John Smelcer is the poetry editor of Rosebud magazine and the
author of more than forty books. He is an Alaskan Native of the
Ahtna tribe, and is now the last tribal member who reads and writes
in Ahtna. Carl Sagan wrote, in a foreword to one of John's poetry
collections, "no other ethnic writer shares such a heavy cultural
burden." John holds degrees in archeology, linguistics, literature,
and education, and formerly chaired the Alaska Native Studies
program and the University of Alaska (Anchorage).
His first novel, The Trap, was an American Library Association BBYA
Top Ten Pick, a VOYA Top Shelf Selection, and a New York Public
Library Notable Book. The Great Death was short-listed for the 2011
William Allen White Award. His third YA multicultural adventure
novel, Edge of Nowhere, was also published in the UK, where The
Independent named it one of the "Best Teen Books of 2010." His
Alaska Native mythology books include The Raven and the Totem
(introduced by Joseph Campbell). His short stories, poems, essays,
and interviews have appeared in hundreds of magazines. John divides
his time between a cabin in Talkeetna, the climbing capitol of
Alaska, and Kirksville, MO.
Awards
John Smelcer is the winner of the 2004 Milt Kessler Poetry Book
Award and of the 2004 Western Writers of America Award for Poetry
for his collection Without Reservation, which was nominated for a
Pulitzer.
The Great Death
Nominated for The National Book Award, the BookTrust Prize
(England), and the American Library Association's Award for
American Indian YA Literature
Listed along with The Incredible Journey as one of the greatest
adventure stories in The Book Lover's Guide to Children's and Young
Adult Literature (foreword by Gregory Maguire, author of
Wicked)
Short-listed for the 2011 William Allen White Book Award for
Children's Literature.
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