2015 Winners
Best Western Contemporary Novel
Winner:Bad Country, by CB McKenzieand published by Minotaur/Thomas Dunne Books
Finalists:Any Other Name, by Craig Johnsonand published by Viking/Penguin Random House
Finalists:The Red Bird All-Indian Traveling Band, by Frances Washburnand published by University of Arizona Press
Best Western Historical Novel
Winner:Wild Ran the Rivers, by James D. Crownoverand published by Five Star Publishing
Finalists:A Light in the Wilderness, by Jane Kirkpatrickand published by Revell
Finalists:Backlands, by Michael McGarrityand published by Dutton/Penguin Random House
Best Western Traditional Novel
Winner:The Big Drift, by Patrick Dearenand published by TCU Press
Finalists:The Poacher’s Daughter, by Michael Zimmerand published by Five Star Publishing
Finalists:Dance with the Devil, by JD Marchand published by Five Star Publishing
Best Western Juvenile Fiction
Winner:Rawhide Robinson Rides The Range: True Adventures of Bravery And Daring in the Wild West, by Rod Millerand published by Five Star Publishing
Finalists:Poison Spring, by Johnny D. Boggsand published by Five Star Publishing
Finalists:Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky, by Sandra Dallasand published by Sleeping Bear Press
Best First Western Novel
Winner:Wild Ran the Rivers, by James D. Crownoverand published by Five Star Publishing
Best Western Historical Nonfiction
Winner:American Carnage: Wounded Knee, 1890, by Jerome A. Greeneand published by University of Oklahoma Press
Finalists:Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico, by David L. Caffeyand published by University of New Mexico Press
Finalists:South Pass: Gateway to a Continent, by Will Bagleyand published by University of Oklahoma Press
Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction
Winner:Red Light to Starboard: Recalling the Exxon Valdez Disaster, by Angela Dayand published by Washington State University Press
Finalists:Wilderburbs: Communities on Nature’s Edge, by Lincoln Bramwelland published by University of Washington Press
Finalists:Wild Idea: Buffalo and Family in a Difficult Land, by Dan O’Brienand published by University of Nebraska Press
Best Western Biography
Winner:Song of Dewey Beard: Last Survivor of the Little Bighorn, by Philip Burnhamand published by Bison Book/University Nebraska Press
Finalists:Tom Horn in Life and Legend, by Larry D. Balland published by University of Oklahoma Press
Finalists:The Life and Legends of Calamity Jane, by Richard W. Etulainand published by University of Oklahoma Press
Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction
Winner:Edward Wynkoop: Soldier and Indian Agent, by Nancy Oswaldand published by Filter Press
Finalists:Battle of Little Bighorn, by John Hamiltonand published by Abdo Publishing Co.
Finalists:How the West Was Drawn: Women’s Art, by Linda L. Osmundsonand published by Pelican Publishing Company
Best First Western Nonfiction Book
Winner:Reshaw: The Life & Times of John Baptiste Richard, by Jefferson Glassand published by High Plains Press
Best Western Storyteller
Winner:Tasunka: A Lakota Horse Legend, by Donald F. Montileauxand published by South Dakota State Historical Society Press
Finalists:Alice From Dallas, by author Marilyn Sadler and illustrator Ard Hoytand published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Finalists:Tumbleweed Baby, by author Anna Myers and illustrator Charles Vessand published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Best Western Short Fiction
Winner:“Fingers”, by Andrew Geyerand published by Steven F. Austin University Press
Finalists:“A Promise Broken, A Promise Kept”, by Vicky Roseand published by La Frontera Publishing
Finalists:“The Songbird of Seville”, by Vonn McKeeand published by Western Trail Blazer
Best Western Short Nonfiction
Winner:“Calamity Jane: A Life and Legends”, by Richard W. Etulainand published by Montana, The Magazine of Western History
Finalists:“Finding the American West in Twenty-First Century Italy”, by Renee M. Laegreidand published by Western Historical Quarterly
Finalists:“The American West in the Age of Vulnerability”, by Donald Worsterand published by Western Historical Quarterly
Best Western Poem
Winner:“A Little Longer Than the Moment”, by Alan Birkelbachand published by Cowboy Poetry Press
Finalists:“Homecoming”, by Ken Hadaand published by This Land Press
Finalists:“Song of the Stampede”, by Rod Millerand published by Pen-L Publishing
Best Western Contemporary Novel
Winner:“Charlie and Evangeline”, by Doug Figgs and Todd Carterand published by Figgs/Carter
Finalists:“Cold Blue Eyes”, by Mikki Danieland published by Dave Alexander / MD Productions
Finalists:“Lonesome Cowboy”, by Martin Conwayand published by Conway
Best Western Drama Script
Winner:The Homesman, by Tommy Lee Jones, Kieran Fitzgerald, Wesley A. Oliverand published by Ithaca Films
Best Western Documentary Script
Winner:State of Jefferson, by Kami Hortonand published by Oregon Public Broadcasting
