Native American Influence and Tony Hillerman

Passing away at the age of 83, he was an accomplished and appreciated writer. Tony Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma on May 27, 1925 and died on October 26, 2008 of pulmonary complications. Hillerman married Marie Unzner in 1948 and they raised six children together. Hillerman went to grade school for Native American girls, which greatly influenced his writings. After attending universities for a B.A. and M.A., he served and was severely wounded in World War II. He was an assistant to the president of the University of New Mexico, where he joined the journalism faculty and taught until 1987. Hillerman worked at various newspaper organizations including the United Press International until he retired. They previously had settled in New Mexico and loved the area and people.

Hillerman began seriously writing mysteries after he retired. The theme woven in his books was to marry detective stories with his vast knowledge of Native Americans. One of his first mysteries was turned down with the remark, "Your stories would be a lot more interesting if you'd take out all this American Indian stuff," which probably angered Hillerman. This was a main goal for using Native Americans in his novels. In fact, his two lead detectives in his books are very interesting Native Americans. Hillerman held firm and enlightened his readers very subtly about the little known and misunderstood people who once ruled these lands.

Hillerman's mystery novels provide a great read. Some of them include "The Ghostway," "Dance Hall of the Dead," "Skeleton Man," "The Shape Shifter" as well as a Memoir about his full life. Thankfully his mysteries will be available in book clubs, book stores and libraries. This unique writer gave much to avid mystery readers and lovers of the Navajo culture.