Anne Hillerman

The author discusses her father's legacy, her 10th Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito novel, and how Dark Winds blow no ill.

- Henry C. Parke

Author Anne Hillerman

I wondered if Anne Hillerman chose to talk after 3 p.m. because she writes until 3. "That's right," she laughed. "Sometimes I don't make it that far, but I try to stay focused that long." Her 10th mystery, Shadow of the Solstice, has just been published, and she's at work on #11. Her father, Tony Hillerman, who not only wrote 18 Leaphorn & Chee stories, but with them created the popular Res mystery genre, would have turned 100 last March. "The Friends of the Oklahoma Public Libraries named Dad a literary treasure. They did a ceremony in Potawatomi County, where he grew up. The head of the library was there, the state senator, the mayor of Shawnee, and maybe a hundred readers who admired my dad's work, and some long-lost relatives. It was really lovely."

The series Dark Winds, based on several of Tony's books, will soon begin its fourth season. In the Season 3 opener, if you look quick, you might spot Robert Redford playing chess in a jail cell. Redford and Tony go way back. “Redford lives in New Mexico. He called my dad and said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about doing something with your work.’ Dad said, ‘Great.’ Redford said, ‘I’m gonna be in Albuquerque on Tuesday night.’ Dad said, ‘Sorry, that’s my poker night.’ Dad was not much of a movie-watcher. He signed a contract that led to the three movies Redford made with Boston Public Television. He was concerned that the first one, Coyote Waits was filmed in Arizona. He got them to move; Thief of Time and Skin Walkers were filmed in New Mexico, and Dad liked them better.”

Anne is an executive producer on