lives: The Art and Craft of American Biography

by William Zinsser

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Aug 09, 2026 06:49PM

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The Botanist's Daughter

by Kayte Nunn (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 29, 2026 07:12PM

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A Bite-Sized History of France

by Stephane Henaut

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Jul 19, 2026 06:50PM

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Chris Flanders is currently reading Extraordinary Lives: The Art and Craft of American Biography by William Zinsser	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 09, 2026 06:49PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Extraordinary Lives by William Zinsser. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Extraordinary Lives by William Zinsser <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Chris Flanders is currently reading The Botanist's Daughter by Kayte Nunn (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 29, 2026 07:12PM · like
Chris Flanders rated a book really liked it Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 29, 2026 07:11PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Chris Flanders is currently reading A Bite-Sized History of France by Stephane Henaut	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 19, 2026 06:50PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Bite-Sized History of France by Stephane Henaut. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Bite-Sized History of France by Stephane Henaut <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Chris Flanders is currently reading Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 07, 2026 07:46PM · like
Chris Flanders rated a book it was amazing The Image Maker by Chris Flanders (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 09:05AM · like
Chris Flanders rated a book really liked it The United States of Arugula: The Sun Dried, Cold Pressed, Dark Roasted, Extra Virgin Story of the American Food Revolution by David Kamp (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 08:57AM · like
Chris Flanders rated a book it was amazing Boone: A Biography by Robert Morgan	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 08:57AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Boone by Robert Morgan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Boone by Robert Morgan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Chris Flanders rated a book it was ok The Potomac River: A History and Guide (The History Press) (DC) by Garrett Peck	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Chris Flanders rated a book liked it A Better World (Brilliance Saga, #2) by Marcus Sakey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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