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Native American Authors Project
John E. Smelcer
, 1963-
With a doctorate in comparative literature and a masters in literature, he is the author of over 20 books, 300 poems, including an autobiography published by Random House. His writing has appeared in over two hundred and fifty magazines such as The Kenyon Review, The Literary Review , and Atlantic Monthly. He has edited several important national textbooks in the field and is one of a handful of a few Native American poets ever nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He was the tribally appointed executive director of his tribe's heritage and cultural foundation, owned one of only two Native American-owned publishing houses, and served as department chair (of literature) in a public university.
Awards and Honors
Twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Riversongs and Songs from an Outcast
2004 James Jones Prize for The Trap
2004 Western Writers of America Award for Poetry
2004 Milt Kessler Award from Binghamton University
Books by John E. Smelcer:
Smelcer, John E.. American Indian Dreams
Genre: Poetry
Smelcer, John E.. Changing Seasons
Australia : South Head Press, 1995.
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 1887573003
Smelcer, John E.. In the Shadows of Mountains
Glenallen : Ahtna Heritage Foundation, 1997.
Genre: Nonfiction
Description: Features tales of the Ahtna Athabaskans also known as the Copper River Indians of Alaska. Includes maps and photographs.
ISBN: 0965631001
Smelcer, John E.. Loonsong and other Poems
Columbus : Pudding House Publications, 2004.
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 1589982096
Smelcer, John E.. The Raven and the Totem
Chugiak Arkansas : Salmon Run Press, 1992.
Genre: Nonfiction
Description: A collection of 60 traditional Alaska Native myths and legends.
ISBN: 0963400002
Smelcer, John E.. Riversongs: poems
Nashville : Poetics, Inc. and the editors of the Cumberland poetry review, 2001.
Genre: Poetry
Language: English
Description: Pulitzer-prize nominated poems chiefly in English; some poems in the Ahtena language with a foreword by Joseph Bruchac to the bilingual poems.
Audience: Adult
Smelcer, John E.. Songs from an Outcast: poems
Los Angeles : American Indian Studies Center, 2000.
Genre: Poetry
Language: English
Description: Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Edited &foreword by Denise Levertov. Introduction by X.J. Kennedy. Poems chiefly in English; some poems in the Ahtna language.
Audience: Adult
ISBN: 093562645X
Smelcer, John E.. Stealing Indians and Cain
Genre: Nonfiction
Smelcer, John E.. Tracks: New & Selected Poems
Story Line Press, 1997.
Genre: Poetry
Language: English
Description: Poems with an introduction by Pulitzer Prize astronomer and author, Carl Sagan
Audience: Adult
Smelcer, John E.. The Trap
Wilkes-Barre : WIlkes University Press, 2004.
Genre: Fiction
Description: Winner of the James Jones First Novel Award this is the haunting story of an 80-year-old Indian trapper who steps into one of his own steel-jawed traps in the middle of an Alaskan winter. Thus begins the plight of the trapper and his grandson's attempt to rescue him.
Smelcer, John E.. Without Reservation: New & Selected Poems
Kirksville : Truman State University Press, 2003.
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 1931112304
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