2026 Winners
Best Western Biography
Winner:The Reel Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr: From Gentleman Bandit to Movie Star and Back Again, by Mark Archuleta and published by University of North Texas Press
Finalists:Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone, by Mark Lee Gardnerand published by Dutton
Finalists:Wakara’s America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West, by Max Perry Muellerand published by Basic Books
Best Western Children’s Picture Book
Winner:A Home for Steamboat, by author Casey Rislov and illustrator Zachary Pullenand published by Book Bridge Press
Finalists:Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler, by author Nancy Bo Flood and illustrator Jeanne Bowmanand published by South Dakota Historical Society Press
Finalists:Winston’s First Rodeo!, by author Linda Apple and illustrator Dylan Haleand published by Solander Press
Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction
Winner:Saving the Big Sky: A Chronicle of Land Conservation in Montana, by Bruce A. Bugbee, Robert J. Kiesling and John B. Wrightand published by Oregon State University Press
Finalists:The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and a War Out West, by Amy Gamermanand published by Simon & Schuster
Finalists:Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide, by Donna L. Ericksonand published by Bison Books/University of Nebraska Press
Best Western Contemporary Novel
Winner:Of Saints and Rivers, by Jim Loganand published by Yorkshire Publishing
Finalists:The Last Westerner, by Chilton Williamson Jr.and published by St. Augustine’s Press
Finalists:Well of Deception, by Cynthia Leal Masseyand published by Stoney Creek Publishing
Best Western Drama Script
Winner:Sarah’s Oil, by Cyrus Nowrasteh and Betsy Giffen Nowrastehand published by Amazon/MGM
Best First Western Nonfiction Book
Winner:The Windows of His Heart: Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, by Louise Lenahan Wallaceand published by Plain Sight Publishing
Best First Western Novel
Winner:Home of the Spirit Animals, by Cyd Raschkeand published by Raven & Grace Press
Best Western Historical Nonfiction
Winner:The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West, by Paul Andrew Huttonand published by Dutton
Finalists:Chitto Harjo: Native Patriotism and the Medicine Way, by Donald L. Fixicoand published by Yale University Press
Finalists:Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State, by Caleb Gayleand published by Riverhead Books
Best Western Historical Novel
Winner:Arkansas Black, by Alexander Blevensand published by Lost Meridian Press
Finalists:Narrow the Road, by James Wadeand published by Blackstone Publishing
Finalists:Tough Luck, by Sandra Dallasand published by St. Martin’s Press
Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction
Winner:Carrie Ingalls: The Forgotten Sister, by Clarissa Willisand published by Solander Press
Finalists:How Colorado Became the Centennial State, by Barbara Taylorand published by Filter Press
Finalists:Pintsized Pioneers at Play: Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger, by Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewisand published by Bariso Press
Best Western Juvenile Fiction
Winner:Home of the Spirit Animals, by Cyd Raschkeand published by Raven & Grace Press
Finalists:Never Curse the Rain: A Wilder Good Adventure, by S.J. Dahlstromand published by Paul Dry Books
Finalists:Fire, Friendship & Fear: A Ruby and Maude Adventure, by Nancy Oswaldand published by Burro Books
Finalists:Destined to Ride Alone, by R.G. Yohoand published by Speaking Volumes
Best Western Poem
Winner:“The Old Ones”, by Kye Rieffand published by Authentic, Or Something Like That (self-published)
Finalists:“Inside Circle”, by Kye Rieffand published by Authentic, Or Something Like That (self-published)
Finalists:“Leftovers”, by Rod Millerand published by Buckoffs and Broken Barriers: Rodeo Poems (Speaking Volumes)
Best Western Romance Novel
Winner:Last Laugh, by C.K. Criggerand published by Wolfpack Publishing
Finalists:Iron Horse Claim: On the Dakota Frontier, by CK Van Damand published by Pasque Publishing
Finalists:Winter in the High Sierra: A Love Story, by Robert Brightonand published by Ashwood Press
Best Western Short Fiction
Winner:“Point of Impact”, by Micki Fuhrman, writing as Vonn McKeeand published by Silverado Press Presents Volume 1: Western Stories by Today’s Top Writers (Silverado Press and Crazy 8 Press)
Finalists:“Those Bereaved”, by Candace Simarand published by An End of Troubles: An Anthology (History Through Fiction)
Finalists:“Rawhide Robinson Faces Fear”, by Rod Millerand published by Shiny Spurs and Gold Medallions (Thorndike Press)
Best Western Short Nonfiction
Winner:“The Ghosts of Mountain Meadows”, by Paul Andrew Huttonand published by (True West, May-June 2025)
Finalists:“Angel of the Wild West”, by Billie Holladay Skelleyand published by (Saddlebag Dispatches, Volume 11, Issue No. 2)
Finalists:“Earps V. Indians”, by Janelle Molonyand published by (Wild West History Association Journal, September 2025)
Best Western Song
Winner:“Roads and Barbwire”, by Joel Whiteand published by (self-published/Cribworks Digital Audio)
Finalists:“Cowboy’s Legacy”, by Doug Figgs and Floyd Beardand published by (self-published/Slash DC Music)
Finalists:“Somewhere Green”, by Jim Jones and Deanna Dickinson McCalland published by (East Mountain Music/BMI)
Best Western Traditional Novel
Winner:Lost and Broken Things, by Linda Sandiferand published by Strathaven Books
Finalists:One-Armed Bandit, by Michael Knostand published by Lawless Trails Press
Finalists:Riven, by Lincoln Valentine Mearsand published by self-published
Finalists:Eyes on the Horizon, by Canyon Youngand published by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
