Like her protagonist Mud, D. M. Rowell comes from a long line of Kiowa Storytellers within a culture that treasures oral traditions. She’s an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and has spent decades preserving sacred stories shared by tribe elders.

As a child, Rowell was heavily influenced by her traditional Kiowa Grandfather, C. E. Rowell. He was an artist, master storyteller, recognized Tribal Elder and one of the last readers of the Sai-guats, winter count deerskin calendars that chronicled a hundred years of Kiowa history. Her Grandfather’s stories, memories, and art instilled a deep respect and love for her Kiowa culture and traditions within Rowell.

Rowell was twelve when her Grandfather pointed at her with his chin, in the style of the old ones, and decreed, “You. You will keep these stories alive. You are next.” Rowell has never forgotten that moment or responsibility.

After receiving her degree, Rowell used her storytelling skills to build a successful thirty-year career as a Marketing Media Content Strategist for Fortune 1000 clients and innovative Start-Ups in Silicon Valley.

During her career spinning stories for corporations, Rowell often escaped to produce independent documentaries. She is an award-winning and nominated producer and scriptwriter on several documentaries, including Vanishing Link: My Spiritual Return to the Kiowa Way, seen on PBS and winner of TrailDance 2007 Best Oklahoma Documentary.

After her three-decade hi-tech career, Rowell started a new chapter writing a mystery series that features a Silicon Valley professional Kiowa woman and her Plains Indian tribe. The first in the series is Mary Higgins Clark Award nominated, Never Name the Dead, Crooked Lane Books, November 8, 2022. Second in the series is Silent Are the Dead, coming November 19, 2024.

Rowell is in the process of editing the third book in the Mud Sawpole Mystery series and has started book four.