Priscilla Cogan is a clinical psychologist turned novelist and playwright whose work bridges psychology and Native American spirituality. Her acclaimed "Winona" trilogy - comprising "Winona's Web," "Compass of the Heart," and "Crack at Dusk: Crook of Dawn" - explores the interplay between Lakota Sioux healing practices and modern psychology, raising profound questions about the nature of reality. She has also authored the metafictional comedy "Double Time," the medical mystery "The Unraveling Thread," and the forthcoming "Clinging to the Moon," which revisits characters from her earlier trilogy.
Cogan's writing is deeply informed by her 29-year career in psychology and her immersion in Native American ceremonies, particularly through her husband, Cherokee psychologist Duncan Sings-Alone. Her works often juxtapose humor with serious themes, reflecting her belief that "in everything serious, there is something funny, and in everything funny, there is something serious." This duality extends to her theatrical work, including her award-winning debut play, "The Summer Cottage," a comedy, and subsequent plays addressing race, age stereotypes, and historical trauma.
Born into a family of physicians, Cogan shifted to psychology after the tragic loss of her sister in adolescence. Her professional and spiritual journeys - spanning Jungian analysis and Lakota medicine - continue to shape her creative output, now focused on playwriting. Her narratives remain grounded in psychological insight and cross-cultural exploration, blending levity with depth.