Bio: Sherman Alexie

Last update: August 31, 2007 - 5:45 PM

BIO IN BRIEF SHERMAN ALEXIE

Family: Born Oct. 7, 1966, in Spokane, Wash., to Sherman Joseph (Coeur d'Alene) and Lillian Agnes (Spokane) Alexie, and raised on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit. Lives in Seattle with his wife, Diane, and two sons, ages 6 and 10.

Education: Gonzaga University, Spokane, 1985-87; Washington State University, B.A., 1991.

Awards: 1993 PEN/Hemingway, 1994 Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest, 2001 PEN/Malamud, 2004 Pushcart Prize.

What he can't stomach: Indian poseurs, Indiophiles, Indiophobes, President Bush, the term Native American (because it can mean "anyone born in America"), Crocs worn outside the garden.

What he loves: Family, his mother's quilts, shooting hoops, oversized superhero comic books from his childhood, Allen Ginsberg's "Howl," Dungeons & Dragons, tortilla chips and salsa.

RÉSUMÉ SHERMAN ALEXIE

Selected publications: "I Would Steal Horses" (poems, 1992); "The Business of Fancydancing" (poems and stories, 1992); "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" (stories, 1993); "Reservation Blues" (novel, 1994); "Indian Killer" (novel, 1996); "One Stick Song" (poetry, 2000); "Ten Little Indians" (stories, 2003); "Flight" (2007); "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (young-adult novel with illustrations by Ellen Forney, 2007).

Films: "Smoke Signals" (1998), "The Business of Fancydancing" (2003).

On the Web: See more at Alexie's website at www.fallsapart.com.

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.