Craig Johnson is the author of the Walt Longmire mystery series. In this interview, the New York Times bestselling author discusses the series and how the latest installment, “Dry Bones,” came about.
“It should come as no surprise that all of my books are based on newspaper articles from the high plains region,” Johnson said. “It’s a way of keeping the books grounded in the reality of the contemporary American West. I don’t want Walt on a cruise ship or on a skateboard; I really want him dealing with the things actual Wyoming sheriffs have to deal with.”
Craig Johnson said he used this same method to come up with the plot for “Dry Bones,” which involves Native reparation of artifacts and cultural antiquities. While that issue lies close to home, he was not even in the US when the idea germinated. He said, “I was touring in London, and we had taken our granddaughter with us to the Natural History Museum where we discovered a T-rex display that said it was from Niobrara County, Wyoming.”
When he returned home, Johnson was still intrigued by the visit to the museum in London and made a phone call. “I asked a paleontologist friend who said that the majority of T-rexs around the world came from our portion of the US. That got me to thinking about Sue, the most complete and largest T-rex found just across the border in South Dakota, and the battle that took place between the Black Hills Institute, the FBI, an Indian rancher, and the tribe—which just seemed perfect as a Walt Longmire mystery.”
Despite his interest in the issue of dinosaurs and Native reparations, Craig Johnson said he’s not interested in helping to dig up fossils. “I went on a dinosaur dig here in Wyoming… Forget that—it’s too much like ranch work.”
Johnson describes himself as “a regular guy” without a lot of pretense. He said, “There’s a contact button on my website, and I try and answer every single email I get. People are pretty stunned when I write them back.”
Like other popular American West mystery authors, Craig Johnson knows his subject well because he writes about where he lives. “The Northern Cheyenne and Crow are my neighbors and friends,” he said. “The books are very popular up on the Rez and one of the reasons is that I try and approach the Cheyenne as people first.
“I think one of the easiest ways to dehumanize a people is to pretend they have no sense of humor. Humor is one of the highest intellectual traits, and I don’t think there’s ever been a group of individuals more maligned than the American Indian as having no sense of humor. Now that’s not the Natives I know. The Indians I know work on about seventeen different layers of irony, and if you’re not aware of that irony, you get to be the butt of it.”
For example, Johnson said he uses the word Indian because that’s what his friends on the Rez do. “Whenever I try and get politically correct and use the term Native American they ask me, ‘Where were you born?’
“I was born here in the US,” he tells them.
To which they reply, “So… You would be a Native American, too.”
Perhaps the best way to handle that conversation would be to borrow one of Walt Longmire’s typical responses. “Yep.”
More information about Craig Johnson
Learn more about Craig Johnson on his website at craigallenjohnson.com.
Early Bird and Snitch Subscriber Bonus
Early bird entrants and The Snitch subscribers can receive two bonus entries by entering the code #WaltLongmire in the Snitch Subscriber Bonus field of the contest form.
Thank you.
this sounds interesting
Enjoyed the interview. Thanks.
my husband and I watch the TV series – I’d love to read this book
Very interesting post. My husband and I are hooked on the Longmire series on Netflix. Thanks for the giveaway.
Would love to win this giveaway. Thank you.
Marilyn
Hope to win for my library! 😀 good books!
I enjoyed the series on TV and would like to try the books. Thanks for the contest.
This book sounds cool. Thanks for having the contest.
love the Longmire series books. no TV here — would rather read. thanks
I love the Longmire series as well as the TV show. Thank you for such a great series and I look forward to reading more!
I love the “Longmire” television series and am looking forward to reading the books!
Love the TV show and love the books
Looking forward to seeing the new episodes
wow — love mysteries and would love to win this one
I love Craig Johnson and Longmire, both the books and the TV series. Soooo happy Netflix picked it up
I love Craig Johnson and Longmire both the books and the TV series
Loved the television series, so I really should give the books a try. Books are always better!
Love mysteries. This author is new to me – looking forward to reading his work!
Interesting take on the term Native American but it’s correct. I like that.
Both hubby and I loved the TV series and were not happy when it was cancelled. Any chance getting it back?
The Longmire books have been on my extensive TBR list for a while now. Having just signed up for Amazon Prime, I’m hoping I can watch the TV show now.
Aloha Marissa, make the most of Prime and you’ll love it!
We really enjoyed the series. What happened to it? It had great writing and acting. Lou Diamond Phillips is a favorite of mine. It would be nice to win a book since we don’t have the show to watch anymore.
I have read all of Craig’s books. They have wonderful characters and dialogue in them
Love the Longmire series and have read several of Mr Johnsons books. Recently heard him speak at the Tucson Book Festival. He was great.
Great interview! Dry Bones sounds like an awesome mystery.
I enjoyed reading about Craig and his book
When I left the US in 1984, “American Indian” was widely deprecated in favor of tribal names. Living in Canada, I got used to “Native Peoples.” Back in the U.S. I was surprised to hear “American Indian” in general use (along with “Native American.”) I asked my American Indian seminary prof about it, and he said that “Native Peoples”was strictly Canadian, and that Russell Means as well as he always used “American Indian.” So I do. So far. 😀
not seen the TV show or read the books – this would be a good opportunity
Humor is intelligence. One must be able to understand what the joke is about in order to laugh about it.
Great interview. I was introduced to the books through the TV show. I know it’s backwards but I like them both.
HOPE THE BOOK IS AS FUN AS IT SOUNDS!
I lived in the west for a period of time, and I love reading books about it. This book sounds wonderful and I’d enjoy reading it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Very good interview….informative. I love Longmire books and oh so wish the series was still on TV! One of the best.
Looks like a great read! Count me in!
Great interview and wonderful books. Thank you!
Loved the interview. Really enjoy the Longmire series.
Sue B
I watched Longmire a few times but enjoy the books more. I love the fact that you were a skip tracker. That’d be sooooooo cool. Anything interesting ever happen?
Most of the time it was pretty boring, Vicki. What you learn is that people lie—a lot. Back in those days, we didn’t have all of the huge databases that tracked our every more and there was no such thing as social media. The closest thing there was to social media was pretending to be an old friend when you called their old phone number. 🙂
Would love to win the latest Longmire book!
Love Johnson’s Longmire books. Have most of them on my shelf. Thanks for the opportunity! Michael
I haven’t read any of these books and I haven’t seen the series. It sounds very good and I would like to read this book.. It is the kind of book that really interests me. Thank you!
Have watched the series, I really enjoyed everyone of them.
As a “western girl” on the fringes of “Longmire country, I can relate to the stories being told in the books, and know most of the areas written about in his books. Having worked with Indians from the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, had been teased a lot. and was a brunt of some jokes. They explained the teasing as “like to see the white woman turn red.” Like Craig’s ability to capture their story within his stories.
I guess the stories don’t get much closer to home for you, do they? His ability to capture the human side of stories really does make the story come to life.
A very interesting post~thank you for sharing! I have missed out on this series but I’ll soon remedy that!
I guess that makes me Native American also. Lol. Sounds like another great book@
Keep Walt close to home! When Columbo went to London it was unreal!!!
Walt Longmire on a cruise ship would be hard to picture, but on a skateboard?? Made me laugh. Thanks, Craig Johnson, for keeping him where he belongs!
I have read and loved all of the Craig Johnson “Longmire” books. I also watched the “Longmire” series on TV and am looking forward to the next season. Great read and great TV!