Best-selling Christian novelist Lauraine Snelling is to be inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame today, Sept. 26, joining the ranks of celebrities Jim Henson, Peggy Lee, Ann Bancroft, Knute Rockne and Chet Atkins.

The author of 74 novels with more than 2 million copies in print, Snelling is one of three new inductees who will be honored in the awards ceremony in Minot, N.D., along with Clint Hill, co-author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me, and actor Josh Duhame (All My Children and Las Vegas).

Drawing on her Norwegian roots and collection of immigrant stories, Snelling has written 17 novels published by Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group that are set on the banks of the Red River in fictional Blessing, N.D.

Other books include An Untamed Land and A Heart for Home (both Bethany House), and Reunion (FaithWords). Bethany House plans to release A Norwegian Maiden in September 2013. A Hand to Hold, a nonfiction title, was published by Revell/Baker Publishing Group.

"This award totally blew me away," Snelling said. "I wrote the Red River books in honor of our farmers, especially those immigrants of Scandinavian descent, who have worked so hard and creatively to claim their land and eventually feed the world. Our forefathers and mothers were incredibly strong and resilient, and now I get to write their stories and brag about them. I can't think of anything better."

Snelling's grandparents emigrated from Norway. She now lives in Tehachapi, Calif., with her husband, Wayne.

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