2023 Winners

Best Western Contemporary Novel

Winner:Beasts of the Earth, by James Wadeand published by Blackstone Publishing

Finalists:Blind Eye, by Martha Burnsand published by Atmosphere Press

Finalists:River Woman, River Demon, by Jennifer Givhanand published by Blackstone Publishing

Best Western Historical Novel

Winner:Properties of Thirst, by Marianne Wigginsand published by Simon & Schuster

Finalists:Pony Boys, by Richard Proschand published by Five Star Publishing

Finalists:Justice for All: The Search for Big Poker Tom, by Wayne E. Purcelland published by Self-Published

Best Western Mass Market Paperback Novel

Winner:Dead Man’s Trail: A Carson Stone Western, by Nate Morganand published by Pinnacle/Kensington

Finalists:The Unlikely Lawman, by Steve Keltonand published by Forge

Best Western Romance Novel

Winner:Proving Her Claim: On the Dakota Frontier, by CK Van Damand published by Pasque Publishing

Finalists:Yet I Will Love Him, by Carla Kellyand published by Camel Press

Finalists:Hearts and Mountains, by Lynn Eldridgeand published by Wolfpack Publishing

Best Western Traditional Novel

Winner:The Secret in the Wall: A Silver Rush Mystery, by Ann Parkerand published by Poisoned Pen Press

Finalists:All My Sins Remembered, by Peter Brandvoldand published by Wolfpack Publishing

Finalists:A Man Called Justice, by John Deaconand published by Self-Published

Finalists:The Wonder Stone: And Other Stories About an Early African Settlement in Central Texas: March 1845-November 1864, by Butch Dennyand published by Bent Sun Productions

Best Western Biography

Winner:Before Billy the Kid: The Boy Behind the Legendary Outlaw, by Melody Grovesand published by TwoDot

Finalists:Country Never Trod: William Lewis Manly’s 1849 Voyage down Utah’s Green River, by Michael D. Kaneand published by TwoDot

Finalists:King Fisher: The Short Life and Elusive Legend of a Texas Desperado, by Chuck Parsons and Thomas C. Bicknelland published by University of North Texas Press

Finalists:Raphael Pumpelly’s Arizona: The Frontier Adventures of a Young Mining Engineer, by C. Gilbert Stormsand published by Wheatmark

Best Western Historical Nonfiction

Winner:Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America, by Megan Kate Nelsonand published by Scribner

Finalists:The Earth is All That Lasts: Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and the Last Stand of the Great Sioux Nation, by Mark Lee Gardnerand published by Mariner

Finalists:The Widowed Ones: Beyond the Battle of the Little Bighorn, by Chris Enss and Howard Kazanjian with Chris Kortlanderand published by TwoDot

Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction

Winner:A Place of Thin Veil: Life and Death in Gallup, New Mexico, by Bob Rosebroughand published by Rio Nuevo Publishers

Finalists:Wilted Wings: A Hunter’s Fight for Eagles, by Mike McTeeand published by Riverfeet Press

Best Western Short Nonfiction

Winner:Texas Jack Takes an Encore, by Matthew Ross Kernsand published by Wild West

Finalists:Apostles of Disorder: Montana Merchants, Vigilantes, and the Interconnectivity of Extralegal Violence, by Patrick H. Hoehneand published by Montana The Magazine of Western History

Finalists:A Sacred Refuge: The Comanche Medicine Mounds Are a Rare Vestige of the Mighty Tribe That Once Controlled Texas, by W.K. Strattonand published by Texas Highways

Best Western Short Fiction

Winner:No Quarter, by Kathleen O’Neal Gearand published by Rebel Hearts Anthology, Wolfpack Publishing

Finalists:Lizzie Noel, by Charlotte Hingerand published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Finalists:The Cobbler of Spanish Fort, by Johnny D. Boggsand published by Five Star Publishing

Best Western Children’s Picture Book

Winner:The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show: The Legend Behind the Legend, by Casey Day Rislov and illustrator Zachary Pullenand published by Mountain Stars Press

Finalists:A Place for Harvest: The Story of Kenny Higashi, by Lauren R. Harris and illustrator Felicia Hoshinoand published by South Dakota Historical Society Press

Finalists:Buzz the Not-So-Brave, by Dani Nichols and illustrator Kristin McNess Moranand published by Punchline Publishers

Best Western Juvenile Fiction

Winner:Wish Upon a Crawdad, by Curtis W. Condonand published by Heart of Oak Books for Young Readers

Finalists:Where Duty Calls: Rebels Along the Rio Grande, Book 1, by Jennifer Bohnhoffand published by Kinkajou Press

Finalists:Tenmile, by Sandra Dallasand published by Sleeping Bear Press

Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction

Winner:American Ace: Joe Foss, Fighter Pilot, by Hector Currieland published by South Dakota Historical Society Press

Finalists:Chili Time, Y’All! How Texas Found Its State Cuisine, by Jennifer Colemanand published by Pelican Publishing Company

Best Western Poem

Winner:New Mexico Bootheel: A Triptych, by Larry D. Thomasand published by San Pedro River Review

Finalists:XP Pony Rider, by Quackgrass Sallyand published by Pony Express Gazette

Finalists:The Last Request, by Frederick McDonaldand published by Harbour Publishing

Finalists:No Roof but Sky: Roberts Mountains, Nevada, by Susan Cummins Millerand published by Finishing Line Press

Best Western Song

Winner:Way of the Cowboy, by Randy Hustonand published by Outside Circle Records

Finalists:Prairie Passages, by Patty Claytonand published by Cimarron Wind Music

Finalists:Cowboy Picture, by John Fuscoand published by Rocket 88 Records

Best Western Drama Script

Winner:Dead for a Dollar, by Walter Hilland published by CHAOS a Film Company/Polaris Pictures

Finalists:Under the Banner of Heaven: (Episode Five) One Mighty and Strong, by Brandon Boyceand published by Aggregate Films/FX/Imagine

Finalists:Desperate Riders, by Lee Martinand published by Feifer Worldwide/Milestone Studios

Best Western Documentary Script

Winner:The Battle of Red Buttes, by Candy Moulton and Bob Nolland published by Boston Productions Inc./National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

Finalists:The Unlucky 13, by Rob Wordand published by A Word on Westerns/YouTube

Finalists:Wagon Master: Hansen’s Hand Crafted History, by Travis Boleyand published by Knowledge Tree Films/Oregon-California Trails Association

Best First Western Novel