2024 Winners
Best Western Biography
Winner:Sacajawea: Mystery, Myth, and Legend, by Candy Moultonand published by South Dakota Historical Society Press
Finalists:Oracle of Lost Causes: John Newman Edwards and His Never-Ending Civil War, by Matthew Christopher Hulbertand published by Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press
Finalists:Unrepentant Dakota Woman: Angelique Renville and the Struggle for Indigenous Identity, 1845-1876, by Linda M. Clemmonsand published by South Dakota Historical Society Press
Best Western Children’s Picture Book
Winner:Grandma’s Tipi: A Present-Day Lakota Story, by S.D. Nelsonand published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Finalists:Romeo and Emilia: How One Brave Girl Rose Up from a Wheelchair onto the Back of a Horse, by Roni McFadden and image processor Melissa Fischbachand published by The Biscuit Press
Finalists:Wild Bill and the Pirates!, by Thadd Turner and illustrator Jeanne Conwayand published by Old West Alive! Publishing
Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction
Winner:The Lost Cowboy, by J.B. Zielkeand published by independent
Finalists:The Last Lookout on Dunn Peak: Fire Spotting in Idaho’s St. Joe National Forest, by Nancy Sule Hammondand published by Basalt Books/Washington State University Press
Finalists:This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat, by Nick Mott and Justin Angleand published by Bloomsbury Publishing
Best Western Contemporary Novel
Winner:The Longmire Defense, by Craig Johnsonand published by Viking
Finalists:Calico, by Lee Goldbergand published by Severn House
Finalists:Standing Dead: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery, by Margaret Mizushimaand published by Crooked Lane Books
Best Western Documentary Script
Winner:The American Buffalo, by Dayton Duncanand published by PBS
Finalists:The Sad Life and Tragic End of Superstar Alan Ladd, by Rob Wordand published by A Word on Westerns, YouTube
Finalists:On the California Trail: Preserving Gravelly Ford, by Travis Boley, Kevin Marcus and Ray Wicksand published by Knowledge Tree Films/Nevada Gold Mines/Oregon-California Trails Association/Bureau of Land Management
Best First Western Nonfiction Book
Winner:The Lost Cowboy, by J.B. Zielkeand published by independent
Best First Western Novel
Winner:The Last Man: A Novel of the 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery, by Thomas Goodmanand published by Mainsail Media
Best Western Historical Nonfiction
Winner:Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion, by Elliott Westand published by University of Nebraska Press
Finalists:The First Migrants: How Black Homesteaders’ Quest for Land and Freedom Heralded America’s Great Migration, by Richard Edwards and Jacob K. Friefeldand published by Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press
Finalists:Fortune’s Frenzy: A California Gold Rush Odyssey, by Eilene Lyonand published by TwoDot
Best Western Historical Novel
Winner:Death in the Tallgrass: A Young Man’s Journey Through the Western Frontier, by Donald Willertonand published by independent
Finalists:The Redemption of Mattie Silks, by Kimberly Burnsand published by Thomas Bard Publishing
Finalists:Golddigger: The Legendary Nellie Cashman, by Kathleen Morrisand published by Dunraven Press
Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction
Winner:Bass Reeves: Legendary Lawman of the Wild West, by Billie Holladay Skelleyand published by Crossing Time Press
Finalists:More Cat Tales of the Old West, by Preston Lewisand published by Bariso Press
Best Western Juvenile Fiction
Winner:A Sky Full of Song, by Susan Lynn Meyerand published by Union Square Kids
Finalists:Tales of Tom Mix: The Wild West Christmas, by Bob Madison, writing as Scott McCreaand published by DS Publishing
Finalists:The Worst Enemy: Rebels Along the Rio Grande: Book 2, by Jennifer Bohnhoffand published by Kinkajou Press
Best Western Mass Market Paperback Novel
Winner:Gunmetal Mountain, by John Shirleyand published by Pinnacle Books/Kensington Publishing
Finalists:To Hell and Gone, by Charles G. Westand published by Pinnacle Books/Kensington Publishing
Finalists:A Short Rope for a Tall Man, by Victor Gischler, writing as Nate Morganand published by Pinnacle Books/Kensington Publishing
Best Western Poem
Winner:“Counting Cattle with the Fathers”, by Shelley Armitageand published by Finishing Line Press
Finalists:“Even the Birds”, by Rod S. Millerand published by High Plains Press
Finalists:“La Jicarita Mountain”, by Jenifer Foxand published by Quillkeepers Press
Best Western Romance Novel
Winner:The Heart Beneath the Badge, by George T. Arnoldand published by Speaking Volumes
Winner:Love on Target, by Shanna Hatfieldand published by Wholesome Hearts Publishing
Finalists:Chase Cooper, by Lynn Eldridgeand published by Wolfpack Publishing
Finalists:The Bundling Year, by Anne Schroederand published by CKN Christian Publishing/Wolfpack Publishing
Best Western Short Fiction
Winner:“Bad Choices: A Wyoming Chronicles Story”, by W. Michael Gearand published by Wolfpack Publishing
Finalists:“The Desert Jewel”, by Leah Angstmanand published by Kernpunkt Press
Finalists:“Hair of the Dog”, by Peter Brandvoldand published by Wolfpack Publishing
Best Western Short Nonfiction
Winner:“‘Those invaluable but greatly abused members of the community’: Dogs and the Difference on the Great Plains in the Fur Trade Era”, by David C. Beyreisand published by South Dakota History
Finalists:“‘A House-Party on an Old Frontier Ranch’: How Arizona Became the Dude Ranch Capital of the World”, by Lynn Downeyand published by Journal of Arizona History
Finalists:“Passenger Side: Lessons from riding along in Montana”, by Eric Howard Heidleand published by Montana Quarterly
Best Western Song
Winner:“High Country Trail”, by Syd Mastersand published by Deer Pine
Finalists:“Cowboy Afterlife”, by Syd Mastersand published by Deer Pine
Finalists:“Born to Be a Cowgirl”, by Aspen Blackand published by Aspen Taylor Black Publishing
Best Western Traditional Novel
Winner:Aesop’s Travels: A Crackerjack Tale of the Old West, by Daniel Boydand published by Montag Press
Finalists:Grizzly Moon, by Patrick Dearenand published by Five Star Publishing
Finalists:Jane Fury, by James Robert Danielsand published by Cutting Edge Books
