Raised in Tahlequah and Lawton, Oklahoma, Hokeah’s first novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance, this month won the PEN/Hemingway Prize for Debut Fiction. Hokeah was one of two writers of Native heritage who received prizes at the PEN America Literary Awards ceremony on Mar. “Because I draw from lived experience, whether my own or friends and family, my writing reflects hardships and triumphs that many Native Americans face today. It’s a blessing to watch them lead and overcome obstacles.”A graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, Hokeah also studied English and Native American literature at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a master’s degree. Readers likely will not have to wait long for a second book by Hokeah, who recently submitted a draft of a second novel to his editor.

Source: New York Times March 14, 2023 17:06 UTC