About R. J. Striegel
R. J. Striegel is a Citizen Potawatomi Nation author and educator based in New Mexico. His historical fiction is grounded in deep research and a drive to expose the lesser-known truths of the American West—stories often overshadowed by the myth of Manifest Destiny.

Raised in Albuquerque and Taos, Striegel later returned to New Mexico to teach pre-service Diné and Latina educators near the Navajo Nation. His debut novel, Land Shadows, was inspired by a personal journey to reconnect with his cultural heritage and a lifelong curiosity about land ownership, identity, and historical justice.