We chat with author Laurie L. Dove about Mask of the Deer Woman, which explores the silent epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women, as a detective who has suffered the loss of her own daughter must return to the reservation where her father was raised to help other families avoid a similar fate.
Hi, Laurie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
First, thank you for these great questions — I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my work with your readers. I’m the author of MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN and I’m a career journalist who has turned her focus to writing fiction that explores issues of identity and belonging, with plenty of mystery, folklore and myth thrown in.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
From my earliest memories, I was a writer and a reader, so stories have always been part of my life. My first book was “published” in the first grade when I wrote, illustrated and bound a manuscript for a class project. I still have the book!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The first book I ever read by myself was The Ginghams: The Backward Picnic by Joan Bowden.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It was the first book I read that combined the two earliest passions in my life — books and horses — and it was a revelation to realize I could write stories that connected all the things I’m interested in.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I read Cloud Cuckoo Land in 2022 and I’ve thought about it probably every day since then. If I ever meet the author, Anthony Doerr, I’m hoping he’ll share how he so seamlessly brought together five character narratives spanning eight centuries. It’s incredible.
Your debut novel, Mask of the Deer Woman, is out January 21st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Atmospheric. Mysterious. Gripping. Resilient. Hopeful.
What can readers expect?
A suspenseful mystery with supernatural intrigue that explores the real-world issue of missing Indigenous women through Carrie Starr, a deeply flawed protagonist who has left her job as a Chicago detective after the death of her daughter to become the new tribal marshal on the Oklahoma reservation where her father was raised—only to find herself embroiled in the investigation of a local college student. As Starr feels lost in this place she thought would welcome her, she catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer. What she doesn’t know is whether Deer Woman is here to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters that Starr can never bring home.
Where did the inspiration for Mask of the Deer Woman come from?
I’m drawn to strong characters who defy societal norms, have intense inner struggles and exhibit a strong sense of justice that does not always follow the law. I’m also fascinated by the complexities of identity and belonging, especially because I have Indigenous heritage and was adopted by a non-Indigenous family. When I began writing MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN, I found myself exploring a combination of these issues in the characters I created.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed getting to know Carrie Starr, the deeply flawed ex-detective who became a tribal marshal in MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN. When her character popped into my consciousness, I knew I would never get tired of writing about her. Before Carrie Starr, I had not considered writing a series. After Carrie Starr, I hoped I could write a hundred books with her as a main character.
Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome them?
The writing process is full of challenges and I think that’s what intrigues me. I see writing as a lifelong pursuit of craft and creativity, and am fortunate that I cut my teeth in newsrooms with daily (sometimes hourly) deadlines. I learned to write no matter what else was going on in my life and that has really been the most useful skill over the years.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Full of surprises! In December 2021, I happened across Berkley’s first Open Submissions Program. The window for unagented submissions was open for just a few days, so I added my manuscript to the more than 5,000 other entries Berkley received.
In spring 2023, I received an email from the acquisitions team at Berkley, asking to see the full manuscript, and they subsequently made an offer. From there, I found an agent that I aligned with, and by early May 2023, we had a deal. I think I did the entire process backward, but I loved every moment of it.
What’s next for you?
MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN is now a series and I am currently writing the second book and a forthcoming third book. I am overjoyed to live out my dream of writing fiction. I’m also working on a screenplay. You know, never hurts to be prepared.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?
Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita, Dark Maestro by Brendon Slocumb, Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn, The Note by Alafair Burke, First Love Language by Stefany Valentine, Coded Justice by Stacy Abrams and so many more!
