Born and raised in the Spokane Indian Reservation (about 50 miles from Spokane, WA); hydrocephalic at birth, underwent a brain operation at the age of six months

Gave up liquor at age 23 after spending much of college in an alcoholic stupor ("One of those Indians upholding the stereotype"); has not had a drink since (date approximate)

Found a publisher in NYC, Hanging Loose Press, which brought out "The Business of Fancydancing", a book of poetry

Published award-winning collection of stories, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven"

Together with American Indian director Chris Eyre, began developing material at the Sundance Filmmakers and Screenwriters Lab, resulting in the short, "Somebody Kept Saying Powwow", culled from the second act of the longer script that would become "Smoke Signals"

Published first novel, "Reservation Blues"

Second novel, "Indian Killer"; ShadowCatcher Entertainment (producer of "Smoke Signals") has agreed to produce a movie adaptation written and directed by Alexie

Named by Granta magazine as one of the 20 best American novelists under 40

"Smoke Signals", adapted from material in "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven", premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the Audience Award and the Dramatic Filmmaker's Trophy; in addition to writing the screenplay, Alexie provided lyrics for five songs in the movie, four written and performed by Colville Indian singer Jim Boyd, the other written and performed by Eaglebear Singers; also co-produced

Signed by Miramax to write and direct screen adaptation of his novel "Reservation Blues"

Feature directorial debut, "The Business of Fancydancing"; screened at Sundance