June 7, 1954

The prolific and brilliant writer Louise Erdrich, (June 7, 1954) gained fame early in her career, (Love Medicine, 1984) and has since, consistently received critical attention and awards. She was a runner-up for the Pulitzer, with Plague of Doves (2009) and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, (2016) for LaRose.

Conversations with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris (1994) collects various interviews with this literary couple who often co-wrote their fiction. This quote, from their early married life, suggests certain power dynamics:

'I have children, smart beautiful striking eccentric daughters. We play. When they have to go to bed I talk to Michael who has never said a boring word to me in our eleven year relationship. If he is on the phone, I pet the dog or my cat.'

The dog....My cat.

Not simpler times, the decade of the 80s, but more approachable perhaps.