River Girl

A novel about a girl who moved to the Klamath River Valley near Happy Camp, California, long ago.

  • Home
  • About the Author
  • About Happy Camp
  • River Girl Blog
  • A Short Story
  • Gratitude

Claire’s Journey

March 20, 2017 by Linda Jo Martin

River Girl - a novel by Linda Jo Martin

Claire Welch was nine when her father decided to move the family to the Klamath River Valley. She didn’t take it well. Claire is the main character in the River Girl novel.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

The Chinese Prospectors of Happy Camp

January 5, 2016 by Linda Jo Martin

Chinese Miners in California

At one time half the immigrant population of Happy Camp, CA consisted of Chinese prospectors. The 1880 census listed 597 citizens. 97 were Karuks, 250 were white, and 250 were Chinese. The Chinese lived in the area south of what is now Second Avenue, behind the Camp Mercantile building. At that time Second Avenue was […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Where to buy River Girl

February 3, 2013 by Linda Jo Martin

River Girl - a novel by Linda Jo Martin

This is just a note on where to find a copy of River Girl. Right now I’ve still not published the book in Kindle format – that’s coming next. The book is available online at Amazon and CreateSpace. If you’re here in Happy Camp, California, you can buy the book at the Marble Mountain Gift […]

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
River Girl is available online at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.



In 1918 Claire Welch, age 9, moves from the San Francisco Bay Area to the coastal town of Eureka, far to the north. She must leave her dearest friend behind.

From there Claire heads toward a difficult life, traveling inland toward Happy Camp, a small town in the middle of a huge forest.

Near Happy Camp, in the Klamath River Valley, she faces the pain of loneliness and learns the true meaning of friendship.

Copyright © 2023 Linda Jo Martin, site owner :: Legal Notices