Lois Walfrid Johnson is the author of 34 books and 6 updated editions for adults and children. Her middle reader novels include The Disappearing Stranger and other best-selling Adventures of the Northwoods novels set in the early 1900's in Minnesota, northwest Wisconsin, and upper Michigan. Her 1857 Riverboat Adventures series offer page-turning cliffhangers, the mysteries of the Underground Railroad, and a fresh perspective on the freedoms sought in the Declaration of Independence. Most recently, Lois has penned the Viking Quest Series, set in the exciting times of 10th century Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and (with Leif Erickson) North America. Although targeted for boys and girls eight years old and up, Lois' novels are read by people of all ages. Her work also includes You're Worth More Than You Think! and three other books in the Let's-Talk-About-It Stories for Kids Series to help children make wise choices.

Lois is a trusted friend of families with a combined sale of close to 1.5 million books plus translations. Her work has been translated into 12 languages and has received numerous awards, including the Gold Medallion, the C.S. Lewis Award for Best Series in the year it was published, the Wisconsin State Historical Society Award for Distinguished Service to History, and five Silver Angels from Excellence in Media. Yet Lois feels especially grateful for readers who have written from over 40 countries to say, "I love your books. I can't put them down."

Lois travels nationally as a motivational speaker. A former public school teacher and editorial associate for Writer's Digest School, she has taught writing to children and adults in a variety of situations—public and private schools, home educator groups, universities, and over 60 conferences or workshops in mainland United States, Hawaii, and Canada.

She writes: "I'm always deeply moved to discover how books go where I cannot. As I spoke in a bookstore, a young woman on the staff suddenly exclaimed, 'Oh, are you Lois Johnson? When I was 10 years old, I was suicidal because of the abuse in my family. But someone outside my family gave me your first book, Just a Minute, Lord. Because of that book, I didn't commit suicide." As I wondered if I could find a way to finish another novel, a teacher told me about a seventh grade boy—a reluctant reader who discovered The Disappearing Stranger. The boy became such an enthusiastic reader that he talked his entire class of reluctant readers into reading the novel, then the series. As I asked myself whether I wanted to continue giving long hours to teach others, a child looked up into my eyes and said, "I want to be a writer when I grow up."

Raider's Promise (Viking Quest Series No. 5)
Moody Publishers, 2006
ages 9 and up, ISBN 978-0-8024-3116-5

Three years after their first adventure began, Bree, Devin, and Mikkel now enter a new world with the explorer Leif Erikson. Their first task: build a shelter to survive the winter. But danger lurks from within—shadows on the horizon of a life where everyone needs the courage to win. Can Mikkel conquer his enemies and find new purpose for his life? Will he keep his promise to Bree and Devin to take them home to Ireland? Will he keep his pledge of honor—even if it means death?

Awards
Moonbeam Award Bronze Medal

Heart of Courage (Viking Quest Series No. 4)
Moody Publishers, 2005
ages 9 and up, ISBN 978-0-8024-3115-8

Devin and Briana O'Toole are facing the biggest adventure of their lives. In exchange for Bree's freedom, they have agreed to make one voyage on the new Viking ship Conquest. With explorer Leif Erikson they travel from Norway to Iceland, then to Greenland and beyond, encountering the dangers of the northern waters and an unknown enemy within the ship's crew. Will the hardships be worth it in the end, or will Bree remain a slave?

Mikkel, the young captain of the Conquest is full of ambition. More than anything, he has always wanted wealth and fame. But he will need courage to lead his men on such a perilous journey—and to regain his lost honor. He doesn't even want to think about letting Bree go free.

Only God can give Mikkel, Bree, and Devin a heart of courage for the challenges that lie ahead.

The Invisible Friend (Viking Quest Series No. 3)
Moody Publishers, 2004
ages 9 and up, ISBN 978-0-8024-3114-1

Mystery of the Silver Coins (Viking Quest Series No. 2)
Moody Publishers, 2003
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-0-8024-3113-4

In this second installment of the Viking Quest series, Bree finds herself in a physical and spiritual battle for survival in the homeland of her Viking captors. With another young slave named Lil, she makes a daring escape from the ship as soon as it reaches harbor. The girls hide in the woods as Mikkel and his Viking sailors begin a relentless search, certain that Bree is responsible for a missing bag of silver coins. Meanwhile, Devin continues his journey home, pursued by a mysterious stranger, and Mikkel begins to wonder: Is the god of these Irish Christians really more powerful than our own Viking gods? A gripping story of survival and the re-discovery of a self-worth based on how God, not others, views us .

Raiders from the Sea (Viking Quest Series No. 1)
Moody Publishers, 2003
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-0-8024-3112-7

In one harrowing day, Viking raiders capture Bree and her brother Devin and take them from their home in Ireland. After Mikkel, the young Viking prince, sets Devin free on the Irish coast far from home, Bree and Devin embark on separate journeys to courage. Readers will be captivated by the unfolding drama as Bree sails to Norway on the Viking ship and as Devin travels the dangerous road home. Historical focus on 10th century Ireland and Norway makes Viking Quest a great learning tool for homeschool and Christian school classrooms. Series will include Leif Eriksson's voyage to America. Series teaches that if we ask God for help, He is with us in whatever we face — a relevant message for our own turbulent times. Strong male and female characters practice biblical values despite dangerous situations and the opposition of a pagan religion. Stories and characters will appeal to tween girls and boys. Perfect for family read-aloud times.

The Disappearing Stranger
(Northwoods Adventures No. 1)
Bethany House, 1990
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-100-1

When her Irish father dies in a construction accident, Kate O'Connell and her mother are left to struggle alone in the Minneapolis of 1906.  Deciding that Mama needs help, Kate asks their pastor to pray about a new husband.  But Kate's plan backfires.  Forced to give up her own dreams, she becomes part of a Swedish family living on a northwest Wisconsin farm.  As Kate's new stepbrother Anders does his best to make her life miserable, strange occurrences become a mystery.  Was it just the wind that moved the bushes?  What happens on a scary all-alone ride into town?  And what does Papa Nordstrom mean when he tells Kate, "You'll earn your way with Anders"?

The Hidden Message
(Northwoods Adventures No. 2)
Bethany House, 1990
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-101-8

In the darkness of a November night, Kate awakens to the murmur of voices.  Listening in, she discovers that Papa Nordstrom must leave to work at a logging camp during the worst months of winter.  Just as the family has come together, Papa must go.  How can they get along without him?  What if something goes wrong?  And things do go wrong!  A runaway horse brings an argument, then a mystery.  Who left the message tucked inside the organ?  What happened to the pig butchered for the family's meat?  And how does Christmas become truly real in Kate's heart?

The Creeping Shadows
(Northwoods Adventures No. 3)
Bethany House, 1991
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-102-5

The warmth of Christmas Day fades into the dreaded fact that Papa Nordstrom must return to the dangerous work in the logging camp. Intending to get even with her stepbrother Anders for his mean tricks, Kate secretly plans a 13th birthday party.  But wolves howl at night, a valuable ring disappears, and Kate's best friend Josie and the Swenson family face the possible loss of their farm. Suspicions point to one person, but is he really guilty? Who is sneaking into the Windy Hill barn to take Wildfire for nighttime rides? Shadowy figures appear and disappear.  What is real and what is imagination? And how does Kate's choice change someone else's life?

The Vanishing Footprints
(Northwoods Adventures No. 4)
Bethany House, 1991
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-103-2

On a cold January day, Kate walks three miles to pick up her family's creamery check, but discovers it was stolen the night before. No check means no money—at least for now. When Kate, Anders, and Erik discover some stolen loot, the mystery grows. Then boot prints in the snow suddenly vanish. Who is threatening their lives? Who can they trust? What hidden danger hides outside the glow of a lantern? Mama says, "God will go with you," but how can Kate and her friends go beyond fear? As a thief appears and disappears, every warning points toward danger! Will Papa make it home through the terrible winter storm? And what will happen to Lars, the younger stepbrother Kate has learned to love?

Trouble at Wild River
(Northwoods Adventures No. 5)
Bethany House, 1991
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-144-5

On a cloudless March night, Kate, Anders, and Erik spot a timber swindler, but are unable to see his face. Who is this man changing ownership marks on logs? If only Kate and the boys could have seen his face! When Mama receives word that her brother Ben wants to visit, suspicion turns toward him. While living in Sweden, Ben stole money from a shopkeeper, then disappeared without a trace. Now Ben's letter gives them only two days to meet him or he'll leave, never to be seen by the family again. With the help of a Chippewa Indian boy, Kate and Anders race against time. Can they escape danger, find Ben before the sun goes down, and offer Mama's forgiveness?

The Mysterious Hideaway
(Northwoods Adventures No. 6)
Bethany House, 1992
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-238-1

What secret could be hidden in the one-room schoolhouse at Spirit Lake? From the very first day, the spring term promises to be different from any other in the school's history. First, there's a new student who's older than the teacher. At six feet, three inches tall, he causes a stir with the school children—and the teacher! Next there's the strange sound that both Kate and Erik hear. And then there's Maybelle, Kate's eternal enemy! Can Kate live with courage in spite of being wrongly accused? A series of baffling clues seem to make no sense as she, Anders, and Erik search for answers. Is the only way to solve the mystery under the cover of darkness?

Grandpa's Stolen Treasure
(Northwoods Adventures No. 7)
Bethany House, 1992
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-239-8

Full of anticipation, Kate and her family wait for her grandpa and grandma from Sweden to arrive on the train. When the Blueberry Special comes in, and the last passenger steps from the train, Grandpa and Grandma are nowhere in sight. After Papa Nordstrom leaves to search for them in St. Paul, a telegram arrives in the middle of the night. "We are in Duluth," Grandpa says. "But Mama is lost." Grandma lost? When Kate, Anders, and Erik rush to Duluth, they discover that Grandma is not simply lost—someone has stolen her away! Can the three friends be wise in God's leading and find and rescue Grandma?

The Runaway Clown
(Northwoods Adventures No. 8)
Bethany House, 1993
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-240-4

The circus is coming with the most daring acts ever performed....and a lot of trouble! The Nordstrom family travels to River Falls, Wisconsin to see the circus and stay with Kate's best friend from Minneapolis. Even Michael Reilly, another of Kate's friends, will be there, forcing her to make a life-changing choice. But in the midst of the excitement lurks the dark news of accidents that have followed one of the circus stars, the great Roberto. Why is someone trying to hurt him? What is the secret of the diamonds? Who is the runaway clown? And how does danger follow not only the circus people, but also Kate and Tina?

Mystery of the Missing Map
(Northwoods Adventures No. 9)
Bethany House, 1994
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-241-1

Kate, Anders, and Erik travel to Michigan's Upper Peninsula where Kate's Irish relatives live as caretakers of a mansion. Kate is excited to meet her cousin Megan, and it turns out that the two girls could be twins—except for one important difference. Megan is blind. Soon after their arrival, Kate, Anders, and Erik learn about a long-lost treasure map. But two shady looking people lurk in the darkness, and danger trails the four friends. Can they find the map in time? Act with courage in spite of fear? And will they escape the falling rocks deep within a copper mine? What becomes the biggest treasure of all?

Disaster on Windy Hill
(Northwoods Adventures No. 10)
Bethany House, 1994
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-242-8

Kate, Anders, and Erik head to a stable to buy a horse for Kate. A beautiful black stallion is for sale, but when she discovers she can buy two poorly cared for horses for the price of one, Kate strikes a deal. While riding home with Windsong and Breeza, Kate and Erik are startled when someone tries to grab Windsong. Kate eludes the would-be thief, but she's frightened. Who would want to steal a scruffy, underfed horse? A dangerous thief, a mysterious mare, a terrible fire, and a caring family. How will they escape? Kate is sure she's made a terrible mistake. Can she ever know the love of God again?

Escape into the Night
(Riverboat Adventures No. 1)
Bethany House, 1995
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-351-7

Libby, a girl rich in material things, recognizes her emotional poverty when she discovers the secret life of 13-year-old Caleb, a conductor in the Underground Railroad. A fugitive slave named Jordan takes refuge on the Christina, and another family, Emma and little Henry, push Libby toward a choice. Will her journey to compassion mean giving up her most treasured possession?

Race for Freedom
(Riverboat Adventures No. 2)
Bethany House, 1996
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-352-4

A suspicious man boards the Christina, and Caleb and Libby know that Jordan risks capture by his cruel owner...or something worse. Then Elsa, a newfound immigrant friend, faces illness and possible death. As the Riverboat family enters an historic steamboat race to St. Paul, what does it mean to really win? And how can Libby, Caleb, and Jordan go beyond fear to act in courage?

Midnight Rescue
(Riverboat Adventures No. 3)
Bethany House, 1996
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-353-1

Proud and determined, Libby thinks she can do whatever she sets out to do. Instead, runaway horses, an escaped convict, and a broken log raft get in the way. As Jordan makes plans to rescue his mother, sisters, and brother from slavery, Libby gives away a life-or-death secret. Can she learn from failure and earn trust again? What will happen to Jordan's family and the people who risk their lives in the Underground Railroad?

The Swindler's Treasure
(Riverboat Adventures No. 4)
Bethany House, 1997
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-354-8

"Sometimes there's a cost to doing the right thing," says Captain Norstad after standing up to a swindler. But the cost is high—the possible loss of his steamboat. Another theft threatens Jordan's reputation. Can he find the money entrusted to him for helping fugitive slaves? And how can Jordan find his father? As a deaf child named Peter joins the friends, they face desperate times. What does it mean to work for what they believe when facing fear on every side?

Mysterious Signal
(Riverboat Adventures No. 5)
Bethany House, 1998
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-355-5

"I want to be safe," Libby thinks, but faces a sacrifice she dreads. Dangerous men threaten Jordan, his father, and Peter. Can they find a mysterious signal and reach a safe house in time? Can the Riverboat friends escape a steamboat accident to pay off a loan and save the Christina? And how does Peter become a hero in spite of being deaf? In a time when Libby no longer believes in her own value, can she and the others work together to win?

The Fiddler's Secret
(Riverboat Adventures No. 6)
Bethany House, 1998
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-356-2

In the midst of Libby's matchmaking attempts to bring together her father and Annika, a gifted violinist boards the Christina. Then Pa asks Libby, Caleb, Jordan, and Peter, "What's most important to you? What do you really want?" As they seek the answer for their own lives, they also face mysteries and hardships: Who stole the fiddler's treasured violin? What has become of Annika? Can the Christina possibly escape an ice storm? And what is the fiddler's secret?

Thanks for Being My Friend!
(Let's Talk About It series)
Bethany House, 2000
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-653-2

You want to be liked, to have friends, to know that kids your age admire you. So how can you have the great relationships you want with other kids? What about the times when sticking with a friendship means making a hard choice? And how can you manage all this and still be the kind of person that your mom, dad, or other grownups want you to be? It's a tall order, isn't it? But there's Someone who wants to help by being your #1 Friend. Guess who?

You're Worth More Than You Think
(Let's Talk About It series)
Bethany House, 1999
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-651-8

Do you feel as if you don't fit in? Does an older brother or sister make fun of you, and you wonder if you can stand it any more? Or maybe your younger sister seems to get all the attention. The stories in this book show boys and girls who face the kind of problems you or your friends know about. You're Worth More Than You Think! shows self-esteem in such true-to-life happenings as sibling rivalry, divorce, what you think about your body, meeting failure head-on, and getting up and starting over again. Make a choice now—whether to lose your battles or accept God's help and win!

You Are Wonderfully Made!
(Let's Talk About It series)
Bethany House, 1999
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-654-9

As you grow and mature, you have questions about reproduction, the physical changes your body goes through, boy-girl relationships, and sexual purity. Whatever your concern, you need to know....You Are Wonderfully Made! Read about kids with real-life questions about physical development—from a Christian perspective. The "To Talk About It" section with each story gives you the opportunity to discuss what you've learned with a mom, dad, or teacher. Scripture verses and prayer remind you of the miracle of God's plan, the gift of sexuality.

Secrets of the Best Choice
Bethany House, 1999
ages 9 to 12, ISBN 978-1-55661-652-5

When you face situations such as cheating, stealing, disobedience, and the need for forgiveness, you can't help wondering what other kids will think about you. But when you wonder whether you'll be popular, you can discover secrets of the BEST choice! Each fictional story shows characters that face true-to-life situations and make true-to-life choices. If you feel backed into a corner by the choices you need to make, you'll discover that these story people face the same problems as you or your friends. And surprise! It makes things easier when you talk about ethical and moral choices with a grown-up you trust.