Marcie Rendon, a celebrated member of the White Earth Nation and award‑winning playwright and poet, will delve into the creation of her breakout character, Cash Blackbear—a tough, intuitive young Ojibwe woman whose roots in rural 1970s Minnesota have resonated deeply with Midwestern readers. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of Rendon’s process for crafting authentic Native American characters—mothers, laborers, survivors—imbued with grit, insight, and cultural resonance.