Violet Duncan (she, her, hers)

Violet Duncan is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation. As an accomplished author, educator, dancer and storyteller, she has toured nationally and internationally, promoting wellness and cultural education. After becoming a mother of four and seeing the need for greater Native representation in literature, Violet authored picturebooks. Her new middle school novel, "Buffalo Dreamer," was named a 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Finalist. She is also creative director at Young Warriors. 

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Awards: National Book Award, BUFFALO DREAMER – Finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature

Communities: Arizona Author, Indigenous or Native American

National Book Awards: Realities of Writing

Join these 2024 National Book Award honorees to hear real-life inspirations behind their books, and how they polished ideas and fascinations into their final drafts. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, this session is presented in partnership with the NBF.

Campus Store (Seats 250)  
Sat, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
National Book Awards
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  

Panelists: Jason De León, Violet Duncan, Octavio Quintanilla, Ernest Scheyder
Moderator: Ruth Dickey

Indigenous Voices and Stories of Resilience

Resilience to maintain well-being in the face of trauma and adversity have long been essential to the lives of Indigenous children. Three Indigenous authors share stories of Ojibwe, Cherokee, and Cree children who face the continuing trauma of residential schools and missing Indigenous women but are sustained by loving families and cultural traditions.

Education Room 353 (Seats 92, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 15, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  

Panelists: Violet Duncan, Dawn Quigley, Ginger Reno
Moderator: LaCher Pacheco

Writing a Middle Grade Novel to Engage Readers

Three debut authors of middle grade novels share their strategies for writing to engage middle grade readers, including how to find an agent and publisher.

Education Room 351 (Seats 46, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 16, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Children
Signing area: Signing Area - Children (following presentation)  

Panelists: Violet Duncan, John Schu, Kim Tomsic
Moderator: Hilary Taber

Book:

Buffalo Dreamer

Children
Penguin Young Readers Group
August 2024
ISBN 9780593624814
128 pages