Writing Out Loud, 2012
“A powerful novel in a mesmerizing prose.”—New York Newsday
Rilla Askew
(1951– )
Award-winning novelist Rilla Askew has found the lyricism in Oklahoma’s complex history. Even as she focuses on the Trail of Tears, the Greenwood Race Riots, and the Dust Bowl, her eloquence, described by Publishers Weekly as “a pleasure to behold,” places those tragedies in a larger context.
Like N. Scott Momaday, she also incorporates a variety of narrative voices. For example, in her Depression-era novel Harpsong (2007), which many view as a rebuttal to The Grapes of Wrath, she includes “deepsong” and “folksay” passages that give the story mythic resonance.
Related listings: N. Scott Momaday and Anna Myers
Did You Know...
Rilla Askew describes her penchant for wearing distinctive boots as "boot lust."Getting Started with Rilla Askew
Selected WorksThe Mercy Seat, 1997
Fire in Beulah, 2001
Harpsong, 2007
Rilla Askew’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2008
“It is a deep new pleasure to come on a poet with the imaginative boldness of Jim Barnes.”—James Dickey
Jim Barnes
(1933– )
Though a native Oklahoman of Choctaw/Welsh descent, Jim has always reached across borders with such far-ranging poetry collections as The Fish on Poteau Mountain (1980) and Paris: Poems (1997). Even his autobiography, On Native Ground: Memoirs and Impressions (1997), resonates with universal themes. As the Library Journal notes in its review, his broad sweep extends “From the simplicity of rural Oklahoma in the years surrounding World War II to the lyrical beauty of a villa in the Italian countryside. ”
Jim, who served as Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate from 2009-2010, has also been a mentor to other writers through his work as editor of The Chariton Review.
Related listings: N. Scott Momaday and Joy Harjo
Did You Know...
Jim Barnes points to Winding Stair Mountain and Robbers Cave as two of the most memorable landmarks of his childhood.Getting Started with Jim Barnes
Selected WorksOn Native Ground—Memoirs and Impressions, 1997
On a Wing of the Sun—Three Volumes of Poetry, 2001
Visiting Picasso, 2007
Hanksville.org
Writing Out Loud, 2009
“An appealing mystery with a wry perspective.”—Publishers Weekly
William Bernhardt
(1960– )
Bill Bernhardt’s writing niche is the Ben Kincaid mystery/thriller series (1991-2010), featuring the title character as a struggling lawyer who can’t say “no” to an underdog. Though Ben drinks a little too much chocolate milk, he’s no milquetoast and eventually becomes a powerful politician, championing worthy causes from the nation’s capital.
Bill, an attorney himself, has often been asked how closely Ben is based on him. His response: he likes to think he’s a better lawyer than Ben. Bill has also written several stand-alone books, including a poetry collection, and has become a mentor to other writers through his writing workshops and publishing company.
Related listings: Carolyn G. Hart and Tony Hillerman
Did You Know...
William Bernhardt has constructed crossword puzzles for the New York Times.Getting Started with William Bernhardt
Selected WorksPrimary Justice, 1991
The Cody of Buddyhood, 1992
Princess Alice and the Dreadful Dragon, 2007
William Bernhardt’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2008
“Wise, timely, and constructive views from one of the leading public servants and educators of our time.”—David McCullough
David Boren
(1941–2025)
Former Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator David Boren, past president of the University of Oklahoma, is author of A Letter to America (2008), an open appeal to our country that Jim Lehrer calls “a message of alarm but also of hope. ”
A student of literature as well as politics and history, Boren quietly disagreed with his father Lyle Boren’s view of The Grapes of Wrath and its impact on Oklahoma. The elder Boren, a former Congressman, was particularly offended by Steinbeck’s portrayal of the Joads and denounced the novel on the House floor. But in his personal correspondence, David writes that he believes Steinbeck “treated the family as tenacious, heroic, and in many respects triumphant.”
Related listings: Bob Burke and Fred R. Harris
Did You Know...
As a young man, David Boren developed a friendship with poet Robert Frost.Getting Started with David Boren
Selected WorksA Letter to America, 2008
Also: Oklahoma Statesman: The Life of David Boren by Bob Burke, Von Russell Creel, and Gini Moore Campbell, 2008
Find Out MoreThe Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2009
“In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.”—John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
Bob Burke
(1948– )
Historian Bob Burke has written over 100 nonfiction books celebrating Oklahoma and its people. Particularly known for his biographies, he has collaborated with other writers to tell the stories of such legendary Oklahomans as David Boren, Wiley Post, Ralph Ellison, and Kate Barnard. He has also published several retrospectives, including The Glory Days of Summer: The History of Baseball in Oklahoma (1999).
An attorney as well as an author, Bob comes to the state’s defense in John Steinbeck Was Wrong about Oklahoma! (2008). The book challenges Steinbeck’s characterization of “Okies” in his classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath (1939).
Related listings: George Nigh and David Boren
Did You Know...
Bob Burke began his career in radio, working as a disc jockey and sportscaster.Getting Started with Bob Burke
Selected WorksGood Guys Wear White Hats: The Life of George Nigh, 2000
John Steinbeck Was Wrong about Oklahoma! 2008
Oklahoma Statesman: The Life of David Boren, 2008
Bob Burke’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2012
“P. C. Cast introduces modern woman Shannon into a mythic world with humor and verve.”—Publishers Weekly
P. C. Cast
(1960– )
P. C. Cast understands: even fantasy literature has to make concessions to real life. In Divine by Mistake (2006), P. C. introduces us to a beleaguered English teacher mistaken for the goddess of Partholon. Though the teacher enjoys some great goddess perks, she soon realizes her empowerment is an illusion. The sacred feminine remains an important theme in all of P. C.’s novels, including her Goddess Summoning series, which begins with Goddess of the Sea (2003).
P. C. , the cousin of novelist Anne Tyler, also coauthors the blockbuster House of Night vampyre series (2007-present) with her daughter Kristin. The series will soon be the basis for a major motion picture.
Related listings: Kristin Cast and C. J. Cherryh
Did You Know...
P. C. Cast is an art enthusiast and owns an original Picasso.Getting Started with P. C. Cast
Selected WorksDivine by Mistake, 2006, originally published as Goddess by Mistake, 2001
Goddess of the Sea, 2003
Marked, 2007
P. C. Cast’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“Totally awesome new take on vampyres.”—Gena Showalter
Kristin Cast
(1986– )
Kristin and her mother P. C. are the creators of the best-selling House of Night series that focuses on young adults coming of age at a vampyre finishing school. But the series, which begins with Marked (2007), is about more than just the surreal. Pointing to acceptance as one of their major themes, Kristin explains, “I feel like it’s very important to accept those, not only of different sexual preferences, but also of different races and genders.”
Recently Kristin has been doing solo pieces, and her story “Above” was included in the anthology, Kisses from Hell (2010).
Related listings: P. C. Cast and C. J. Cherryh
Did You Know...
An accomplished businesswoman as well as a writer, Kristin Cast has her own clothing line. She has also become a mentor to other authors.Getting Started with Kristin Cast
Selected WorksMarked, 2007
Kisses from Hell, 2010 (Anthology)
Dragon’s Oath, 2011
Kristin Cast’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2005
“Cherryh tantalizes our minds.”—Publishers Weekly
C. J. Cherryh
(1942– )
C. J. Cherryh approaches her writing as an anthropologist, creating worlds that are at once fanciful and credible. In what many consider her masterwork, Downbelow Station (1981), warring space stations and vulnerable aliens inspire familiar vices and virtues.
C. J. created yet another universe and ongoing series with her novel Foreigner (1994), described by Publishers Weekly as “serious space opera at its very best.” But C. J. notes, “I don't plan to neglect where I am either, and I'm keeping a constantly updated list of wonders this planet has to see.”
Related listings: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Did You Know...
One of C. J. Cherryh's hobbies is ice skating.Getting Started with C. J. Cherryh
Selected WorksDownbelow Station: The Company Wars, 1981
Cyteen, 1988
Foreigner, 1994
C. J. Cherryh’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2005
“Mountain Windsong evokes deep feelings and thoughtful reflection. It is a poignant story, powerful and disturbing.”—Wilma Mankiller
Robert J. Conley
(1940–2014)
The author of over 70 books, Robert J. Conley reaches beyond Native American stereotypes to revisit our country’s history. His novel, Mountain Windsong (1992), is an uncompromising account of the Trail of Tears that, like much of his work, also celebrates the mythic tradition of the Cherokee people. The story later became a stage musical, featuring Cherokee opera star Barbara McAlister.
More recently, Robert has written Cherokee Thoughts: Honest and Uncensored (2008), a collection of essays that cover such wide-ranging topics as tribal matriarchy and native humor.
Related listings: Wilma Mankiller and N. Scott Momaday
Did You Know...
Robert Conley had a special fan, the late Irish author Christy Brown, a cerebral palsy victim who was the subject of the film My Left Foot.Getting Started with Robert J. Conley
Selected WorksThe Way of the Priests, 1992
Mountain Windsong: A Novel of the Trail of Tears, 1992
Cherokee Thoughts: Honest and Uncensored, 2008
Hanksville.org
Writing Out Loud, 2006
“Clever and entertaining”—Kirkus Reviews
Jay Cronley
(1948–2017)
Humorist and best-selling novelist Jay Cronley has found a far-reaching forum through his column at the Tulsa World. His recent article, “Extended Warranties Needed on People” (5/8/2012), reminds us that laughter often resonates with deeper meaning.
Jay’s novels reflect the same quirky sense of humor, and several of his comic crime capers have become successful motion pictures including, Funny Farm, Quick Change, and Let It Ride (based on Good Vibes, 1979). Let It Ride, about horse racing, reflects Jay’s real-life enthusiasm for the sport, which he frequently covers for ESPN.
Related links: S. E. Hinton and Doug Marlette
Did You Know...
There is a 2004 French film, Nos Amis Les Flics, based on Jay Cronley's novel Cheap Shot.Getting Started with Jay Cronley
Selected WorksFunny Farm: A Sweeping Epic of the Sticks, 1985
Good Vibes, 1979
Walking Papers, 1988
Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“This tale provides a fresh look at modern belief in a still-powerful legend.”—School Library Journal
Kim Doner
(1955– )
An award-winning children’s writer and illustrator, Kim Doner is known for underscoring important life lessons with bold swaths of color. Kim is also a dedicated animal rights activist, and that passion is often reflected in her stories. For example, her picture book, On a Road in Africa (2008), is based on Kim’s experiences at an animal orphanage in Kenya, where she worked directly with animal conservationists.
More recently Kim has been illustrating books for best-selling author P. C. Cast, including The Fledgling Handbook 101 (2010), a primer for P. C. ’s House of Night series. Kim has a writing credit for the handbook as well.
Related listings: P. C. Cast and Anna Myers
Did You Know...
Kim never met a furry or feathered friend she didn't like and actively works as an animal rescuer.Getting Started with Kim Doner
Selected WorksBuffalo Dreams, 1999
On a Road in Africa, 2008
The Fledgling Handbook 101, 2010
The Science Beneath the Sketch, TEDxTulsaCC on YouTube
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“Delightful.”—Publishers Weekly
Ree Drummond
(1969– )
Inspired by technology, Ree Drummond uses her popular Pioneer Woman website to write about the ups and downs of family life on their bustling Oklahoma ranch. The site has attracted so much attention that, in 2010, Forbes included Ree on its list of the 25 top web celebrities. Ree, who posts photos and recipes along with her blogs, has published several best-selling cookbooks and memoirs, including Pioneer Woman: Girl Meets Cowboy (2012).
A master chef, Ree has been featured on several television shows, including Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. She hosts her own program, Pioneer Woman, on the Food Network.
Related listings: Clifton Taulbert and Wilma Mankiller
Did You Know...
Before Ree Drummond met her cowboy husband, she planned on attending law school.Getting Started with Ree Drummond
Selected WorksThe Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl, 2009
Charlie the Ranch Dog, 2011
Pioneer Woman: Girl Meets Cowboy, 2012
The Pioneer Woman website
“Invisible Man belongs on the shelf with the classical efforts man has made to chart the river Lethe from its mouth to its source.”—The New York Times Book Review
Ralph Ellison
(1913–1994)
Though Ralph Ellison was reluctant to acknowledge autobiographical ties to his novel, Invisible Man (1952), most critics agree that much of the book alludes to Ellison’s early years as a student at Tuskegee and as an aspiring writer in New York. Ellison himself understood the paradox. As a winner the National Book Award, he was one of the most recognized writers in the country. His narrator, on the other hand, had been so marginalized by society he was nameless.
Ellison is also the author of Shadow and Act (1964), a collection of essays, but he was never able to complete his second novel, Juneteenth, which was published posthumously.
Related links: Joyce Carol Thomas and Clifton Taulbert
Did You Know...
When Ralph Ellison won the National Book Award, one of the other nominees was literary icon Ernest Hemingway.Getting Started with Ralph Ellison
Selected WorksInvisible Man, 1952
Shadow and Act, 1964
Juneteenth, 1999
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2008
“There's a lot to love here.”—Billboard
Vince Gill
(1957– )
The winner of 27 Grammy Awards, Vince Gill is one of the leading songwriters and performers of our time. Though many of his songs are classified as “country,” Vince, who plays several different instruments, is generally regarded as a crossover artist. In fact, his album These Days (2006) showcases his talents in four different genres: traditional country, bluegrass, jazz, and rock.
Married to inspirational singer Amy Grant, Vince often alludes to their relationship with such refrains as: “And when you smile that smile, the whole world turns upside down” from “Whenever You Come Around” (1994).
Related listings: Arlo Guthrie and Joy Harjo
Fred R. Harris
Did You Know...
Though he's a legendary musician, Vince Gill doesn't read music. He plays by ear.Getting Started with Vince Gill
Selected WorksWhen I Call Your Name, 1989 (Audio CD)
These Days, 2006 (Audio CD)
Guitar Slinger, 2011 (Audio CD)
Vince Gill’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2005
“This is as finger-snapping catchy as Mother Goose with antlers.”—Kirkus Reviews
Arlo Guthrie
(1947– )
Arlo Guthrie isn’t a native Oklahoman, but he has strong ties to the state through his father, legendary singer Woody Guthrie. If fact, Arlo visits the state often and regularly performs for many of the same fans who celebrate Woody’s music. Though Arlo pays homage to Woody through his work, he is an accomplished performer in his own right, known for such classic albums as Alice’s Restaurant (1967).
In 1995, Arlo, also an actor, launched his career as a children’s author with Mooses Come Walking. In reviewing the book, em>The New York Times noted that Arlo “never loses his audience.”
Related listings: Vince Gill and Ron Padgett
Did You Know...
Arlo Guthrie is not a fan of the biopic Bound for Glory because he doesn't feel David Carradine was the right actor to play his father, Woody.Getting Started with Arlo Guthrie
Selected WorksAlice’s Restaurant, 1990 (Audio CD), originally released in 1967
Mooses Come Walking, 1995
The Best of Arlo Guthrie, 2007 (Audio CD)
Arlo Guthrie’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2012
“Joy Harjo has always been able to see with more than her eyes.”—Sandra Cisneros
Joy Harjo
(1951– )
The first Native American to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate (2019–2022), Joy Harjo often uses her poetry to address racial divides as well as the perplexities of cultural and gender gaps. Her poem, “She Had Some Horses” (1983) is a litany of paradoxes and ends with this conundrum: “She had some horses she loved. / She had some horses she hated. / These were the same horses.” She deals with these same dichotomies and nuances in her critically acclaimed memoir, Crazy Brave (2012).
In recent years, Joy, who plays the saxophone, has become a renowned performance artist, starring in her one-woman show, Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light.
Related links: Wilma Mankiller and Lance Henson
Did You Know...
Joy Harjo has numerous tattoos, but they are more than just novelties to her. She regards them as art and also as a reflection of her essential values.Getting Started with Joy Harjo
Selected WorksThe Woman Who Fell from the Sky, 1994
She Had Some Horses, 2006 (Audio CD)
Crazy Brave, 2012
Joy Harjo’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2008
“A well written, fun read that will make you understand why Harris is being included with the likes of Willa Cather and Larry McMurtry.”—Tulsa World
Fred R. Harris
(1930–2024)
Former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, Fred R. Harris began his writing career by focusing on books such as The New Populism (1973) that reflected his political philosophy and concerns. It wasn’t until several years later, under the tutelage of Tony Hillerman, that he published Coyote Revenge (1999), the first of two Depression-era mystery novels featuring Sheriff Okie Dunn.
Fred has also written extensively about his own life, most recently in Does People Do It? (2008). The memoir chronicles his growing up years in Oklahoma, as well as his tenure in Washington.
Related listings: David Boren and Tony Hillerman
Did You Know...
Fred R. Harris was on the short list to be Hubert Humphrey's running mate in the 1968 Presidential election.Getting Started with Fred R. Harris
Selected WorksCoyote Revenge, 1999
Following the Harvest, 2004
Does People Do It?, 2008
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2012
“Hart masterfully portrays an American small town during WWII.”—Publishers Weekly
Carolyn G. Hart
(1936– )
Carolyn G. Hart, who refers to mysteries as contemporary morality plays, is best known for her Death on Demand series (1987-present), which focuses on husband and wife sleuths Max and Annie Darling. The author of over 50 books, Carolyn has shied away from including more graphic violence in her novels, preferring the cozier formats that were once the forte of Agatha Christie.
In addition to publishing two other popular series, Carolyn has also written stand alone titles, most notably Letter from Home, a WWII novel, which Carolyn says is her most autobiographical story.
Related listings: Tony Hillerman and William Bernhardt
Did You Know...
Carolyn G. Hart is a cat lover, and cats often appear on her book covers.Getting Started with Carolyn G. Hart
Selected WorksDeath on Demand, 1987
Letter from Home, 2003
Ghost at Work, 2008
Carolyn Hart’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2011
Jim Hartz
(1940–2022)
Five-time Emmy award winner Jim Hartz began his broadcasting career at KOTV in Tulsa before moving on to the major television networks. In the mid-1970s, he became nationally recognized for his role as cohost of the Today show with up-and-coming journalist Barbara Walters. Some of their landmark broadcasts included their coverage of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. Later, Jim coanchored the PBS series Over Easy with veteran actress Mary Martin.
A lifelong fan of fellow journalist Will Rogers, Jim serves as chairman of the board of commissioners for the Will Rogers Memorial.
Related listings: Jim Lehrer and Doris Meyer
Did You Know...
Before he decided on a career in journalism, Jim planned on being a doctor.Getting Started with Jim Hartz
Selected WorksThe Ropin’ Fool—Saga of Will Rogers, Will Rogers Heritage Trust (DVD)
Find Out MoreThe Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“It's a challenge today to live as an indigenous person.”—Lance Henson
Lance Henson
(1944– )
Half Cheyenne and half Cajun French, Lance Henson points to an eclectic mix of other poets who have influenced his work, including Walt Whitman and N. Scott Momaday. However, it is his native upbringing that most informs his poetry, and he frequently incorporates Cheyenne phrases and culture in such collections as The Missing Bead (2009) and The Wolf Texts (2009).
The Missing Bead is subtitled Poems Written by a Dog Soldier in Exile, and Lance, a Vietnam veteran, lives in Italy. Many of his books are bilingual with Italian and English versions on facing pages.
Related listings: Joy Harjo and N. Scott Momaday
Did You Know...
Lance Henson attributes his penchant for hot, spicy food to his Cajun heritage.Getting Started with Lance Henson
Selected WorksA Cheyenne Sketchbook—Selected Poems 1970-1991, 1992
The Missing Bead—Poems Written by a Dog Soldier in Exile, 2009
The Wolf Texts, 2009
Hanksville.org
Writing Out Loud, 2012
“Thoughtful and disturbing examination of slippery ideas, rendered in powerful prose.”—Kirkus Reviews
Anita Hill
(1956– )
Though Anita Hill rose to national prominence because of her accusations during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, she has since established herself as a leading scholar and social activist. In her book, Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, and Finding Home (2011), she examines the role home ownership plays in a democracy. The book also provides important insights into Anita’s personal history.
Anita’s odyssey as a public figure has inspired numerous writers, including Pulitzer-winning columnist Anna Quindlen, who wrote four New York Times columns about Hill’s Senate testimony.
Related listings: Clifton Taulbert and Joyce Carol Thomas
Did You Know...
Anita Hill's African American family went from being property to owning property in one generation.Getting Started with Anita Hill
Selected WorksSpeaking Truth to Power, 1997
Reimagining Equality: Stores of Gender, Race, and Finding Home, 2011
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 1999
“Skillful. Provocative. The action never flags.”—The New York Times Book Review
Tony Hillerman
(1925–2008)
Though not Native American himself, Tony Hillerman has provided unique insights into the Navajo culture through his mysteries, featuring tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. The two characters, facing very different life challenges, work together for the greater good, solving crimes that breach tribal and moral authority. In A Thief of Time (1988), they investigate the heinous violation of sacred ground.
Tony, born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, has also written several out-of-series books, including a memoir, Seldom Disappointed (2001), described by Publishers Weekly as “utterly delightful. ”
Related listings: Carolyn G. Hart and N. Scott Momaday
Did You Know...
While serving during World War II, Tony Hillerman suffered from temporary blindness.Getting Started with Tony Hillerman
Selected WorksA Thief of Time, 1988
Finding Moon, 1995
Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir, 2001
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“Now considered a classic.”—Booklist
S. E. Hinton
(1948– )
The semester sixteen-year-old S. E. , “Susie,” Hinton was working on a novel she called A Different Sunset, she received a “D” in her creative writing class. The book, later renamed The Outsiders (1967), became one of the all-time best-selling books in publishing history and is generally credited with creating the genre of young adult literature. Ironically Susie received her book contract on graduation day.
Susie, the author other of several other novels, is also known for her film collaborations, including her work on Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders.
Related listings: John Wooley and Anna Myers
Did You Know...
Susie Hinton was an avid fan of the television series, Supernatural, and often visited the actors on location.Getting Started with S. E. Hinton
Selected WorksThe Outsiders, 1967
Hawkes Harbor, 2004
Some of Tim’s Stories, 2007
S. E. Hinton’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2005
“The most endearing cast of characters since the days of Damon Runyon.”—The Denver Post
Jim Lehrer
(1934–2020)
Though Jim Lehrer, the veteran PBS news anchor, is known for his objective reporting, he is also a prolific fiction writer, who has focused on Oklahoma in his One-Eyed Mack series. The novels feature Mack, the state’s quirky lieutenant governor, in a variety of tongue-in-cheek political capers that have had real-life consequences. In fact, some pundits credit Crown Oklahoma (1989), with jump-starting the successful campaign to build a dome for the state capitol.
Jim, who grew up in Kansas, had relatives in Oklahoma and became acquainted with the state by catching rides on his father’s bus route. He has written several accounts of his life, most recently Tension City (2011), about his tenure moderating presidential debates.
Related links: George Nigh and David Boren
Did You Know...
Jim Lehrer's father was a bus driver, and Jim collects bus memorabilia. He even has his own bus.Getting Started with Jim Lehrer
Selected WorksA Bus of My Own, 1992
Crown Oklahoma, 1989
Tension City, 2011
Wikipedia
Writing Out Loud, 2005
“The Hot Kid is Leonard at his best”—Tulsa World
Elmore Leonard
(1925–2013)
When Elmore Leonard’s western novel The Hot Kid (2005) was released, he insisted that the book launch be held in Oklahoma, where the story takes place. Elmore lived in Oklahoma briefly as a boy and has also set other stories in the state. In fact, he is so loyal that when The New York Times was serializing a sequel to The Hot Kid, he took great exception to a proposed illustration that downgraded Tulsa’s Mayo Hotel to a motel.
Though known for other classic westerns such as Hombre (1961), Elmore has also written several best-selling crime capers, including Get Shorty (1990).
Related links: Michael Wallis and William Bernhardt
Did You Know...
One of Elmore Leonard's rules for good writing is to never use the words suddenly or all hell broke loose.Getting Started with Elmore Leonard
Selected WorksHombre, 1961
Get Shorty, 1990
The Hot Kid, 2005
The Elmore Leonard website
Writing Out Loud, 2009
”What I love about this book is the message that home and family are not always what you are born into, but in the people and places where you find love.”—Oprah Winfrey
Billie Letts
(1938–2014)
Billie Letts, a former college English professor, became a household name when Oprah Winfrey selected her first novel, Where the Heart Is (1995), as an Oprah Book Club selection. The book, an international bestseller, features pregnant teenager Novalee Nation, who seeks refuge in an Oklahoma Wal-Mart store. Actress Natalie Portman portrays Novalee in the film version of the story.
Also an accomplished screenwriter, Billie is the mother of Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts. His play, August: Osage County (2008) is partially based on the tumultuous marriage of Billie’s parents.
Related listings: Tracy Letts and Rilla Askew
Did You Know...
Billie Letts was once an Arthur Murray dance instructor.Getting Started with Billie Letts
Selected WorksWhere the Heart Is, 1995
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, 1998
Made in the USA, 2008
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2008
”Fiercely funny and bitingly sad.”—Christopher Isherwood, New York Times
Tracy Letts
(1965– )
Ironically, when Tracy Letts wrote his Pulitzer-winning drama, August: Osage County (2008), he had never been to Pawhuska, where the play is set. The title had come from a poem written by a family friend, Howard Starks. In fact, audiences see only the interior the Weston home, where window shades, sealed with duct tape, block out any lofty visions. As Barbara Weston tells us, “The plains are a state of mind.”
Tracy, considered one of the country’s preeminent playwrights, is a member of the legendary Steppenwolf acting ensemble and in October 2012, opened on Broadway in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Tracy’s father, Dennis, was also an actor and starred in the original production of August: Osage County.
Related links: Billie Letts and Tim Blake Nelson
Did You Know...
Tracy Letts once played author Mitch Albom in the play version of Tuesdays with Morrie.Getting Started with Tracy Letts
Selected WorksBug, 2005
Man from Nebraska, 2005
August: Osage County, 2008
Wikipedia
Writing Out Loud, 2005
”This is strong, action-packed stuff from Lovelace.”—Publishers Weekly
Merline Lovelace
(1946– )
A retired United States Air Force colonel, best-selling novelist Merline Lovelace understands the rigors of love—and war. Merline, who comes from a military family, actually met her husband shortly after enlisting, and they both served in Vietnam. Many of her novels such as Line of Duty (1996) and Duty and Dishonor (1997) reflect her firsthand knowledge of the armed forces.
Merline also writes historical novels, contemporary romances, and mysteries. Because she is so well known for her romances, some readers have speculated that “Lovelace” is a pseudonym, but it is her actual married name.
Related listings: P. C. Cast and Carolyn Hart
Did You Know...
Merline Lovelace has studied Mandarin Chinese at Princeton University.Getting Started with Merline Lovelace
Selected WorksNight of the Jaguar, 1995
Line of Duty, 1996
The Paternity Promise, 2012
Merline Lovelace’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2009
”Mankiller offers herself as a valuable role model—for women as well as Native Americans.”—Publishers Weekly
Wilma Mankiller
(1945–2010)
In addition to making history as Principal Chief of the Cherokees and becoming an important symbol of female empowerment, Wilma Mankiller was also a noted writer and editor. She cowrote her autobiography, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People (1993), with Michael Wallis, addressing such controversial topics as Cherokee slaveholders and her own role in the political protests at Alcatraz.
Her most recent book, Every Day is a Good Day: Reflections by Contemporary Indigenous Women (2004), is an anthology of ideas, exploring the collective life strategies of native women, including Joy Harjo.
The accompanying Writing Out Loud program was Wilma’s final public interview.
Related links: Michael Wallis and Joy Harjo
Did You Know...
Even after Wilma Mankiller became famous, she continued to live in her ancestral home and cook on a wood stove.Getting Started with Wilma Mankiller
Selected WorksMankiller: A Chief and Her People, 1993
Every Day is a Good Day: Reflections by Contemporary Indigenous Women, 2004
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2007
”The fiction debut of a gifted and perceptive artist.”—Publishers Weekly
Doug Marlette
(1949–2007)
During a visit to Oklahoma in 2002, Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist Doug Marlette became so impressed with Tulsa that he eventually joined the staff at the The Tulsa World, where he satirized state as well as national politics.
In addition to his work as a cartoonist, Doug was also a prolific writer, and his essays and op-ed pieces were carried in leading newspapers and magazines throughout the world. His first novel, The Bridge, was published in 2001 and launched his literary career. In reviewing the book, Booklist noted, “Marlette masterfully evokes the fierce familial bonds that can either devastate or liberate the human spirit.”
Related listings: Jim Lehrer and Jay Cronley
Did You Know...
Doug Marlette's best friend was legendary novelist Pat Conroy. They talked on the phone daily.Getting Started with Doug Marlette
Selected WorksIn Your Face: A Cartoonist at Work, 1991
The Bridge, 2001
Magic Time, 2006
Wikipedia
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“Coke Meyer exemplifies the Cherokee tradition of storytelling in her biography of her beloved uncle.”—Bill John Baker, Chief of the Cherokees
Doris Meyer
(1919–2017)
The grandniece of the legendary Will Rogers, Doris Meyer, “Coke” to friends, waited until she was in her nineties to jumpstart her writing career. Her goal was simple: she wanted to provide a more personal glimpse into the life of America’s favorite son. In I Called Him Uncle Will (2012), she does just that, sharing family anecdotes that show how humble and caring her uncle could be.
In reviewing the biography, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin writes, “This book is an intimate glimpse into the family of one of America’s most loved men.”
Related listings: Jim Hartz and George Nigh
Did You Know...
When Doris was just a girl, she was nicknamed “Coke” because she enjoyed the soft drink so much.Getting Started with Doris Meyer
Selected WorksI Called Him Uncle Will, 2012
Find Out MoreVoices of Oklahoma
Writing Out Loud, 2008.
“Teresa Miller is a novelist of superb skills.”—Jim Lehrer
Teresa Miller
(1952– )
While still in her twenties, Teresa Miller published her first novel Remnants of Glory (1981), which received kudos from authors such as John Gardner and Jim Lehrer. More recently, she has written a memoir, Means of Transit (2008), which was featured on NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show.
Teresa is also the founder of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. Through the Center, she produced and hosted the television program Writing Out Loud, which was broadcast on OETA, Oklahoma’s PBS affiliate. The series showcased many of the country’s leading writers, including over twenty Pulitzer winners.
Related listings: Ron Padgett and Billie Letts
Did You Know...
Teresa Miller unwinds by playing the video game Angry Birds.Getting Started with Teresa Miller
Selected WorksRemnants of Glory, 1981
Family Correspondence, 2000
Means of Transit, 2008
Wikipedia
Writing Out Loud, 2007
“Written with great dignity, the book has something about it of the timeless, of that long view down which the Kiowa look to their myth-shrouded beginnings.” —New York Times
N. Scott Momaday
(1934–2024)
Though N. Scott Momaday considered himself primarily a poet, he won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel, House Made of Dawn (1968), which many critics believe inspired a new generation of Native American writers. In fact, poet Joy Harjo acknowledges Scott’s influence in her memoir, Crazy Brave (2012).
Scott, Oklahoma’s Centennial Poet Laureate, published numerous collections of poetry, but many critics consider The Way to Rainy Mountain (1969), a cultural memoir, to be his masterwork. The book is illustrated by Scott’s father, the noted Kiowa painter Al Momaday.
Related listings: Wilma Mankiller and Joy Harjo
Did You Know...
N. Scott Momaday was fascinated by Billy the Kid and has written poems about him.Getting Started with N. Scott Momaday
Selected WorksHouse Made of Dawn, 1968
The Way to Rainy Mountain, 1969
Again the Far Morning: New and Selected Poems, 2011
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Bill Moyers On the Record, 2012
“Bill Moyers speaks for, and to, the conscience of our nation.”—Walter Cronkite
Bill Moyers
(1934– )
The winner of over thirty Emmy Awards, Bill Moyers is known for producing public television programs, including Bill Moyers Journal and Moyers and Company, that explore such life-changing topics as religion, myth, and the American dream.
Also an accomplished author, Bill has written several books, many of them based on his television work. In Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues (2011), he provides new commentary on his previous visits with such notables as religious scholar Karen Armstrong, novelist John Grisham, and animal rights activist Jane Goodall.
Related listings: Jim Lehrer and Jim Hartz
Did You Know...
Early in his professional life, Bill Moyers worked as an ordained Baptist minister.Getting Started with Bill Moyers
Selected WorksMoyers on America: A Journalist and His Times, 2004
Moyers on Democracy, 2008
Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues, 2011
Bill Moyers’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2009
“Compassion and hope prevail in a powerful novel.”—Booklist
Anna Myers
(1942– )
Young adult author Anna Myers has won multiple awards for her edgy historical fiction. By dealing with such wide-ranging subjects as Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the Salem witchcraft trials, Anna, a former teacher, has been able to question and reaffirm timeless values. In Tulsa Burning (2002), a coming of age novel, she introduces us to fifteen-year-old Noble, a victim himself, who ultimately lives up to his name by making courageous decisions during the Tulsa Race Massacre (1921).
Though Anna’s primary characters are almost always fictional, she also populates her stories with actual historical figures, some as notorious as John Wilkes Booth.
Related listings: S. E. Hinton and Tim Tharp
Did You Know...
Anna Myers was born in Pinky George's Liquor Store in Whiteface, Texas.Getting Started with Anna Myers
Selected WorksRed-Dirt Jessie, 1992
Tulsa Burning, 2002
Time of the Witches, 2009
Interview with Anna Myers
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“A spirited tribute both to the classics of world literature and to resistance against oppression.”—Kirkus Reviews
Azar Nafisi
(ca. 1947– )
Azar Nafisi, who studied at the University of Oklahoma, keys her critically acclaimed bestseller, Reading Lolita in Tehran—A Memoir in Books (2003), to the novels she picked for a book club she formed after returning to Iran. As she reread classics, like Lolita, she and the students she was mentoring reexamined their loyalties to a country they no longer recognized.
An outspoken advocate for human rights, Azar has noted, “It takes courage to die for a cause, but also to live for one.” Her latest memoir is Things I’ve been Silent About: Memories (2008).
Related listings: Wilma Mankiller and Clifton Taulbert
Did You Know...
Azar Nafisi's mother one of the first women to be elected to the Iranian parliament.Getting Started with Azar Nafisi
Selected WorksReading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, 2003
Things I’ve Remained Silent About: Memories, 2008
Azar Nafisi’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“From both a great and a terrible story, Mr. Nelson has made a film that is an undeniably worthy and devastating experience.”—Rex Reed, New York Observor
Tim Blake Nelson
(1964– )
It’s a testament to Tim Blake Nelson’s acting ability that he was able to play Delmar, the doofus in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), with such conviction. In fact, Tim, a writer and director as well as an actor, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most serious filmmakers. For example, critic Roger Ebert refers to Tim’s Holocaust film, The Grey Zone (2001), as “immediate” and “unblinking.”
Tim has also written and directed thought-provoking, noir films set in Oklahoma, including Eye of God (1997) and Leaves of Grass (2009). Eye of God features Tulsa native Mary Kay Place.
Related listings: Tracy Letts and Joe Sears
Did You Know...
Though Brad Pitt wanted to play Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the film's producers eventually chose Tim Blake Nelson for the role.Getting Started with Tim Blake Nelson
Selected WorksEye of God, 1997 (DVD)
The Grey Zone, 2001 (DVD)
Leaves of Grass, 2009 (DVD)
Wikipedia
Writing Out Loud, circa 2000
“Let's do for Oklahoma what Rodgers and Hammerstein did; let's put an explanation point there... Oklahoma!”—George Nigh
George Nigh
(1927–2025)
Though former governor George Nigh never described himself as a writer, he wrote forewords to several books about Oklahoma and Oklahomans, including A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Historical Markers (2005) and Will Rogers: American Wordsmith (2010).
Nigh also figured prominently in books by other Oklahoma authors, most notably Bob Burke’s Good Guys Wear White Hats: The Life of George Nigh (2000). Bob prefaced the biography with a declaration: “No one influenced the course of Oklahoma in the 20th Century more that George Nigh. ”
Related listings: Bob Burke and David Boren
Did You Know...
In 1953, George Nigh introduced the legislation making "Oklahoma!" the official state song.Getting Started with George Nigh
Selected WorksOklahoma II, 1994 (commentary)
A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Historical Markers, 2005 (foreword)
Will Rogers: American Wordsmith, 2010 (foreword)
Also: Good Guys Wear White Hats: The Life of George Nigh, by Bob Burke, 2000
Find Out MoreThe Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 1995
“A charged insight into the abuse of sex and power.”—Kirkus Reviews
Darcy O’Brien
(1939–1998)
Though Darcy O’Brien received critical acclaim for his literary novel, A Way of Life, Like Any Other (1977), he is primarily known for his true crime stories, including The Power to Hurt (1996), which explore the widespread ramifications of violence. Of particular interest to Oklahomans is Darcy’s crime novel, The Silver Spooner (1981), based on the Mullendore murder case.
Darcy’s last book, The Hidden Pope (1998), was published after his death. The story focuses on the special friendship between Pope John II and Jerzy Kluger, a Polish Jew. Publishers Weekly calls it an “impressive study in faith, friendship and mutual respect.”
Related listings: Michael Wallis and Tim Blake Nelson
Did You Know...
Darcy O'Brien's mother was actress Marguerite Churchill.Getting Started with Darcy O’Brien
Selected WorksA Way of Life, Like Any Other, 1977
Power to Hurt, 1996
The Hidden Pope, 1998
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2004.
“Padget's sense of romantic joy is undiminished”—Publishers Weekly
Ron Padgett
(1942– )
Shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize in 2012, Ron Padgett confronts the complexities of this world with his edgy, though-provoking humor. In How to Be Perfect (2007), he talks of joining “the poetry protection program” so his poems “can live under assumed names in Utah and Muskogee.” He also advises, “Hope for everything. Expect nothing.” As Publishers Weekly notes, he is willing “to become both difficult and serious when a poem requires it.”
His memoir, Oklahoma Tough: My Father, King of the Tulsa Bootleggers (2003), demonstrates many of these same qualities and provides unique insights into Ron’s early years.
Related listings: Joy Harjo and Teresa Miller
Did You Know...
When he's not writing poetry, Ron Padgett likes mowing the lawn.Getting Started with Ron Padgett
Selected WorksOklahoma Tough, 2003
How to Be Perfect, 2007
How Long, 2011
Ron Padgett’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2008
“Both Adam Smith and Horatio Alger would find something to like in the rise of T. Boone Pickens.”—The Wall Street Journal
T. Boone Pickens
(1928–2019)
A tycoon in the truest sense of the term, T. Boone Pickens is generally recognized as one of the country’s wealthiest and most influential businessmen. Boone, who worked as a wildcatter before establishing his own oil company, is also a powerful advocate for alternative energy sources.
In other words, Boone, a noted philanthropist, is not all about business. In his latest memoir, The First Billion Is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future (2008), he shares personal stories and opinions as part of a larger conversation about our nation’s values.
Related listings: Jim Stovall and Clifton Taulbert
Did You Know...
Boone Pickens was the first child ever delivered by caesarean section in the Holdenville, Oklahoma, hospital.Getting Started with T. Boone Pickens
Selected WorksBoone, 1987
Boone Pickens: The Luckiest Guy in the World, 2000
The First Billion Is the Hardest, 2008
The T. Boone Pickens website
Writing Out Loud, 2010
“Hilarious.”—Washington Post
Joe Sears
(1949– )
Joe Sears, one of the stars and co-creators of Greater Tuna, has appeared in various incarnations throughout the years. We have known him as Bertha Bumiller, Aunt Pearl, Thurston Wheelis, Elmer Watkins, and several other leading citizens of Tuna, Texas (population 24). But first and foremost, he is a playwright, who has used his writing talents, as well as some impressive stagecraft, to create his own signature roles.
Joe, who also writes historical dramas, received a best actor Tony nomination in 1995 for his Broadway performance in A Tuna Christmas.
Related links: Tim Blake Nelson and Jay Cronley
Did You Know...
Joe Sears and Tuna co-star Jayston Williams were invited to the White House twice to perform for Senior President George Bush and his wife Barbara.Getting Started with Joe Sears
Selected WorksGreater Tuna, 2004 (DVD)
A Tuna Christmas, 2004 (DVD)
The Austin Chronicle
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“Jim Stovall is one of the most extraordinary men of our era.”—Steve Forbes
Jim Stovall
(1958– )
Even as a writer, Jim Stovall is always multitasking, creating literary works that can be shared through a variety of different platforms. For example, his novel The Ultimate Gift (2001) launched a series of books and became a major motion picture. The movie, in turn, inspired a musical CD. By the way, Jim, who’s blind, plays the limo driver in the film.
Jim, the founder of the Narrative Television Network, is also one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and has published several nonfiction titles, including The Ultimate Financial Plan: Balancing Your Money and Life (2011), co-written with business guru Tim Maurer.
Related listings: T. Boone Pickens and Clifton Taulbert
Did You Know...
Before Jim Stovall became a prominent businessman and writer, he was an Olympic weightlifter.Getting Started with Jim Stovall
Selected WorksYou Don’t Have to Be Blind to See, 1996
The Ultimate Gift, 2001
The Ultimate Financial Plan, 2011 (with Tim Maurer)
Jim Stovall’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“A bittersweet story about love, community, and family.”—Rosemary Bray, New York Times
Clifton Taulbert
(1945– )
For Clifton Taulbert, all roads lead to and from Glen Allan, Missipppi, the town that nurtured him as a child and inspired his bestselling memoir, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored (1989). The book, which also became a major film, focuses on the “porch people,” those friends and family members who helped Cliff sustain his dreams in the segregated south.
The “porch people” have continued to be his muse and their values inform his motivational book, Eight Habits of the Heart (1997), which focuses on cultivating “courage” and “dependability” as everyday life skills.
Related listings: Jim Stovall and Joyce Carol Thomas
Did You Know...
One of the first books Nelson Mandella received when he was released from prison, was Clifton Taulbert's Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored.Getting Started with Clifton Taulbert
Selected WorksOnce Upon a Time When We Were Colored, 1989
Eight Habits of the Heart, 1997
Little Cliff and the Porch People, 1999
Clifton Taulbert’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2008.
“A smart, superbly written novel.”—Publishers Weekly
Tim Tharp
(1957– )
Though Tim Tharp launched his writing career with the literary novel, Falling Dark (1999), he has since established himself as one of the country’s most respected authors of young adult fiction. In 2008, his book The Spectacular Now, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Like all of Tim’s stories, it is gritty as well as entertaining. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books describes it as "A sobering look at the rationalizations of a teenage alcoholic.”
The novel is also being adapted as a major motion picture. Filming began in the summer of 2012.
Related listings: S. E. Hinton and Anna Myers
Did You Know...
Tim Tharp is hooked on movies from the 1930s.Getting Started with Tim Tharp
Selected WorksFalling Dark, 1999
Knights of the Hill Country, 2006
The Spectacular Now, 2008
Tim Tharp’s website
Writing Out Loud, 2009
“Joyce Carol Thomas's characters enact the verities of human life: romance, apprehension, loss, and hope, and they perform on the author's real life stage.” —Maya Angelou
Joyce Carol Thomas
(1938–2016)
Joyce Carol Thomas won the National Book Award for her young adult literary novel, Marked by Fire (1982), which Booklist describes as “A lyrical celebration of black womanhood tempered by both pain and joy." The story also became the basis for the musical Abyssinia (1987), featuring such songs as “Honey and Lemon,” which speak to Joyce’s ongoing themes of redemption and loss.
Though Joyce grew up Ponca City, a racially divided community at the time, she continues to pay tribute to the state. In her poetry collection, I Have Heard of a Land (1998), set in Oklahoma Territory, she writes, “I have heard of a land where the imaginations know no fences.”
Related listings: Anita Hill and Clifton Taulbert
Did You Know...
Joyce Carol Thomas developed a close friendship with Alex Haley, the author of Roots.Getting Started with Joyce Carol Thomas
Selected WorksMarked by Fire, 1982
I Have Heard of a Land, 1998
The Blacker the Berry, 2008
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2007
“In the style of Will Rogers, Wallis gives a moving tribute to Oklahoma.”—Library Journal
Michael Wallis
(1945– )
Following in the tradition of legendary Oklahoma historian Angie Debo, Michael Wallis has become one of the state’s and the nation’s leading cultural historians. In fact, his collected essays about Oklahoma, Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation (1993), are dedicated to Angie. A master biographer, he has also immortalized such diverse Oklahomans as Frank Phillips, Wilma Mankiller, and Pretty Boy Floyd.
Michael is perhaps best known for his classic, Route 66: The Mother Road (1990). The book laid the groundwork for the Pixar film Cars, which features Michael as the voice for the Sheriff of Radiator Springs.
Related links: Wilma Mankiller and Rilla Askew
Did You Know...
Michael Wallis is a random collector of literary artifacts and owns D. H. Lawrence's axe.Getting Started with Michael Wallis
Selected WorksRoute 66: The Mother Road, 1990
Pretty Boy: The Life and Times of Charles Arthur Floyd, 1992
Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation, 1993
Voices of Oklahoma
Writing Out Loud, 2012.
“You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy this peek back into time.”—George H. W. Bush
Jay Wilkinson
(1942– )
The son of legendary Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson, Jay has written extensively about his father over the years, most recently in Dear Jay, Love Dad (2012). The memoir is based on letters the elder Wilkinson began sending Jay shortly after he left for college. Though Jay soon became a football star in his own right, the letters reach beyond that shared interest to address such wide-ranging topics as spirituality, literature, and politics.
Jay, a successful businessman and popular motivational speaker, has been featured on several national television programs, including Charlie Rose.
Related listings: Clifton Taulbert and Jim Stovall
Did You Know...
In 1963, Jay Wilkinson, a former college football player, finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.Getting Started with Jay Wilkinson
Selected WorksBud Wilkinson: An Intimate Portrait of an American Legend, 1994
Dear Jay, Love Dad: Bud Wilkinson’s Letters to His Son, 2012
Also: An Autumn Remembered: Bud Wilkinson’s Legendary ’56 Sooners by Gary T. King and Barry Switzer, 2006
Find Out MoreOU Press
Writing Out Loud, 2005.
“Wilson uses his visual talents and mastery of lithography to depict the natural and constructed environment of his favorite place—Oklahoma.”—Library Journal
Charles Banks Wilson
(1918–2013)
Though artist Charles Banks Wilson is known primarily for his classic paintings, many on display at the Oklahoma State Capitol, he always preferred to think of himself as a storyteller. In his book, Search for the Native American Purebloods (2011), his pencil portraits are accompanied by personal notes and anecdotes that place the images in a larger context.
Charles, who launched his career as a book illustrator and cover artist in New York, always maintained a unique relationship with other writers and has painted what many critics consider to be the definitive portraits of Will Rogers, Woody Guthrie, and Angie Debo.
Related listings: Doris Meyer and Michael Wallis
Did You Know...
In addition to being a nationally known artist, Charles Banks Wilson was also an expert roper and an accomplished musician.Getting Started with Charles Banks Wilson
Selected WorksThe Lithographs of Charles Banks Wilson, 1989 (with David Hunt)
Search for the Native American Purebloods, 2011 (updated edition)
Also: Charles Banks Wilson, by Carole Klein, Anne Morand, Carol Haralson, and Randy Ramer (contributor), 2010.
Find Out MoreThe Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Writing Out Loud, 2011
“This book deserves a standing ovation.”— Michael Wallis
John Wooley
(1949– )
A veteran journalist, John Wooley has covered a wide range of topics, not only in his newspaper career, but also in his books. First and foremost a cultural historian, he has celebrated the state’s musical legacy with his landmark retrospective, From the Blue Devils to Red Dirt: The Colors of Oklahoma Music (2006). He has also honored Oklahoma’s unique contributions to film with a similar study, Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema, 2011.
Additionally, John, the biographer of Wes Craven, is an expert on horror films and literature and has written several novels in the genre.
Related listings: Michael Wallis and P. C. Cast
Did You Know...
John Wooley launched his writing career by selling comic book scripts.Getting Started with John Wooley
Selected WorksAwash in the Blood, 2001
From the Blue Devils to Red Dirt: The Colors of Oklahoma Music, 2006
Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner Cinema, 2011
John Wooley’s website