Joseph L. Dorris

Joseph Dorris grew up in McCall, Idaho near the almost-ghost town of Warren, Idaho. He spent much of his youth exploring and gold panning in the Salmon River and Idaho wilderness, the setting of his five novels: Salmon River Kid, Sojourner of Warren's Camp, Sheepeater: To Cry for a Vision, Katrine: High Valley Home, and Seeking Two Elks Fighting. He has had a lifetime interest in Native American culture and history, pioneer gold rushes, and mining. He currently operates mining claims in Colorado for amazonite and smoky quartz specimens and has appeared on the program "Prospectors." He has based Salmon River Kid and Sojourner on the 1870s Chinese and whites in Warren's camp and Slate Creek and has weaved together historical vignettes from their lives and conflicts. Sheepeater: To Cry for a Vision, Katrine: High Mountain Home, and Seeking Two Elks Fighting, follow Erik and Katrine Larson (brother and sister) from when they are orphaned to when they reunite. Erik is destined to meet Samuel in the future books of this series. Joseph Dorris is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. After retiring, he taught high school science and math and coached soccer. He enjoys painting and has illustrated all of his novels. Today, he lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Susan, where they have raised three children.