About

Welcome to the Sandra West Prowell Fan Page.  We are fans of the writer and would like to share information and stories with her other fans.  We have listed her books, will continue to discuss her stories and have a brief background of the writer. She passed away August 29, 2015. She was born on January 1, 1944, in Helena, Montana.

BIO INFO:

This essay was submitted by a student of Steve Gardiner, a teacher at Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana.

“Sandra West Prowell, a fourth-generation Montanan, was born in Helena, Montana.  She lived in Billings, Montana, with her husband Bruce and her many pets.

In 1989, she co-founded Montana Authors’ Coalition whose main goal was to bring attention to Montana’s professional writers and to Montana’s general contribution to the American Arts.  Prowell co-produced the Literary Heritage Map of Montana, initially created and produced ” Montana Books and Authors” program on Billings public access channel. She served as the liaison for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and was a member of Sisters in Crime and Private Eye Writers of America.

Her resume included dog groomer, photographer, licensed practical nurse, radio traffic manager, and full-time author. These eccentric jobs may have something to do with her writing.

Everything Prowell wrote was based on a personal experience that tells itself on paper. Also influencing her writing was the writings of everything from Dostoyevsky to Chandler to Victoria Holt. To her it was the “magical power of words, how visual they are and their ability to transport and entertain and define everything from the human condition to documenting history, the fact that they have created wars, can ensure peace on the planet, and that they educate and inspire,” that inspires her.

She had always wanted to be a writer, from the first book she ever checked out she knew she would someday own a book of her own. She was discouraged however because she believed that only educated people with degrees had the tools to become a writer. Prowell never even went to high school, but she did get her GED when her children were in high school. She wants people to realize that if ” it” is in you and if you want “it” badly enough you can have it.”