Sandra West Prowell
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I. Biography Sandra West Prowell, a fourth-generation Montanan, was born in Helena, Montana. She currently lives in Billings, Montana, with her husband Bruce and her many pets.
In 1989, she co-founded Montana Authors' Coalition whose main goal is to bring attention to Montana's professional writers and to Montana's general contribution to the American Arts. Prowell
co-produced the Literary Heritage Map of Montana, initially created and produced " Montana Books and Authors" program on Billings public access channel. She serves as
the liaison for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Private Eye Writers of America.
Her resume includes dog groomer, photographer, licensed practical nurse, radio traffic manager, and full time author. These eccentric jobs may have something to do with her writing.
Everything Prowell writes is based on a personal experience that tells itself on paper. Also influencing her writing are the writings of everything from Dostoyefsky to Chandler to
Victoria Holt. To her it is the "magical power of words, how visual they are and their ability to transport and entertain and define everything from the human condition to documenting
history, the fact that they have created wars, can insure peace on the planet, and that they educate and inspire," that inspires her. She has always wanted to be a writer, from the first book she ever checked out she knew
she would someday own a book of her own. She was discouraged however because she believed that only educated people with degrees had the tools to become a writer. Prowell
never even went to high school, but she did get her GED when her children were in high school. She wants people to realize that if " it" is in you and if you want "it" badly enough you can have it. Her novels include
The Killing Of Monday Brown, By Evil Means, and When Wallflowers Die. These days with a writing career that includes three novels in a series about a woman
detective from Billings, Montana, and a character who is a composite of many women and is what Prowell strives to be she spends her free time spending time with her daughter, son,
and grandchildren. She enjoys reading about Eastern thought and practice, mainly Buddhism, fishing, beading, and researching herbal and medicinal plants used by Native
Americans in the Montana region. She also wants to become more involved with political issues. If she was not a writer she would want to pursue saving the Mountain Gorilla,
being a Criminologist, a wildlife photographer, or just plain being a grandmother. II. Literary Works The Killing of Monday Brown
III. Prowell on the Web Information from this paper can be found at:
When Wallflowers Die
By Evil Means
or by emailing her at scribe@wtp.net
This essay was submitted by a student of Steve Gardiner, a teacher at Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana.