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Follow the Wind Home: A Novel
Follow the Wind Home is about a 19th Century woman who loves too much. Because she’s so loyal to people and to her home, she’s unable to move forward when she loses them. The novel’s core message addresses a question that the bereaved have been asking themselves since the beginning of How do I move on, both emotionally and physically, while still honoring those I must leave behind?
The novel begins on a wintry day in 1860 when Catherine Corlis and Mary Todd Lincoln cross paths in a Springfield, Illinois cemetery while visiting their children’s graves. Catherine, shunned by the townspeople after a brothel owner stole her innocence, and Mary, whose husband is running for president, bond over their deep-rooted grief. Mary invites Catherine to call on her.
Before she can answer Mary’s invitation, Catherine must find the strength to break the chains of grief that hold her captive to the past. As war descends on the nation, she inherits her uncle’s sheep farm one mile from a Union recruiting camp. While signing the land deed, she meets a charming orphan, sixteen-year-old Belle Peters, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Catherine’s deceased child.
That night, Belle’s teacher, Sister Ann, appears at Catherine’s farmhouse and asks Catherine to board Belle, who will soon be graduating from the Ursuline Academy. Catherine latches onto Belle as a replacement for her own daughter. Encouraged that God has given her a second chance, Catherine opens a rehabilitation school for ex-prostitutes at her farmhouse, where Sister Ann and Belle join her as teachers. Catherine writes to Mary Lincoln, sharing her newfound joy.
When brothel owners, Hunter and Lucinda Proacher threaten her, and when former school friend, Fred Winterford, exhibits questionable interest in Belle, Catherine fears she will lose Belle. Additional problems plague the loss of her farmhands, a prairie fire, a tornado, and smallpox. When death comes knocking, Catherine struggles to hold onto her school, Belle, and her faith.
The novel is written in the lyrical, literary fiction style of Willa Cather and John Steinbeck. It is an epic story of love and loss, and of how to find the faith to embrace change and time.
The novel begins on a wintry day in 1860 when Catherine Corlis and Mary Todd Lincoln cross paths in a Springfield, Illinois cemetery while visiting their children’s graves. Catherine, shunned by the townspeople after a brothel owner stole her innocence, and Mary, whose husband is running for president, bond over their deep-rooted grief. Mary invites Catherine to call on her.
Before she can answer Mary’s invitation, Catherine must find the strength to break the chains of grief that hold her captive to the past. As war descends on the nation, she inherits her uncle’s sheep farm one mile from a Union recruiting camp. While signing the land deed, she meets a charming orphan, sixteen-year-old Belle Peters, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Catherine’s deceased child.
That night, Belle’s teacher, Sister Ann, appears at Catherine’s farmhouse and asks Catherine to board Belle, who will soon be graduating from the Ursuline Academy. Catherine latches onto Belle as a replacement for her own daughter. Encouraged that God has given her a second chance, Catherine opens a rehabilitation school for ex-prostitutes at her farmhouse, where Sister Ann and Belle join her as teachers. Catherine writes to Mary Lincoln, sharing her newfound joy.
When brothel owners, Hunter and Lucinda Proacher threaten her, and when former school friend, Fred Winterford, exhibits questionable interest in Belle, Catherine fears she will lose Belle. Additional problems plague the loss of her farmhands, a prairie fire, a tornado, and smallpox. When death comes knocking, Catherine struggles to hold onto her school, Belle, and her faith.
The novel is written in the lyrical, literary fiction style of Willa Cather and John Steinbeck. It is an epic story of love and loss, and of how to find the faith to embrace change and time.
289 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2023
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12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 18, 2025
As I read this compelling historical fiction book set in the Civil War era, storied write Willa Cather comes to mind. Quinn writes with a lyrical, elevated voice, letting the wind and rain and cornfields and crows and the cold and the rare sunshiny Midwestern day become another character in this terrific novel.
Catherine Corlis, the novel's protagonist, has succumbed to grief after the tragic death of her beloved daughter. The child, Little Lamb, brought so much happiness and peace to Catherine, she could almost forget the horrific circumstances of the child's conception and the pure evil character of Little Lamb's birth father. Now Catherine is alone with her burning thoughts and questions: Why did God take her child? Why has He taken everything and everyone she loves?
When Catherine learns of another Little Lamb's plight, this one not a baby but a prostitute being trafficked by her daughter's father, she must leave the safety of the farm she has inherited and go to the Springfield, Illinois, courthouse to rescue her. As the story unfolds, Catherine begins a correspondence with Mary Todd Lincoln and starts a partnership with a one-eyed nun. The two women throw all their efforts into saving not one, but several girls who have fallen prey to prostitution.
This book takes you on an epic journey through a Union Army tent hospital, the boisterous celebrations in Springfield when Lincoln is elected, the aftermath of a violent Midwestern tornado, with many more twists and turns in Catherine's journey toward Home. You'll shake in anger, weep in sadness, and, finally, cry a few happy tears when Catherine dares to love again...and again.
Catherine Corlis, the novel's protagonist, has succumbed to grief after the tragic death of her beloved daughter. The child, Little Lamb, brought so much happiness and peace to Catherine, she could almost forget the horrific circumstances of the child's conception and the pure evil character of Little Lamb's birth father. Now Catherine is alone with her burning thoughts and questions: Why did God take her child? Why has He taken everything and everyone she loves?
When Catherine learns of another Little Lamb's plight, this one not a baby but a prostitute being trafficked by her daughter's father, she must leave the safety of the farm she has inherited and go to the Springfield, Illinois, courthouse to rescue her. As the story unfolds, Catherine begins a correspondence with Mary Todd Lincoln and starts a partnership with a one-eyed nun. The two women throw all their efforts into saving not one, but several girls who have fallen prey to prostitution.
This book takes you on an epic journey through a Union Army tent hospital, the boisterous celebrations in Springfield when Lincoln is elected, the aftermath of a violent Midwestern tornado, with many more twists and turns in Catherine's journey toward Home. You'll shake in anger, weep in sadness, and, finally, cry a few happy tears when Catherine dares to love again...and again.
July 29, 2025
Set in Springfield, Illinois, Follow the Wind Home tells the story of Catherine Corlis, a woman holding onto her daughter's memory amidst the Civil War's tragedy. When Corlis has the opportunity to take in a young orphan, Belle, she sees her as a sort of replacement for her deceased daughter. However, Catherine finds that she must move on from her grief and trust God through the chaos of the war.
While I wanted to like this book, it was pretty slow. The plot seemed unnecessarily drawn out and there really was not much going on. It seemed the book was overly focused on Catherine's character development. Though the message was good and the author made the point multiple times about not being held back from God's plans by grief, the story seemed neglected for the sake of the moral message and I felt I would have been better off just reading a devotional.
The writing style itself started out with some lovely description of the farmland in the prologue, but other than that the writing was rather slow and dry and repetitive and the characters were a bit bland.
While I wanted to like this book, it was pretty slow. The plot seemed unnecessarily drawn out and there really was not much going on. It seemed the book was overly focused on Catherine's character development. Though the message was good and the author made the point multiple times about not being held back from God's plans by grief, the story seemed neglected for the sake of the moral message and I felt I would have been better off just reading a devotional.
The writing style itself started out with some lovely description of the farmland in the prologue, but other than that the writing was rather slow and dry and repetitive and the characters were a bit bland.
February 23, 2026
I loved this story about Catherine and her found family. Her journey from crippling grief to a life of experiences and the people along the way who, for the most part, helped her.
Sometimes I got frustrated by her bit I came to love her.
This is a strong story about the power of faith and prayers.
I got to meet the author at an event several months ago and it was a treat to have her in my mind as I read!
Sometimes I got frustrated by her bit I came to love her.
This is a strong story about the power of faith and prayers.
I got to meet the author at an event several months ago and it was a treat to have her in my mind as I read!
February 24, 2024
A delightful civil war story set in Springfield, IL near my home town. I enjoyed reading about the Lincoln’s and other characters in this book. The descriptions of the countryside reminded me of why I enjoyed growing up in rural central Illinois.
July 16, 2024
Beautifully written tale of devotion and resilience.
March 1, 2025
I loved this book! It's a historical novel set in Springfield , IL during the Civil War. I met the author at a community event and am so glad I bought her book. Lessons in resiliency and faith.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews