In 2004, Veronica earned her Associates Degree in Elementary Education and Diné Studies from Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona. Currently, Veronica is continuing her education at the University of New Mexico as a psychology major, and working with Native American students in the Albuquerque Public Schools as a liaison for the Indian Education Department.
Veronica has long enjoyed writing for pleasure. The inspiration for her writing comes from her nieces and nephews, with whom she loves to share stories.
Author to Know
Salina Newsletter
Jun 2007
This month’s “Author to Know” is Veronica Tsinajinnie. She is the author of one of Salina Bookshelf's newest titles, Jóhonaa’éí: Bringer of Dawn. In a conversation with Jessie Ruffenach, editor at Salina Bookshelf, Veronica talks about her book, her thoughts on writing, and how her family plays a vital role in the success of her career.
Jessie:Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what sort of activities did you enjoy?
Veronica:I grew up part-time in Ganado, Arizona, and part-time in Birdsprings, Arizona. My dad is from the Ganado area, so my four sisters, my little brother, and I went to school there. My time in Ganado was spent doing after school and weekend jobs with my best friend, Ann Jennings. My sisters, Annie, and I would also hike, horseback ride, and play in the wash on weekends.
In spite of our good times in Ganado, we were always impatient for the holidays and summertime, which is when we could go to my grandmother’s house in Birdsprings. We had the best summers there with our cousins and other extended family from my mother’s side. We would spend most of our time playing basketball with our cousins and occasionally attending ceremonies. Our favorite was the Squaw Dance (or the Enemy Way Ceremony). We would dance with uncles and grandfathers until we earned enough money for “Squaw Dance burgers.” They were the best!
Jessie:What childhood experiences shaped your desire to be a writer?
Veronica:I don’t know how to answer this question because I’m really not sure. I just remember that I was always writing. When I was younger, I would give stories to my mom that I had written about coyote. In the Navajo culture coyote is a trickster, so I would write stories that had titles like Coyote and His Girlfriend or Coyote and the Rabbit.
Jessie:Your new book, released just this June, is Jóhonaa’éí: Bringer of Dawn. Tell us a little about the book, and how the idea for the story came about.
Veronica:The book is about the spirit of the sun, Jóhonaa’éí, and his morning ritual to start the day. I wrote it for my nephew Taven Young. I often held him when he was a baby, and when I did, I thought of how times were changing so fast and how his childhood would be so much different from what my own had been. He would not enjoy the same things that I had been able to, like attending ceremonies and listening to the stories of my grandparents. So I felt that if I could give him just a little piece of my childhood, I would. I wrote him the story of Jóhonaa’éí, which I hope will give him a sense of a Navajo way that, in most areas, is lost.
Jessie:You’re quite young to have a book published. What does it feel like for you, being a first-time author?
Veronica:I’m very excited but would like to thank my family for being so supportive. They always encouraged me to do something with my writings. Jóhonaa’éí: Bringer of Dawn, along with many others, sat untouched for about five years before my family finally convinced me to submit it for publication.
Jessie: Besides writing, what other plans do you have?
Veronica: My ultimate goal is to begin illustrating the stories that I write. I have been practicing for the past few years but am not up to the standard of other illustrators, such as Ryan Singer, Beverly Blacksheep, and Kendrick Benally. I also hope to finish my studies at the University of New Mexico and return home to live near my family.
Jessie: Do you have any other manuscripts that you’re working on?
Veronica: I am currently blowing the dust off stories that I’ve had for years but had no time to finish because of work and school. I’m on vacation now and have more time to spare
Jessie: Any other thoughts you’d like to share?
Veronica: I’d just like to encourage any Native authors, young and old, to keep writing. While working in the public school system, on and off the Reservation, I have run into Native students who are reading stories that don’t relate to them. We as authors have a gift to take what we feel and put those feelings into words. We need to continue writing so that these students can hear our stories and know that they are not alone.
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