Jo Ann Lordahl, author of over 20 books, has released a historical novel, Princess Ruth: Love and Tragedy in Hawaii, which chronicles a part of Hawaiian history that is amazing (we stole it), controversial (who did it) and tragic (Hawaiians paid and still pay). Lordahl, a resident of Kauai, is writing about her home island, which is the "oldest and some say most spiritual of the islands." And which has now become a battleground between respect for the land and GMOs, pesticides and missile testing.

The story of Princess Ruth is interwoven with Samantha, a modern day romantic activist. This worthy topic allows the author to explore nuances of inner thoughts, motives and desires as a clash of civilizations between ancient Hawaiians and the encroaching outsiders surrounds a family dynamic. A cursory reading about Princess Ruth brings forth strong images of power struggles, land grabs and suppressed native tradition.

"I really sought to capture the spirit of the times and bring the reader into the life of this little known royal Hawaiian woman. Princess Ruth lived through the death of her culture, her husband and two sons, and physical disfigurement. This story is not only a classic love story, but still cuts to the very heart of the battle between native Hawaiians and those who started arriving in the last 100+ years. The amazing natural beauty of Kauai provides a breathtaking backdrop to this all too human tale," says Jo Ann Lordahl.

Currently conducting a national PR campaign, Lordahl has been doing radio shows around the country and is garnering rave reviews for her book among locals. Princess Ruth, the subject of a PBS Hawaii documentary in 2004, continues to fascinate history buff around the world. This is certainly one of Jo Ann Lordahl's most ambitious products and she labored it over for years in order portray events accurately.

"The two things people usually know about her is what she looked like—which a lot of people seem to remember—and maybe that she had something to do with the Bishop Estate having a lot of land," said Craig Howes, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center for Biographical Research. Howes feels it's time that Ruth Ke'elikolani gets credit for her efforts to defend Hawaii and its culture, and for maintaining intact the vast land holdings that became the foundation of Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate.

Princess Ruth: Love and Tragedy in Hawaii features a map of Hawaii, many factual endnotes, a book list of resources, and a chronology of Hawaiian royalty from antiquity, including Princess Ruth dates.

For more info about Jo Ann Lordahl and her books go to www.JoAnnLordahl.com

For media interviews contact Promotion in Motion at 323-461-3921 or brad@promotioninmotion.net