Traci Sorell

Traci Sorell lives with her family in the Cherokee Nation, out in the country—much like she did as a child. Her mother's Cherokee family has been in the area since the forced removal of most Cherokee people from their southeastern homelands in 1838. Growing up, Traci spent her days surrounded by animals (geese, chickens, horses, dogs, and cats), reading voraciously, singing and acting in musical theater, and inventing games with her younger sister and brother. She also cherished time with her elisi (grandma), hearing family stories and looking at ancestor photographs—a tradition her son now continues with his own grandmother.

As a teenager, Traci moved with her family to Southern California, where she shifted from acting to writing, including work on the high school yearbook staff. She became the first in her family to graduate from college; her mom, sister, and brother later earned their degrees as well. Before becoming a children's author, Traci wrote legal codes, testimony for congressional hearings, federal budget requests, grants, and reports—all focused on helping Native Nations and their citizens.

Now she writes stories and poems for young people, and she actively encourages other Native writers and illustrators to share theirs. As a child, Traci never read culturally accurate books about the Cherokee or any other Indigenous peoples. Her work today is driven by a clear mission: to add to literature a truthful, living presence—showing that Native Nations and their citizens still exist and thrive.