(1888PressRelease)
October 22, 2006 - WritersWest.com continues to lead the way as a resource for autographed, quality books about the American West. And the titles and authors of award-winning western books include:
-o- 2005 Walter Williams Major Work Award to Elizabeth Butler for --Libby-- (Historical Romance);
-o- SPUR Best First Novel Miles Swarthout for --The Sergeant's Lady-- (Historical Fiction); SPUR Awards are given by national organization Western Writers of America. The juried competition is considered one of the highest tributes to western titles and writers.
-o- SPUR Best Paperback Western --Drum's Ring--. and Best Western Novel -- Masterson-- by five-time SPUR winner Richard S. Wheeler. Wheeler was also honored with the WWA Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement in Western Literature;
-o- Montana author Gladys Smith has an impressive double of WILLA Awards (presented by the national organization Women Writing the West), one for --River Of Our Return-- and the other for --Deliverance Valley--. Her book --Higher Ground--was a 2005 Finalist.
-o- Children's author Ed Kienzle's title --Partners In The Wilderness-- won the Wyoming State Historical Society award in 2002 and was finalist for the 2003 Independent Publishers award.
-o- SPUR Winner Charlotte Hinger for --Come Spring--. This book went on to be a Reader's Digest condensed book and has been published in several foreign languages;
-o- Lucia St. Clair Robson, for --Ride The Wind--. Robson was voted 2004 Most Notable Living Historical Writer in a True West magazine poll
-o- In 1988, the collectable hardback --The Homesman-- by Glendon Swarthout, won both the SPUR Award and Wrangler Award as the Best Western Novel --a rare double in the big western book prizes. Other Swarthout titles are also available, including --The Shootist--, which became John Wayne's final film.
-o- Janet Muirhead Hill's --Starlight Shines For Miranda-- (book five of the six-book Starlight Series) won the 2004 USA Book Awards--Best Books for young adults.
“Not only did I find award-winning books,” says customer Lavern Battle, “But they’re autographed, too!”
Being a SPUR Finalist is a fine accomplishment, and the Writers West inventory includes many finalists: --Hombrecito's War-- by W. Michael Farmer. Ellen Gray Massey for her biography of Mary Elizabeth Manhkey, --A Candle In Her Soul--; K. Cheatham for the juvenile's biography --Dennis Banks: Native American Activist--, and Irene Bennett Brown for --The Plainswoman--. SPUR Finalist Rita Cleary, has two hardback titles at the site: --River Walk-- and --Charbonneau's Gold--.
Eppie Finalist Terry Burns has several Inspirational Westerns at the site, and artisan Shoni Maulding sells both of her well-illustrated how-to books on Hitched Horsehair; Maulding won Best Artist in the Jewelry/Fashion category at the 1999 Western Design Conference. Ken Overcast, a Montana rancher and "singing cowboy" who has his own radio show, was voted Best Entertainer in the 2004 True West magazine poll. He has two books of ranching and cowboy tales at Writers West: --Yesterday's Yarns-- and --Shootin' The Breeze--.
With the Writers West inventory on a steady rise, there is no doubt the future will have many more award-winning titles.
