Trace DeMeyer
Trace A. DeMeyer (also known as Tracy Ann DeMeyer or Laura Jean Thrall-Bland) is an American multi-genre author, artist, poet and journalist of Shawnee and Cherokee descent. Her writing is mainly focused on Native Americans and Native American adoption issues. Biography. DeMeyer began investigating her adoption at the age of 22, which was one of many that stemmed from the Indian Adoption Projects. She was able to open her sealed adoption records, and with the information she found in her adoption file, DeMeyer spent the next 27 years looking for and connecting with her biological relatives . Her memoir, "One Small Sacrifice: Lost Children of the Indian Adoption Projects," chronicles the story of her adoption, and comments on both the history of the adoption of Native American children and its effect on those who were adopted. DeMeyer is an advocate for other Native American adoptees who are trying to discover their heritage. Her advocacy led to her and fellow adoptee Patricia Busbee compiling many Native American adoptee stories into the anthology "Two Worlds: Lost Children of the Indian Adoption Projects". DeMeyer's past has influenced her career, leading her to write for, and about, Native American tribes  across the country. DeMeyer interviewed political prisoner Leonard Peltier in 1998, while he was still a prisoner in Leavenworth, a federal prison. In 2001, DeMeyer also attended the first intertribal Wiping the Tears Ceremony that was held in Wisconsin, where a public apology was issued by Shay Bilchik, who was the director of the Child Welfare League of America at the time. Career. DeMeyer graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1978 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and Communications. After graduating, DeMeyer was the lead singer and front-woman for a number of bands. She also  worked on a ranch, was a business owner, managed a Smithsonian Museum audio tour, and was the assistant for the president of a record label. She later became a staff writer, an editor and a publications manager for the publications news from "Indian Country", "Ojibwe Akiing", "Pequot Times" and "Sawyer County Record". Blue Hand Books. In 2011 DeMeyer founded Blue Hand Books, a publisher that features Native American authors. Blue Hand Books helps Native American authors publish their work through the use of Amazon Create Space and PressBooks. Among Blue Hand Books' published writers are John Christian Hopkins, James Chavers  Jr., and DeMeyer herself. Publications. Poetry. In addition to her chapbook of poetry, "Sleeps With Knives", DeMeyer has contributed poems to a number of publications: Awards. DeMeyer has received many awards from the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), including: