Mona Susan Power facts for kids

Mona Susan Power, born in 1961, is an amazing Native American author. She is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Her very first book was called The Grass Dancer. It came out in 1994. This book won a big award in 1995. It was the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for Best First Fiction.

About Her Early Life

Mona Susan Power was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is a part of the Yantonai Dakota people. Her family is from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Her mother, Susan Kelly Power, was a very important person. She was an activist who helped start the American Indian Center of Chicago. Mona's grandmother, Josephine Gates Kelly, was also a leader. She was the tribal chairperson for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe three times. Mona's great-grandmother was Nellie Two Bear Gates. Her family also includes a famous Sioux Chief named Mato Nupa (Two Bears).

Mona's father, Carleton Gilmore Power, was from New England. He worked in publishing. He also had interesting family stories. Mona heard many tales from both sides of her family. These stories helped her imagination grow.

Her Education Journey

Mona Susan Power went to school in Chicago. After that, she studied at Harvard University. She earned her first degree there.

Then, she went to Harvard Law School and earned a law degree. But she decided to follow a different path. In 1992, she joined a special writing program. It was called the Iowa Writer's Workshop.

Becoming a Writer

After a short time working in law, Mona Susan Power decided to become a writer. She worked as a technical writer and editor. This meant she wrote and checked clear instructions or reports.

She used her free time to write her own creative stories. Her hard work paid off.

Her first novel, The Grass Dancer, came out in 1994. This book tells a complex story. It follows four generations of Native Americans. The story takes place over many years, from 1864 to 1986.

Mona Susan Power has written several other books too. Her short stories have appeared in famous magazines. These include Atlantic Monthly and Paris Review. She also teaches writing at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Her newest book is A Council of Dolls. It was released in 2023. This novel was considered for the National Book Award for Fiction.

Awards and Recognitions

Mona Susan Power has won important awards for her writing.

Her first novel, The Grass Dancer, won the 1995 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. This award is given to the best first book of fiction. She also received a United States Artists Fellowship. This fellowship helps artists continue their important work.