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
Winner:On Swift Horses: A Novel, by Shannon Pufahland published by Riverhead Books
Best First Western Nonfiction Book
Winner:The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story, by David Crowand published by Sandra Jonas Publishing