In this episode of The Wandering Pen, host Christine Musser welcomes historian and author Shannon D. Smith, President of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society, for a compelling conversation about the life, work, and enduring legacy of Mari Sandoz—one of the most powerful voices of the American High Plains.
Born in 1896 in a sod house in northwest Nebraska, Mari Sandoz faced relentless hardship, rejection, and personal sacrifice on her path to becoming a published author. With only an eighth-grade education and a fierce determination, she rose to literary prominence with books like Old Jules, Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglala, The Buffalo Hunters, and Miss Morissa. Sandoz was more than a writer—she was a truth-teller, a creative nonfiction pioneer, and a fierce advocate for authentic Plains history, especially Indigenous perspectives.
Together, Christine and Shannon explore:
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How Sandoz’s gritty upbringing shaped her voice and purpose
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Why her meticulous research and index card system became legendary
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What made her writing style controversial yet visionary
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Her legacy as an ally, educator, and story-catcher of the Plains
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Why her books remain relevant today, especially for writers, historians, and lovers of the American West
Whether you're a fan of historical fiction, biography, Western history, or women's stories of perseverance, this episode brings Mari Sandoz’s unique journey vividly to life.
🔗 Learn more at mariSandoz.org and thewanderingpen.net
#MariSandoz #AmericanWest #WomenWriters #HistoricalNonfiction #HighPlainsHistory #CrazyHorse #OldJules #NebraskaHistory #IndigenousHistory #StorycatcherofThePlains #WritingWithGrit #WomensVoices #LiteraryLegacy #TheWanderingPenPodcast #NebraskaSandhills
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