In 1943, Tony Hillerman enlisted in the service of his country. He sustained leg injuries, burns and was blinded for several months. When he returned from the service one day, he found himself at a Navajo Reservation watching a ceremony for a Marine just back from WWII. This would have a profound influence on his life.

He began studying the Navajo Way and found it fascinating. He enrolled in the University of Oklahoma where he graduated. He began teaching, writing articles and writing for advertising.

That just wasn't enough for Hillerman. He wanted to find out if he could write stories about the Navajo Way.

So began his famous works of the Navajo.

In the beginning of his series the first three novels were written with Jim Chee as the protagonist. He then wrote some with Joe Leaphorm. One day a reader asked Mr. Hillerman why he had changed the name from Chee to Leaphorn. He hadn't realized that it would confuse the reader, so the very next novel he teamed Leaphorn with Chee, thereby giving each their own personality.

Tony Hillerman was certainly well versed in the Navajo Way, writing with complete understanding, including relationships and tribal customs.