2020 Winners

Best Western Historical Novel

Winner:A Forgotten Evil, by Sheldon Russelland published by Cennan Books/Cynren Press

Finalists:The Glovemaker: A Novel, by Ann Weisgarberand published by Skyhorse Publishing

Finalists:Cut Nose, by Ron Schwaband published by Uplands Press/Leafcutter Publishing Group

Best Western Contemporary Novel

Winner:On Swift Horses: A Novel, by Shannon Pufahland published by Riverhead Books

Finalists:This Side of Night, by J. Todd Scottand published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Finalists:Sweep out the Ashes: A Novel, by Mary Clearman Blewand published by Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press

Best Western Mass Market Paperback Novel

Winner:Hawke’s Target, by Reavis Z. Worthamand published by Pinnacle/Kensington

Finalists:The Cost of Dying, by Peter Brandvoldand published by Pinnacle/Kensington

Finalists:Dark Territory, by Terrence McCauleyand published by Pinnacle/Kensington

Best Western Romance Novel

Winner:The Yeggman’s Apprentice, by C. K. Criggerand published by Wolfpack Publishing

Finalists:This New Day: A Novel, by Harlan Hagueand published by Graycatbird Books

Finalists:The Telegraph Proposal, by Gina Welborn and Becca Whithamand published by Zebra/Kensington Publishing

Best Western Traditional Novel

Winner:Cherokee America, by Margaret Verbleand published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Finalists:Friends Call Me Bat, by Paul Coltand published by Five Star Publishing

Finalists:All Man’s Land, by D. László Conhaimand published by Broken Arrow Press

Best Western Biography

Winner:Nighthawk Rising: A Biography of Accused Cattle Rustler Queen Ann Bassett of Brown’s Park, by Diana Allen Kourisand published by High Plains Press

Finalists:Washington Territory’s Grand Lady: The Story of Matilda (Glover) Koontz Jackson, by Julie McDonald Zanderand published by Chapters of Life Memory Books

Finalists:Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana, by Marc C. Johnsonand published by University of Oklahoma Press

Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction

Winner:Country Music: An Illustrated History, by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burnsand published by Alfred A. Knopf

Finalists:The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story, by David Crowand published by Sandra Jonas Publishing

Finalists:Saving Grand Canyon: Dams, Deals, and a Noble Myth, by Byron E. Pearsonand published by University of Nevada Press

Best Western Historical Nonfiction

Winner:Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power, by Pekka Hämäläinenand published by Yale University Press

Finalists:The Mormon Handcart Migration: “Tounge nor pen can never tell the sorrow”, by Candy Moultonand published by University of Oklahoma Press

Finalists:Terror on the Santa Fe Trail: Kit Carson and the Jicarilla Apache, by Doug Hockingand published by TwoDot

Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction

Winner:Spotted Tail, by David Heska Wanbli Weidenand published by Reycraft Books

Best Western Juvenile Fiction

Winner:Someplace to Call Home, by Sandra Dallasand published by Sleeping Bear Press

Finalists:Finding Home, by Corinne Brownand published by Loose Cayuse Productions

Finalists:The Fang of Bonfire Crossing: Legends of Lost Causes, Book 2, by Brad McLelland and Louis Sylvesterand published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers/Macmillan Children’s Books

Best Western Storyteller

Winner:Let ’Er Buck: George Fletcher, the People’s Champion, by Author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Illustrator Gordon C. Jamesand published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing Group

Finalists:Rowdy Randy, by Author Casey Day Rislov and Illustrator Zachary Pullenand published by Casey Rislov Books

Finalists:J is for Jackalope, by Teal Blakeand published by Teal Blake Studios

Best Western Short Fiction

Winner:The Medicine Robe, by Michael Zimmerand published by Five Star Publishing

Finalists:Legend, by Johnny D. Boggsand published by Five Star Publishing

Finalists:Return to Laurel, by John D. Nesbittand published by Five Star Publishing

Best Western Short Nonfiction

Winner:Worry, USA’: Dude Ranch Advertising Looks East, 1915-1945, by Flannery Burkeand published by Montana The Magazine of Western History

Finalists:‘If you had fought bravely I would have sung for you’: The Changing Roles of Cheyenne Women during Nineteenth Century Plains Warfare, by David Beyreisand published by Montana The Magazine of Western History

Finalists:China’s Lost Women in the Far West, by Lynne Yuanand published by Wild West Magazine

Best Western Poem

Winner:Three Kinds of Pleasure, by Mark Sandersand published by WSC Press

Finalists:In Dog Dreams, by Karla K. Mortonand published by New Ohio Review

Finalists:Towards a Letter of Application for Work at Lightning Creek Cattle Company, Wayne County, Nebraska, by Red Shuttleworthand published by Moses Lake Steel Supply

Best Western Documentary Script

Winner:Country Music: Episode Two: Hard Times, by Dayton Duncanand published by WETA-TV/PBS

Finalists:Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait, by John Langmore and Bud Forceand published by 1922 Films

Best Western Drama Script

Winner:The Highwaymen, by John Fuscoand published by Netflix

Finalists:The Kid, by Andrew Lanhamand published by Mimran Schur Pictures

Finalists:Eight Monologues from Americana West, by Red Shuttleworthand published by Moses Lake Steel Supply

Best First Western Novel