Adrian C. Louis

State: Nevada

Adrian C. Louis (1946–2018) was a distinguished Native American author, poet, and journalist from Lovelock, Nevada. A member of the Lovelock Paiute tribe, he earned both a BA and an MA in creative writing from Brown University and later taught English at Oglala Lakota College. His work—most notably the acclaimed novel Skins—boldly explored life on Native American reservations, addressing themes like poverty, alcoholism, and cultural identity. Skins was later adapted into an award-winning film. Over the years, he published ten poetry collections, including Fire Water World and Skull Dance, and a story collection, Wild Indians and Other Creatures. His literary contributions were recognized by his induction into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame in 1999. In addition to seminal fiction and poetry, he helped found the Native American Journalists Association and served as editor and publisher of influential Indigenous newspapers.

Genres: Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Poetry

Audiences: Adult