Crying Wind

Linda Stafford
Pen name Crying Wind
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Subject American Indians

Literature portal

Linda Davison Stafford, also known as Crying Wind, April Knight, and Gwendlelynn Lovequist[1] is the author of several novels including Crying Wind and My Searching Heart which describe the experiences of a young Native American girl named "Crying Wind", and tell a story of Christian conversion.[2] Under the pseudonym Gwendlelynn Lovequist, she has written many love stories and romances, for publications such as Writer's Digest.[1]

Education and businesses

Stafford attended the University of Colorado (1961), the University of Texas (1966), the University of New Mexico (1967), and the University of Alaska (1969).[1] She has run art galleries in Santa Fe, Anchorage, and Oklahoma City.[1]

Publication and exposure

Stafford was described as a Kickapoo author and a convert to Christianity when her book Crying Wind was published in 1977.[3] Soon, she was touring, promoting her book and giving her conversion testimony in churches and at conferences across the United States, dressed in Indian garb.[3]

Later editions of her books, which were published by Moody Press, included a disclaimer that said names, dates, and places had been changed.[2] In 1979, Moody Press took the books out of print due to concerns that the books were not presented as fiction.[2] Stafford said the problem arose due to "an unfortunate misunderstanding" between herself and Moody Press, connected to changes in staff and policies at Moody.[2] She maintained that Crying Wind "is still based on my life", and that her mother was indeed raised on a Kickapoo reservation.[2] Her next publisher, Harvest House, stated that it is honest to call Crying Wind a "biographical novel."[2]

Her book Crying Wind sold over 80,000 copies, and has been translated into over a dozen foreign languages.[2][1]Indian Life has published two of her other books, When the Stars Danced and Thunder in Our Hearts Lightning in Our Veins under their imprint, Sequoyah Editions.[4][5]

List of her books

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kievit, Joyce Ann. "Crying Wind" in Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, p. 79 (Bataille and Lisa, eds., Routledge, 2001).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "'Crying Wind' is Back, but Not as a Biography This Time". Christianity Today, v. 25, p. 44 (January 23, 1981).
  3. 1 2 Veach, Tucker. "A Remarkable Life" The Times-News, p. 1 (April 20, 1978).
  4. Uttley, Jim. "Native American World Indian Life Books Publishes Three New Titles", ASSIST News Service (November 23, 2010).
  5. Uttley, Jim. "NATIVE AMERICAN WORLD: Intertribal Christian Communications celebrates 30th anniversary", ASSIST News Service (October 26, 2009).
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