'Invest in your own people': Lily Tuzroyluke is Alaska's Women of Year honoree

Lily Tuzroyluke is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.

Lily Tuzroyluke sought to write a story that could pass down, "so much traditional wisdom that that I was given."

Tuzroyluke's debut novel "Sivulliq: Ancestor" was a part of the Library of Congress' Great Read from Great States list for 2023.

The historical thriller follows the story of a Iñupiaq family on the hunt to find their child who was kidnapped by Yankee whalers. The story is set against a backdrop of Smallpox, the Alaska wilderness and the whaling industry in the late 1800's.

Tuzroyluke said that her work in tribal government allowed her the opportunity to explore part of her culture, she is part Iñupiaq, and provided the background for the story.

"That gave me this incredible opportunity to listen to elders and whaling captains and hunters. My peoples who are continuing on subsistence whaling. That was really a strong foundation into me writing a story," Tuzroyluke said.

Tuzroyluke turned to writing as an outlet after her son was diagnosed with autism and she had to leave Point Hope for Anchorage to provide him the services he needed. While she mourned having to leave her first love of tribal government Tuzroyluke credits her son for giving her the strength to step into professional writing.

"He gave me courage to dive into another life path and it’s been glorious," Tuzroyluke said.

Who helped pave the way for you?

I had mentors in tribal government, one of them being Roy Luke Jr, my great uncle.

I told him, I want to write a book and he said, "well, there's been a lot of books about Point Hope, about our village," which is true because historically it's an ancient settlement. There's been many historians and books written about Point Hope, from the historical standpoint. Then he said, "but none of them have been written by our people, by none of them have been written by somebody that's from Point Hope,' and that really stuck with me. That was his way of teaching, letting me come to the realizations that that a book needs to be written by one of our peoples.

I've been very fortunate that Alaskan authors are so supportive of each other in getting published. One of them is Don Reardon, author of 'Ravens Gift.' I've been blessed in meeting Don. From the very beginning he said you I want you to get published let me know how I can help.

How did you make the transition from tribal government to fiction writing?

Bills and ordinances and tribal resolutions, there was always a letter, there's always a letter to rewrite.

I knew (tribal government is) such a demanding job that I wouldn't be able to go back to school for fiction writing. I wanted someone who somebody very specialized, and that can look at the story in particular. I found an author who did writing coaching Bill Henderson, out of North Carolina, and it was over the phone. This was before zoom. I want to say this was about 2007, 2008 that I had, that I started to fill it. I met him during my lunch hour.

Who did you look to when developing your voice?

Patrick Süskind is one of my favorite authors, (he wrote) "Perfume: A story of a Murderer."

I feel as if in his writing, it is very dimensional. And I feel as if I feel is immersed into his scenes, especially when he describes the aromas, the scents, the tastes.

He's very heavy on the, the prepositions, which makes me feel like I'm in the space that he's describing. I definitely love how form his writing is full of adjectives but not being overwhelmed with the number of with the descriptions.

What do you recommend to someone who wants to start writing fiction?

"It's been trial and error of: How do I best free right how do I best edits? How do I best find ideas? and finding those finding those has really been key," Tuzroyluke said.

Lightning round

What is the best advice you received from the women who raised you?

I was raised by indigenous women: my mother, my mother's mother, and my mother's sisters. My mother echoed this teaching: always invest in your own people. I want to carry that message on to my children is a special especially as an indigenous person and somebody that that loves to go back to my home community.

What would you tell yourself at 18?

Trust yourself.

There's so much there's so much that that I've had to overcome in my lifetime and through these decades. So much of writing is self-motivation, is believing in yourself, is investing in this long road where you won't see the fruits of it right away but it is important to plant the seeds and have faith in your own abilities.

What is your best meeting tip?

It is always good to have things in writing.

I think if the more important the meeting is the more important it is to have things in writing. One of the best pieces of advice that I was given that just to send a correspondence back that's that reiterates what was said in the meeting. Keeping things in writing is important.

What book, that you read last year for fun, did you love?

I have a macabre reading list simply because of my next book. "The Nuns of Sant'Ambrogio" was something I wanted to read from for my next book but there was so much scandal with the nuns and I think there was some shock value in their sins.

What book, that you read last year for your next book, did you love?

I've been loving "Native Tribes of Canada" or really any historical book about the about the tribes in Canada. Mostly for the reconnections with my tribe there. I'm an enrolled member of the Nisga'a nation. There's so much that that I'm learning and so much that I know of this traditional knowledge that I want to carry on into the book. Learning these cultures, I'm feeling these connections with my grandfather, who was full blooded Nisga'a who went to residential school in Canada.

What is your favorite stress reliever?

I love sewing. I do love doing regalia making, things like making button ropes and doing beadwork.

What is your best organization or planning hack?

I love lists. I have a very messy mind and I feel like I do have to get that down on paper to have it more organized. I would say for somebody like me with my busy mind to keep these lists get them down on paper and break them down into smaller parts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Author Lily Tuzroyluke's is Alaska's Women of Year honoree