Between the pages of a Canadian history recollection book titled Between and Beyond the Benches, Vernon writer Natalie Appleton came upon the fascinating true story of a woman named Belle Jane.

Ms. Jane, learned Appleton, was married five times, took each husband's last name, was very charming, and intelligent to talk with.

Oh, and she was the head and brains of a gang of horse and cattle thieves, for which "she put in time."

"So I started getting really curious. How does a woman come to lead a gang of cattle thieves in the 1920s, and what eventually sort of led to her end as the brains behind that gang?" said Appleton.

"So I started researching, and as I learned more, I just got more and more curious, and had more questions. It was clear, she led a really remarkable life.

"And I thought if I'm having this much fun learning about her story, maybe others would too."

Over the course of a year, Appleton did more research, completed a rough draft, and came up with a (mostly) fictional tale for her second book and first novel, I Want To Die In My Boots.

It is, said Appleton's publisher, "the untold story of Belle Jane, the woman who ran one of Canada's largest cattle thieving rings in the 1920s; who brilliantly broke every taboo; took the names of five different husbands; and nearly followed the tragic end of her great hero, the outlaw queen Belle Starr.

"Dark and daring, meticulously researched and mostly true, I Want to Die in My Boots is a lyrical, unconventional literary novel that gives voice to the unheard in a long-forgotten world."

Appleton writes about Jane a century after her arrest. Jane was the last of her husband's names Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ she married the man in her 50s Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ and we learn her last place of residence was Penticton, where she would read tea leaves, and maybe some tarot cards, to strangers.

"I think what was most interesting about her, which is kind of a timeless story about womanhood, is that like a lot of women, you know, come what may, she just carried on, picked herself up and started over time and again," said Appleton.

"She faced a lot of hardship. Being a woman at that time was not an easy endeavour. She was ambitious and smart, and found a way to carry on. I think a lot of stories about that time are written from the male perspective. And so I just found it really interesting to sort of imagine a little bit more of how can we tell this story from the perspective of a woman, or if Belle Jane was telling her story, what would she want us to know, what would she say?"

Appleton's research led to figure out the plot points of where and when Jane was at in different stages of her life. But in between those stages, there are conversations and conflicts for Jane, and that's where Appleton uses her vivid imagination.

"Much of the book is based on actual events that I was able to glean from birth and death certificates, dozens of newspaper clippings, border crossings, things like that," she said.

Appleton's first book was a travel memoir.

Her first novel, she said, was a ton of fun to write.

"My writing practice is early morning writing which usually involves getting up about five o'clock in the morning, and I just couldn't wait to wake up, learn more about her life, and then write about her," said Appleton, married, and mom to two young boys.

I Want To Die In My Books will be available in book stores April 8.

Appleton will give a reading from the pages of the book at Vernon's The Bean Scene Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.