Laurie L. Dove: I Have Carried Parts of This Story My Entire Life

Laurie L. Dove is a reporter and editor whose work has appeared in numerous publications and garnered several honors for outstanding journalism. She graduated with a master’s degree in Creative Writing and Literature from Harvard University. She is an adjunct professor who currently lives and writes in Kansas. Find her at LaurieDove.com, and follow her on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

In this interview, Laurie discusses how her own lived experience helped inspire her debut novel, Mask of the Deer Woman, her hope for readers, and more.

Name: Laurie L. Dove
Literary agent: Sharon Pelletier, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC
Book title: Mask of the Deer Woman
Publisher: Berkley / Penguin Random House
Release date: January 21, 2025
Genre/category: Suspense & Thriller / Crime Fiction
Elevator pitch: Ex–Chicago detective Carrie Starr is hired as tribal marshal on the reservation where her father was raised where she quickly falls into the investigation of a missing college student that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. When Starr catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, she must discover whether Deer Woman is there to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters Starr can never bring home.

Bookshop | Amazon
[WD uses affiliate links.]

What prompted you to write this book?

In 2018, I read Tommy Orange’s There There and discovered in the specific experiences of his characters—who were, in some cases, grappling with a generational disconnection from a collective indigenous past—a complicated uncertainty in which I recognized myself. I began thinking about how a reconnection would potentially play out in my own life, in part because I have Indigenous heritage and was adopted by a non-Indigenous family.

I’m also fascinated by strong female characters who defy societal norms, exhibit intense inner struggles, and carry a strong sense of social justice that does not always follow the law. As I began to draft Mask of the Deer Woman, I was drawn to these character traits and “what if” questions.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I’ve always been a writer, so in some ways, I have carried parts of this story my entire life. Then, in 2018, after a career as a journalist, I enrolled in a suspense writing course as I earned a master’s degree at Harvard, and a character—Carrie Starr, who would ultimately become the main character in Mask of the Deer Woman —sprung to life when I wrote a short story. I knew right away that I wanted to spend time on this fictional reservation in Oklahoma with these characters I’d created, so it became the framework for Mask of the Deer Woman.

By the end of 2021, I’d finished my degree requirements and the manuscript, which I submitted to the inaugural Berkley Open Submission Program, and in early 2023—to my great delight—learned that it was one of four novels out of more than 5,000 submissions that was chosen for publication. On January 21, 2025, my lifelong dream of becoming a fiction author will be realized when Mask of the Deer Woman debuts.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

I feel incredibly fortunate to be publishing with Berkley because literally every person I’ve worked with there has made the publishing process a joy. As aspiring authors, I think we often hear or read about the downsides to the publishing process, but my publishing experience has only been positive. The talented folks at Berkley helped me bring Mask of the Deer Woman to life, and for that, I will always be incredibly grateful.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

One of my favorite things as a reader is to learn something new because the author has woven pertinent research into the novel, so when I discovered the shocking information that an estimated 5,500 Indigenous women in the U.S. are currently missing,* I knew I would anchor this story to this real-life issue.

My research only became more troubling from there, as I learned that the total number of missing Indigenous women is estimated to be much higher than the reported figures. There are jurisdictional issues and gaps in mandatory reporting between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, all of which are compounded by a growing body of evidence demonstrating that missing Indigenous women do not draw the same news coverage as their white counterparts. In Mask of the Deer Woman, it’s something I refer to as “twice gone.” Missing Indigenous women disappear twice: once in life and once in the news.

*According to the most recent data released by the FBI’s National Crime Information Center

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

As a reader, I love to encounter multi-dimensional characters who deftly represent marginalized, historically underrepresented communities. As an author, I want to increase visibility by writing about the complex experiences and histories of characters whose voices are all too often silenced. My hope is that Mask of the Deer Woman will build awareness about the underreported crisis of missing Indigenous women.

I also hope that my readers will discover the intrigue of literary characters who are backed into corners, who persevere when confronted with impossible choices and who ultimately find purpose. I know that as a reader, characters like these have offered meaningful ways to reflect on my own life and, ultimately, offered new ways to move through the world with intention.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Don’t ever give up! It is never too late to chase your dream. However, that pursuit needs teeth. As Jorge Luis Borge said, “Art is fire plus algebra.” This quote sums up my best advice for other writers, because it is a call to follow one’s passion while pursuing the skills that will give that passion the infrastructure it needs to become a reality.