Margaret Coel, author of The Spider's Web (A Wind River Reservation Myste) (Sep 20-27)

Please welcome Margaret Coel, author of The Spider's Web (A Wind River Reservation Myste). Margaret will be chatting on LibraryThing until September 27th.

Welcome! And thank you for your work--I've enjoyed several of the Wind River novels, especially The Girl with the Braided Hair. Do you have a favorite among the books in the series?

I own The Girl With the Braided Hair too! I find your characters engaging and they tend to stay with me when the book is done. I'll wait for your answer to the above question while I think of some fascinating questions of my own!

That is a frequently asked question. Usually my favorite is the novel I'm writing at the time. It fills my head and consumes me. Once it is finished and out in the world, I move on to the next novel.

Ask me anything! I'm here through the end of the week. It's always a pleasure to chat with book lovers. Margaret

Wouldn't you know? Right now I'm not home.

I live in the wilds of Sandhills Nebraska, and there are no public libraries for miles around. Thursday nights I hold Open Library at the high school library for those adults that want to come in and check out books. It works nicely.

I am also a big fan of Tony Hillerman's Navajo mysteries. How does reservation life on Wind River compare with the Big Rez? I know the tribes and beliefs are different, but are the problems different also? Does the internal government of the Arapaho tribe work the same - and do they have the same troubles with jurisdiction?

I have read nearly all Hillerman's body of work, and I'm just getting started with yours, so I haven't gotten a feel for that aspect of Arapaho life.

Can you give us some idea of how you work? That is, do you stick to a schedule? What is your work space like? Do you have music or other noise in the background? Furry companions keeping you company?

I absolutely love your work. I have read all of your books, al least all of the ones I am aware of. Since, reading all of them, I will hold off on reading your newest addition for a time, when I really need a pick me up, so that I can savor it. No question at this time just wanted to let you know your work is appreciated and how it helps some people. Thanks!
Anna

This is kind of out of the blue: do you plan on writing any more Arapaho history, in the non-fiction genre? I finished Chief Left Hand recently, and learned so much from it, I wondered if you had ever considered tackling other eras that you've researched in the course of your writing the Wind River series?

I have enjoyed the Wind River series immensely (current favorite is The Story Teller), and I can see how much the echos of history keep coming back into the modern-day narratives you tell. Are there any eras that your readers haven't seen yet that you're eager to put into your narratives?