Why do you write the genre that you write?
First of all, I love reading crime fiction! Ever since I was a small child and borrowing my father’s spy novels, I’ve been dedicated to the genre. Whether it’s the dark noir of Jim Thompson or the classic work of Chandler, Goodis, Highsmith, or Mosley, I’ve been fanatical about mystery and suspense fiction. It’s a joy to write and publish in this genre that I love so much.

But I also use crime fiction to explore issues of social justice for Native Americans. In Winter Counts, I wrote about the broken criminal justice system on reservations and the unjust federal laws that hurt Indigenous people. I’m very honored that the novel created a dialogue among many readers, and I’ve heard from academics, politicians, policy analysts, and others who were enlightened by the novel and are writing about the issues I included.

But of course, my primary goal is always to create characters that readers love, and stories that keep people turning the pages!

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Virgil Wounded Horse, the protagonist of Winter Counts, loves Shasta Cola! If readers aren’t aware, Shasta is the budget alternative to Coke or Pepsi. I grew up in fairly impoverished circumstances, and I remember drinking Shasta as a kid, so it was natural to have Virgil love the stuff.

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
Well, it’s not really a pseudonym, but Heska Wanbli is my Lakota spirit name. It was given to me by a medicine man at a ceremony. It means, roughly translated, Mountain Eagle. I proudly use my spirit name to honor my ancestors and the Lakota people.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve always been obsessed with literature, but I didn’t start writing seriously until my two sons were born in the early 2000s. Before that time, I was busy earning a living and trying to keep a roof over my head! But something clicked for me after the birth of my kids, and I began taking classes at a local writers’ center in Indiana. I then enrolled in the MFA program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and transferred to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe when that school began offering an MFA degree. Now, I’m delighted to teach creative writing at various programs, and I was delighted to be the Visiting Writer at the Institute of American Indian Arts last summer. It was really wonderful to meet so many emerging Native writers, and especially discover that some of them were inspired by Winter Counts and are working on genre novels.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
Right now, I’m a professor of Native American Studies and Political Science in Denver. I briefly practiced law years ago but soon discovered that I was a better fit for teaching. Growing up, I worked in restaurants since the age of 14. I was a dishwasher, busser, line cook, bartender, and waiter. I actually miss working in the food service industry! I enjoyed the camaraderie and sense of working on a team. Writing is such a solitary pursuit, and that’s why it’s so nice to meet writers, editors, and readers at conferences.

Where do you write?
These days, I primarily write in my office at home. I sometimes work in a coffee shop, as I like to be around people and have a little noise. Most recently, I’ve been fortunate to have been awarded writing residencies at MacDowell, Ucross, and Vermont Studio Center. These residencies are truly a gift, as they allow writers to create in a quiet atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. I’ve noticed that few crime writers apply for these residencies, and I’d encourage my mystery and suspense siblings to give these a shot.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Cape Cod Potato Chips, without a doubt! They are the best chip out there, especially their Dark Russet variety, which we can’t get out here in Colorado. I previously mentioned these chips in an interview I did with Entertainment Weekly, and was hoping to get a comp box from the Cape Cod company, but alas, no chips ever arrived. Hey Cape Cod, I’m still waiting!

What is next for you?
I’m hard at work on the sequel to Winter Counts, which is titled Wisdom Corner. It’s a pleasure to return to this world and figure out what happens next for Virgil, Marie, Nathan, and Tommy. Plus, there are some cool new characters in the book! I get emails every week from fans asking when the next book will arrive. I don’t have an exact release date yet, but I’m hoping for fall of 2023. I’m writing as fast I can, folks!

What are you reading now?
I’m really fortunate to have an early copy of Panther Gap by James A. McLaughlin, which is fantastic! I’ve also just started The Last King of California by Jordan Harper, and it looks to be every bit as good as his masterpiece, She Rides Shotgun. Finally, I’m slowly reading and savoring Louise Erdrich’s new book, The Sentence.

Where can we find you?
Readers are invited to visit my website at davidweiden.com. I’m also on Twitter at @WanbliWeiden and Instagram at @wanbliweiden.

Now to have some fun . . .

Vanilla or chocolate
Chocolate, all the way!

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream, for sure.

Broccoli or squash
I guess squash. Can I say asparagus?

Pizza, burger, or pasta
New York style pizza is my favorite food.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
How about a breakfast burrito with green chili?

Mountain or beach
Mountains, of course! Colorado native here.

City or country
The city.

Introvert or Extrovert
Extrovert with introvert leanings.

And even more fun . . .

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Let’s go with a film, book, and album!

For a film that I can view over and over, it would absolutely be Goodfellas, which I’ve watched dozens of times and always enjoy. For a book, I’ve read Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove over and over, and still love it. For music, how about Neil Young’s Archive Series, Volumes I and II? Those box sets could keep me entertained for an exceptionally long time!

My bio:
David Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, is the author of the national bestseller Winter Counts (Ecco, 2020), nominated for the Edgar Award, and winner of the Anthony, Thriller, Lefty, Barry, Macavity, Spur, High Plains, Electa Quinney, CrimeFest (UK), Crime Fiction Lover (UK), and Tillie Olsen Awards. The novel was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, an Indie Next pick, main selection of the Book of the Month Club, and named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, The Guardian, and other magazines. He has short stories appearing or forthcoming in the anthologies Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories 2022, Denver Noir, Midnight Hour, This Time for Sure, and The Perfect Crime. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his family.