Book Corral Fall/Winter 2023/24 Volume 1
President's Message
Welcome to Women Writing the West’s Book Corral
It is my honor to share the new Women Writing the West Book Corral with you! In this online catalog format, you will find the latest books written by best-selling and awardwinning authors along with books by first-time authors, all members of Women Writing the West. Women Writing the West is a warm, supportive community of writers and writing professionals who share a passion for the stories of women and girls and their contribution to the history, culture, and growth of the North American West. The 30th Anniversary of Women Writing the West will be celebrated at the 2024 Conference, "Through A Woman's Eyes," on October 10-12 in Colorado at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center. A highlight of every conference, whether in-person or virtual, are the literary award presentations. The WILLA Literary Award, named for Willa Cather, recognizes the best in literature featuring women's or girl's stories set in the North American West in eight categories. The LAURA Short Fiction Award, named for Laura Ingalls Wilder, showcases the talents of Women Writing the West members in short stories featuring a female protagonist. The DOWNING Journalism Award, named for WWW's first president, Sybil Downing, recognizes western-themed nonfiction articles. The recent addition to the awards is the High School Writing Contest which has three categories reflecting the WWW WILLA, LAURA and DOWNING Awards. Please visit the Women Writing the West website for more information. http://WomenWritingtheWest.org
In the boundless realm of literature, there exists a treasure trove of stories waiting to be unearthed, dreams waiting to be realized, and adventures waiting to be embarked upon. It is within these pages that we invite you to step into the wondrous world of our Book Corral—a reading nook of imagination, knowledge, and emotion. Our Book Corral is not just a collection of books; it is a tapestry woven with passion, inspiration, and boundless creativity. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the profound impact that words can have on the human soul. Each book featured here is a testament to the author's dedication, a labor of love that now awaits your discovery. Our purpose is simple: to connect you with stories that resonate, characters that linger in your thoughts long after the final page is turned, and ideas that ignite your intellect. Whether you seek escape, enlightenment, or entertainment, our catalog is a gateway to a multitude of worlds, each crafted with precision and care by talented authors, many who have received awards for their storytelling. Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of guiding you through this world of literary wonders. Step into a realm where discovery beckons—a journey primed to ignite your imagination, evoke deep emotions, and carve its presence indelibly upon your soul. Kathy Sechrist Manager WWW Book Corral
Sincerely, Gayle Gresham 2024 President Women Writing the West
“I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, She should just go ahead and be one.” ~ Calamity Jane
Women Writing the West Mission & Goals To address, educate, coordinate, and support writing that acknowledges and documents the recognition of women and girls and their contribution to the history, culture and growth of the American West; to preserve the historical importance through writing and other literary skills available through publishing and the use of seminars, meetings, newsletters, conferences, competitions, and other communications tools. 1 Women Writing the West®
WWW Board of Directors 2023-2024
Contents Introducing ©WOMEN WRITING THE WEST
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President’s Welcome
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WWW Leadership
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WWW Awards
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Board of Directors Gayle Gresham. President Lynn Downey, Past President, Chair, WILLA Literary Award Vicki Felmlee, 2024 President-Elect, Chair, LAURA Award Laura Drake, Treasurer Carolyn Dufurrena, Secretary
2023 WILLA Literary Award Winners
Standing Committee Chairs Ann Edall-Robinson, Marketing and Social Media Chair Mary Coley, Compliance Chair
2023 LAURA Award Winners 2023 DOWNING Award Winners
Browse Books by Genre Anthology
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Children’s Fiction
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Contemporary Fiction
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Contemporary Romance
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Creative Nonfiction
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Historical Fiction
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Historical Romance
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Poetry
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Scholarly Nonfiction
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Thriller & Suspense
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Young Adult Fiction
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Young Adult Nonfiction
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Directors at Large Stephanie West Allen Doris Eraldi Karen Jones Special Committee Chair Linda Wommack, Chair The Downing Journalism Award Project Leaders and Staff Doris Eraldi, Web Manager Alice Trego, Administrator Coordinator, WWW High School Writing Contest Kathy Sechrist, Manager, Book Corral, Chair, Education Committee Erin Jameson, Accountant WWW Mailing Address: PO Box 1886 Durango, CO 81302
"And one day she discovered that she was fierce and strong, and full of fire and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears." – Mark Anthony
Women Writing the West®, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that supports authors and other professionals in promoting the contributions made by women to the history, culture, and growth of the American West. ©2023-2024
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Women Writing the West® Contests and Awards
The WILLA Literary Award recognizes the best in literature, featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the North American West, that are published each year. 2022 Awardees and Finalists
The LAURA Short Fiction Award, is open to WWW members to enter their previously unpublished story featuring a female protagonist, and set in the North American West, past, present or future. 2022 Awardees and Finalists
The DOWNING Journalism Award recognizes western-themed nonfiction articles or essays published in a commercial or literary North American publication. 2022 Awardees and Finalists
High school students worldwide (grades 9-12, ages 13-19) can submit unpublished short works (nonfiction, fiction, poetry/songwriting) to Women Writing the West® High School Writing Contest. Entries in English should highlight women's contributions to North American West's history, culture, recognized up to Mississippi River's west, including Alaska, Hawaii, Canada (west of Ontario), Mexico. Top Winners and Finalists acknowledged at October Conference.
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Anthology Author: Teresa Whitehawk The American Pepperpod is an Anthology of works including Journal Entries, Short Stories, Autobiographical Stories, Poetry and Plays. The book is autobiographical in that the works span the writer's life into senior years. The awardwinning play "The Legacy of Sunset Blvd" was written in 1983. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats: Paperback; eBook
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Children’s Fiction Author: Nancy Oswald “Ruby’s Christmas Gifts,” set in Cripple Creek, 1896, highlights the adventures of Ruby, her donkey Maude, and her cat named Trouble. On Christmas Eve, Maude's baby donkey gets lost and leads Ruby on a goose- chase through Cripple Creek. On her journey, Ruby reveals the spirit of Christmas by helping others. Purchase at Nancy Oswald Formats: Paperback
Author: Ann Edall-Robson When the rough-around-the-edges barn cat meets the new Hereford calf called Norman, the day turns into one Buttons will not soon forget. How was he going to explain the shenanigans his new friend had persuaded him to take part in, especially when he knew better? For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Ann Edall-Robinson. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback
Author: KB Taylor 2022 Will Rodgers Medallion Finalist; 2020 WILLA Award Winner 1898. After Daddy is spotted on a schooner to Alaska to dig for gold, twelve-yearold AGGIE and her two younger sisters set sail aboard their sixty-foot steamboat, the IRENE, to find him. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook
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Children’s Fiction Author: Una Townsend Two Choctaw boys discover an injured pony. They hide him and take care of him. They find the horse may be a special breed--a Heritage Horse of Oklahoma. They want him but must make a decision to find the owner and get medical care for him. Multicultural-- Choctaw and English. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback
Author: Janet Fox 2022 Women Writing the West WILLA Literary Award Finalist Twelve-year-old Lulu and her sister Serena are living with their Daddy in a car. But one morning they wake to find Daddy missing. Lulu must learn to trust in the kindness of strangers to save those she loves and to finally find her true home. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon Formats available: Hardback; Paperback
Author: Frances Bonney Jenner Indie Award - IPPY Bronze Medal When young Savannah travels west with her family in 1850, she meets adventure head-on and becomes and unlikely hero. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Frances Bonney Jenner. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; Women Writing the West®
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Children’s Fiction Author: Dani Nichols Need Award Buzz is a quirky, lovable quarter horse who is frightened by everyday occurrences on his ranch, hilariously believing things like hoses and tarps to be threatening. When asked to do a job which makes him tremble with fear, Buzz’s human encourages him, helping him learn to be brave after all. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page Dani Nichols. Formats available: Hardback; eBook
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Mary E. Trimble Eric Buckley dreads moving...again. His foster family must move, but he’s determined to finish high school in Chewack. When the Cahills, cattle ranchers, hear of his plight, they wonder if they can fulfill his needs. It’s tough enough running a ranch. Are they up to adding yet another responsibility? For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: B.K. Froman 2023 WILLA Award Finalist, Contemporary Humorous. Contemporary. This thought-provoking mystery unravels a young woman’s journey to heal her life. Change and murder have dropped into her Oregon community with a landscape as vast and dramatic as the quirky supporters and detractors who live there. For more information, or to purchase, visit thebook’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Jamie Lisa Forbes WWW 2011 WILLA Literary Award Ranch wife Gwen, disenchanted by drudgery, befriends Meg, a single mom. The two find solace in each other's company. But relationships among family members fracture, resentments surface and their friendship is tested as they find themselves struggling against the elements and each other. ______________ For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats: Paperback; eBook Women Writing the West®
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Holly Quan Calgary Herald Best Seller List What if everything you knew fell apart? And what if you then reimagined yourself? Through humor and evocative descriptions of the Alberta foothills, the Sow's Ear Cafe is about romance, selfdiscovery and the transformative power of landscape, horses, friendship and love in the face of adversity. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Vicki Felmlee A young Golden Retriever is abandoned in the middle of nowhere. Several miles away a homeless hitchhiker gets ready to head south for the winter alone and, he hopes, unnoticed. Book Two of the Abandoned Trilogy. For more information, or to purchase, visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Johnnie Bernhard A timely novel set along the I-10 corridor of Texas as the ultimate decision of life and death is made by two strangers' fate has bound together-an Anglo-widow and a Mexican girl, who must decide to either follow the law or their conscience to survive. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats: Paperback; eBook 9
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Kathleen M Rodgers 2021 WILLA Literary Award Finalist Decades ago in Pardon, NM, the Cutterbuck women formed a code of silence to protect each other from an abusive man after AF Major Shep Cutterbuck goes MIA. When national politics triggers a buried family secretin 2016, the women stick together. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Laura Drake 2023 WILLA Literary Award Jacqueline is an uptight indie perfumer who bitterly resents the hippie grandmother who abandoned her. But when the Universe conspires to set them on a Route 66 road trip, what Jacqueline discovers might not only healher past, but open her to a brighter future For more information, or to purchase, visit thebook’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Teddy Jones 2014 Finalist, WILLA Award, Contemporary Fiction Marva Cope, the fourth Jackson’s Pond, Texas novel, introduces the new postmaster, Marva, who bringsx with her a series of hard experiences from her past and resulting hesitancy to open herself to others. Living with and learning from her Aunt Violet, she comes to appreciate the value of true friendships. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats: Paperback ®Women Writing the West
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Barbara Marshak Set amidst the tapestry of Wyoming's rugged landscape, “Painted Skies”tells the story of one woman's journey to find healing through her most cherished relationships--an only daughter, a newfound friend, and the charismatic cowboy asking her to trust him. For more information or to purchase visit the book’s page at Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Gloria Mattioni The heart-wrenching story of two sisters, different and separate by worlds apart, but remained very connected by heart and soul. Claire rushes to Italy halting her life and career in Los Angeles after her older sister, Ondina's, brain stroke, determined to restore her health or help her die with dignity. For more information or to purchase visit thebook’s page at Amazon. Formats: Paperback; eBook
Author: Dalyn Weller Eight years ago, Cody McClure came home from the summer rodeo circuit with a surprise pregnant wife even though he’d promised to marry his high school sweetheart. Molly Halverson left home with a broken heart and a secret. Sometimes digging up the past brings healing in the present. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Mary Camarillo Shortlisted for Hawthorn Prize It’s the summer of 2017 in Wellington Beach, California, a suburban coastal town increasingly divided by politics, protests, and escalating housing prices—divisions that change the lives of five neighbors as they search for home and community in a neighborhood where no one can agree who belongs. For more information or to purchase visit Bookshop.org Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Margaret Emerson Fictional stories about people whose dream for a life of contentment, autonomy and tranquility clashes against unexpected challenges and conflicts. All set in the same small town in southwest Colorado, these stories have a psychological twist that will leave you captivated and mystified. For more information, or to purchase, visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Julia Brewer Daily A fifth-generation heiress to the largest ranch in Texas stumbles upon an ancient people living on her property. Will she survive her attempts to return home, or will she accept her fate and remain hidden away from her family forever? For more information visit Amazon. Formats: Hardback; Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
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Contemporary Fiction Author: Debra Thomas 2023 Short List for Hawthorne Prize When Josie's brother Vic experiences a family tragedy, Josie leaves her home and beloved horses in Upstate New York to join him in Los Angeles. While helping Vic pick up the pieces of his shattered life, Josie confronts broken relationships with her estranged father and rebellious, singer-songwriter daughter. For more information or to purchase visit Debra Thomas Books. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Debra Whiting Alexander Will Rogers Medallion Award Underestimated by a world that pigeonholes her as “intellectually disabled,” a spirited young woman’s longing to be a mother collides with her grandmother’s perilous past, forcing her to summon the grit to save their lives. When fear turns to courage, a mother’s love knows no bounds. For more information, or to purchase, visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Elise Atchison Winner, Eludia Award Crazy Mountain chronicles a rapidly changing place through the diverse stories of the people who live in a Montana valley over nearly half a century, forming a rich tapestry of place exploring how we treat the natural world and how we treat each other, especially the most vulnerable among us. For more information or to purchase, visit Barnes & Noble. Formats available: Paperback 13
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Contemporary Romance Author: Lucy Naylor Kubash In spite of a broken heart, Allison carved out a life for herself and her young daughter. Then a sudden threat puts her back in touch with Shane, the man she never thought to see again. Trusting Shane may be her only choice, but she fears losing her heart again. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Carmen Peone After her parents die in a horrific car accident, Sydney Moomaw is thrust into running their popular guest ranch in eastern Washington. Photographer Trey Hardy arrives at the ranch the same day Sydney’s parents are killed. Secrets churn. Her abusive ex-husband resurfaces. Amid chaos, can they save her beloved ranch? For more information, or to purchase, visit Carmen Peone Books. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: C.L. Craig A love that transcends time A veteran haunted by the dog he left behind in Afghanistan And a woman determined to change the past But will her search dredge up old secrets better left buried?
For more information, or to purchase, visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Creative Nonfiction Author: Kathy Sechrist 2021 International Impact Award: Female Empowerment SARA MATTHEWS, scarred by a childhood of abuse, seeks love in middle age but faces repeating the cycle. Struggling to break free from a cycle of abusive relationships, she fights to escape her current abuser. Will she survive her daring escape and finally break the pattern? For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Jan Cleere A collection of historical narratives that explores the lives of early military women who became an integral part of military posts and played an important role in civilizing the untamed frontier. These women learned to cope with the spareness, the heat, the sickness and danger, including wildlife they never imagined. For more information, or to purchase, visit Jan Cleere Books. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Linda Wommack Will Rogers Medallion Award – 1st Place for Nonfiction Colorado women had a love for the land and built their homesteads and ranches. The dawn of a new dream for female homesteaders. These remarkable women who found ways to survive and thrive in the male dominated ranching industry of the West. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
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Creative Nonfiction Author: Kathryn Wilder 2022 Colorado Book Award in Creative Nonfiction Desert Chrome is the story of a woman lost in grief who finds her way out by following mustangs. “Testimony to the healing power of wildness . . ." Kirkus Reviews For more information or to purchase visit Torrey House. Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Julie Tully A cowgirl falls into Africa as Alice fell into Wonderland, unveiling the little-known world of an American military spouse serving amongst the world’s diplomatic corps. Part travelogue, and part midlife coming-of-age story, DISPATCHES FROM THE COWGIRL takes you to the Africa Julie grew to love and found hard to leave. For more information, or to purchase, visit Books2Read. Formats available: Hardcover; Paperback; eBook
Author: Margaret G. Hanna Mary Appleton emigrates to western Canada in 1912 and faces every immigrant’s dilemma: where is home? Her heart is still in England, but her life is now in Canada. In 1952, she does return, and what she learns surprises her. Based on the Author’s maternal Grandmother’s story. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardcover; Paperback; eBook Women Writing the West®
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Creative Nonfiction Author: Mary B. Kurtz 2023 Women Writing the West WILLA Award, Finalist This collection of contemplative, lyric essays, focuses on the seasonal rhythms of ranch life, the murmurings of a natural world, and the mysteries of aging and mortality. Rooted in place, it is a tribute to the beauty and power of a Western landscape to hold and inspire one’s daily living. For more information or to purchase visit Shanty Arts Formats available: Hardcover; Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Roni McFadden 2016 Will Rogers Medallion The true story of a troubled teenage girl looking for a new path in her life, which unexpectedly leads in the direction of horse packing ALONE in the rugged and perilous Sierra high country, bringing her closer to the natural - and supernatural - world than she ever could've imagined. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Sandra McGee RENO, 1947. Step into the world of the famous Flying M E… an exclusive divorce ranch for wealthy divorce seekers. Former Flying M E wrangler Bill McGee talks about life on the hideout for Eastern socialites with names like Astor and du Pont, and Hollywood movie stars Gable and Gardner. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook® 17
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Creative Nonfiction Author: Marsha Arzberger 2022 2nd Place, Arizona Authors Assoc. Literary Contest One Hundred Sixty Acres of Dirt tells the true stories of pioneers in Arizona Territory in 1909. They were farmers, cowboys, pioneer women homesteading on their own, and schoolmarms. They dealt with rustlers, droughts, Apaches, and straying husbands. These stories tell how they persevered and survived. For more information or to purchase visit Wandering Owl Tales Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Eunice Boeve A memoir of the author's experiences from childhood on with some extra sensory perception. Frightening in childhood, but a beautiful blessing when her husband of sixty-two years passed and began to contact her in a variety of wonderful and amazing ways, eventually leading her to write this book. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardcover; Paperback
Author: Colleen Adair Fliedner For over four centuries, California has been an ever-changing landscape of innovation and revolution, triumph and tragedy. This book is a collection of over fifty tales of famous Californians and their escapades from California's early years. Readers will be entertained as they take a trip through California's colorful past. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook Women Writing the West®
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Creative Nonfiction Author: Eilene Lyon This is a true story about Indiana farmers using shady financing to get to California during the gold rush, with devastating impacts. It shares the stories of their poverty-stricken families at home. And it reveals how the cold calculus of transporting miners became a deadly game for profit. For more information or to purchase visit Bookshop.org Formats available: Hardback
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Historical Fiction Author: D.H. Eraldi 2011 WILLA Literary Award Finalist Sett Foster was hoping life would get easier. With his Blackfeet wife, Ria,and income from taming wild mustangs, things might finally be going hisway. Then a stray Indian pony wanders into his herd, carrying an unexpected gift; a child. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: C. J. Noonan In August 1909, Mary Edwards, her sisters, and brother stand before a Model T, the first car in the railroad town of Truckee, high in the Sierra Nevada of California. The owner gives the children his old mare, and that begins their drama, both comic and tragic, but never forgotten by the long-lived good woman who tells the story. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Karen Klink A bisexual young man grapples with questions of integrity and masculinity as he and his unconventional sister and slave brother struggle for respect and a future between dark secrets and unbridled passions of two plantation dynasties. For more information or to purchase visit Karen Klink’s Website. Formats available: Paperback; e-Book
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Historical Fiction Author: Ashley E. Sweeney Arizona Territory, 1899. Once the Girl Wonder on the Wild West circuit, Ruby Fortune faces a split-second choice: murder her abusive husband or else. One bullet is all it takes. Set in a rough mining town north of Tucson, Ruby battles misogyny and challenges as she provides for her family. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardcover; Paperback; eBook
Author: Linda Ulleseit 2023 Bronze Medal, Historical Fiction, Independent Book Publishers Samantha, Day Sets, and Harriet Robinson come to Fort Snelling from different backgrounds. It’s 1835, the world is changing, and they are struggling to keep up. As their cultures collide, each of these women must find a way to direct her own future and leave a legacy for her children. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback, eBook
Author: Pat Benedict Jurgens Winner: Colorado Authors League Louisa, a young woman in the early 1900s, defies her strict Eastern traditions and follows her heart to Colorado. Inspired by the author's grandmother, it's a strong woman story in which a working woman on her own faces the challenges of a man's world in the West. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Historical Fiction Author: K.T. Blakemore 1905 Kansas. When ex-dancehall girl Ruby’s ex-friend Pip shows up with a message that an old enemy wants them dead, they take to the road to kill him first. But their trip is filled with mishaps, blunders, con artists and the circling noose of the law. For more information or to purchase visit Books2Read. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Jane Coletti Perry Inspired by true events, Marcello’s Promise is the heartfelt journey of a loving husband’s promise to his wife for the American dream. Set in an immigrant coal-mining town in Wyoming, 1915, the Corsi family faces blizzards, labor disputes, brawling cowboys, ethnic tension, and the dangers of coal mining during Prohibition. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook
Author: Ann Parker In 1882 San Francisco, one-time Colorado saloon owner Inez Stannert strives to keep a respectable home for her ward, Antonia. But when a skeleton tumbles from the wall of Inez's latest business investment, she determines to uncover the secret behind it... a secret someone has already killed to keep buried. For more information or to purchase visit Books2Read. Formats available: Paperback; eBook 22
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Historical Fiction Author: Kate Anger Reading the West Longlist for Debut Fiction Jessa Campbell thrives on her family’s homestead in 1890s Texas. When, without explanation her father sends her away to settle a family debt, everything unravels. A story of coming-of-age and betrayal, THE SHINNERY is inspired by the author’s family history and a trial that shook the region. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Theresa Nichols Schuster A time travel adventure set in Granite, Montana during the 1893 Silver Panic. Vic will do whatever it takes to survive in this strange world from the past. Unsettled by Jago, the young Cornish Miner, her shrewd deception is threatened. A tale immersed in rich authentic events and landscapes. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Venetia Hobson Lewis 1871. Tucsonans retaliate against raiding Apache Indians by slaughtering them at Camp Grant. Nest Feather, a young Apache girl, is abducted. In Tucson, Valeria Obregon, a seamstress, questions her husband's possible involvement in the raid, while Nest Feather tries to remain true to her Apache heritage. Based on true events. For more information or to purchase Nebraska Press. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Historical Fiction Author: Leslie Nyman 1849 was an exciting time. Lena Benjamin and her husband journey to the California Gold Rush. Along the way she faces adventures that test her fortitude, and she turns misfortune into success. Her life is filled with music, danger and love. This action novel is rich in details and characters. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Linda Weber Five Star Rating from Reader Reviews with Featured Author Interview. Inspired by true events, Finding Utopia is a story of deep love, and deep sorrow—both heartwarming and haunting. It is a poignant and moving tribute to a life cut short by tragedy. “Beautifully Crafted and moving, the perfect book for fans of historical fiction.” Jenny Baliff, UTube Science Mom. For more information or to purchase visit Bookbaby. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Cindy Hiday First Place Fiction, Willamette Writer’s Kay Snow Award She had a ranch to run. He had a debt to pay. Together they struck a deal. Neither of them planned on the consequences. Discover the historic trail west to Oregon when young, strong-willed Alice Calder refuses to stand by and watch another family member taken from her. For more information or to purchase visit Cindy Hiday. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook 24
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Historical Fiction Author: Julie Weston Photographer Nellie Burns, Sheriff Asteguigoiri, Nellie's black Lab dog Moonshine, and Sammy Ah Kee seek the killer of a murdered Chinese man in Vienna, a ghost town in the Stanley Basin of 1920's Idaho. Murder and mayhem follow as they search in a landscape lurking with greed and evil. For more information or to purchase visit Bookshop. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; e-Book
Author: Tamatha Cain Eugene O'Neill's only daughter. Café Society's only shining star. Charlie Chaplin's only true love. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; e-Book
Author: Teresa H. Janssen This coming-of-age novel tells of the unforgettable journey of a young woman whose life is shaken by world events—economic boom-and-bust, war, and pandemic. Set in the early twentiethcentury Southwest, where water means everything, it is a testament to the meaning of family and the strength of the human spirit. For more information or to purchase visit Bookshop.org. Formats available: Paperback; e-Book Women Writing the West®
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Historical Fiction Author: Milana Marsenich 2020 WWW Laura Short Fiction Award During the fall of 1918, the influenza pandemic crosses the nation and reaches the mining town of Butte, Montana. Marika works to save friends and neighbors from the ravages of the flu. Kaly waits for her husband to return from war and tries to keep their daughter and son safe. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; e-Book
Author: Sandra Dallas Colorado Book Award 1916, the High Plains of Wyoming. Ellen Webster and her cowboy husband face the challenges of blizzards, starvation, and death. In the end, it is not Ellen and Charlie face together but their love for each other that endures through it all. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; e-Book; Audiobook
Author: Johny Weber Wyoming Territory in the 1800’s, three families band together to form a ranch, raising livestock and garden produce. The Welles family takes livestock to the Oregon Trail to trade with pioneers. This is their story and the story of their children, growing up in the mountain wilderness. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; e-Book
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Historical Fiction Author: Shelley Read
Instant Sunday Times Best Seller Set amid Colorado’s wild beauty, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter. A tragic and uplifting novel of place and displacement, love and loss, family and survival—and hope. An international bestselling debut translated into over thirty languages. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; e-Book; Audiobook
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Historical Romance Author: Jane Kirkpatrick 2023 WILLA Literary Award Finalist, Historical Fiction Based on the true story of Western pioneer Mollie Sheehan Ronan, her remarkable life and journey from the gulches of Montana to California and back to serve the people of the Flathead reservation. An ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. For more information or to purchase visit JK Books. Formats available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Susanna Lane 2022 Spur Award “Imperfect Promise" delivers a powerful story of redemption in 1870's Nebraska. Widow Sienna Harris stops at nothing to keep her ranch alive, including brokering a deal to keep her foreman, Cortland Enders, out of prison. Captivated by Sienna's hired companion, Cort and Lark make perilous choices between honor and danger. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Karen Witemeyer He came to stop a gang of rustlers and wound up tangled in a murder plot. The boy next door holds the key to the truth, but it's the boy's aunt who might end up holding the Horseman's heart. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook; Audio 28
Women Writing the West®
Historical Romance Author: K.S. Jones A tale of early California, set against the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada range—raw in its scenic beauty and pristine in its wild nature—this 1849 frontier story reveals the enduring spirit of a woman who took a rowdy Gold Rush camp and turned it into a town. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback
Author: Sarah Hendess Nurse Josie Donovan fled her home in Kansas for Hollywood, California, and winds up on actor Robert Coolidge's Western television show in 1959. Both of them wary of a relationship, they're drawn to each other anyway, until a goodnight kiss goes wrong. Now it's Tinseltown's magic versus two broken hearts. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: CK Van Dam The Civil War created countless spinsters and widows. Anna Olson was one of them. With no prospects for marriage and family, Anna heads west to stake on the frontier. Her life collides with Two Hawks MacKenzie. Together, they forge a bond that connects their two worlds. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Women Writing the West®
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Historical Romance Author: Johny Weber In 1847, Sabra runs away from her abusive father with the help of an old mountain man, Jacob Bates, who takes her to the mountains of Colorado. When Jacob is killed, Sabra finds herself alone. Her life takes many turns as she fights for the way of life she loves. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Shanna Hatfield 2023 WILLA Literary Award Winner Henley Jones has spent her life tagging after her gambling father. His unexpected death leaves her destitute. Out of options, Henley agrees to travel across the country to marry a stranger. In a town flush with possibilities, will taking a chance on love bring heartache or a winning hand? For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Tammy Lough Amazon #1 Int’l and National Best Seller Will Lacey fancy the muscle-ripped cowboy of her dreams more than hot possum stew on a frigid winter night? Will Brandon's seductive lips meet up with the object of his desire? The year is 1873 and the Wild Wild West is the ideal setting for a hellcat tomboy! For more information or to purchase visit Tammy Lough. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Women Writing the West®
Historical Romance Author: Louise Lenahan Wallace The Civil War over, Ethan and Larissa plan their future on their Ohio farm. Fate had other ideas. Daughter Rose survives a deadly illness with tragic consequences. Someone from Larissa’s earlier life appears. The roots stretching deep into the couple’s separate pasts yield heartbreak, threatening to destroy their new-found happiness. For more information or to purchase visit Louise Lenahan Wallace. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Andrea Downing Seventies America: Deeply attached to Wyoming ranch life, no one is more surprised than Cooper Byrnes when he falls for vagabond hippie Cassie Halliday. But Coop cannot express his feelings and Cassie moves on. As years pass, will one eventually reach out to say, “you were always on my mind”. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Deborah Swenson 2021 CIBA First Place in CHATELAINE Category, Romantic Fiction. Till My Last Breath is a Western Historical Romance filled with passion that knows no boundaries, and centuries divide two lives destined to be together. Hearts collide in a struggle for survival on a desert hillside in the 1880 Arizona Territory. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook Women Writing the West®
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Poetry Author: Laura L.B. Border Poetry chapbook of poems based on moon watching in the Rocky Mountains. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Sheila Quinn Deloney Suitable for gift-giving, This Year, Lord: Teachers’ Prayers of Blessing, Liturgy, and Lament is a collection of honest prayers that emerged from two decades of teaching and working beside teachers. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback
Author: Susan Cummins Miller 2023 WILLA Literary Award Finalist The poems in Susan Cummins Miller's Making Silent Stones Sing capture a geoscientist's contemplation of, discoveries in, and wisdom gained from the changing landscape of her life and history. Individual poems explore universal themes and the healing power to be found in the solitude and silence of the desert West. For more information or to purchase visit Finishing Line Press Formats available: Paperback
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Women Writing the West®
Poetry Author: Janice E. Kirk 2022 Bronze Award Poetry, Reader Views From Ft. Rock to Hovenweep, redwoods to Rockies, ocean to high desert, an invitation to connect with the natural world. Psalms, prayers unfold from early morning dew to night watch. Delight in the dawn, the forest fellowship, savor solitude, lament losses, celebrate life, hear the robin singing. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook
Women Writing the West®
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Scholarly Nonfiction Author: Cynthia Leal Massey Pioneer cemeteries provide a wealth of information about the people who settled Texas during its years as a Republic and after it became the twenty- eighth state in 1845. This book exhumes the stories of these pioneers, revealing the intriguing truth behind the earliest graveyards and demystifyingearly burial traditions. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; e-Book
Author: Lynn Downey The dude ranch is America's original western vacation. "American Dude Ranch" opens up a new perspective on this buckaroo getaway, demonstratingthe deep links to many aspects of culture: the role of women, food, clothing,race relations, literature, and film. For more information or to purchase visit Lynn Downey. Formats available: Hardback; eBook
Author: Beverly Lionberger Hodgins Spokane, Washington’s first female physician, Mary A Latham, sought a better climate for her health and worked tirelessly for the health of all of Spokane’s citizens, but particularly women and children and especially the poor. Read why she was accused, arrested, and convicted of arson, then sentenced to the penitentiary. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Hardback
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Women Writing the West®
Scholarly Nonfiction Author: Laura Arata Born a slave, Sarah Bickford became the first African American female public utilities owner in the nation and Montana tourism promoter. Winner of the 2021 Spur Award for Best First Non-Fiction Book from Western Writers of America and the 2021 Gita Chaudhuri Prize from Western Association of Women's Historians. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Carolyn Grattan Eichin 2021 WILLA Literary Award Finalist This is a meticulously researched, insightful and scholarly documented study of theater in the American West during the 1800s. Focusing on the mid-1800s, the theater was a reflection of the American melting pot. The book has been called ”the best, most thoughtful-provoking study of the subject to date.” For more information or to purchase visit University of Nevada Press. Formats available: Hardback; eBook
Author: Jane Little Botkin 2022 WILLA Literary Award Finalist First to chronicle Jane Street's defiant efforts as a leader of the so-called housemaid rebellion, award-winning author Jane Little Botkin paints a fascinating—and ultimately heartbreaking— portrait of one woman's courageous fight for equality in the wake of Colorado’s violent labor disputes For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback; Paperback; eBook Women Writing the West®
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Scholarly Nonfiction Author: Caroline Arlen Every time miners started a shift, they knew they might be the next to die or be maimed from a cave-in, explosion or falling slab. But it was much more than just a dangerous job. The mining life created a close, loyal community; and sometimes laughter was the best medicine. For more information or to purchase visit Western Reflections Publishing. Formats available: Paperback
Author: Amy Law Trail Ridge Road follows ancient trails across the Continental Divide, offering visitors breathtaking views and a privileged glimpse at unique ecosystems. It is the country's highest continuous paved road, peaking at over twelve thousand feet. Join author Amy Law on a tour through the history of Colorado's most famous byway. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Hardback, Paperback, eBook
Author: J.v.L Bell Explore the lives of ten unforgettable women who called Colorado home during the turbulent years of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. Read about the unsung heroism of Native American, Hispanic, Anglo, and African American women whose perseverance, hard work, and wisdom helped lay the foundation for the state of Colorado. For more information or to purchase visit Filter Press Books. Formats available: Hardback, Paperback
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Women Writing the West®
Scholarly Nonfiction Author: Tempe Javitz Featuring over one hundred of Jessamine Spear Johnson’s photographs, this volume is the first publication to showcase her work in detail. Essays and captions by granddaughter Tempe Javitz, with an intro by historian Mary Murphy, situate Johnson’s life and career in relation to broader shifts in ranching, tourism, and photography. For more information or to purchase visit South Dakota Historical Society Formats available: Paperback
Women Writing the West®
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Thriller & Suspense Author: Marty Eberhardt Bea Rivers’ euphoria over her new job at Shandley Gardens is shattered by the death of the Gardens’ founder. Bea struggles to maintain the life of a single parent as she decodes odd botanical clues and discovers just how tangled the relationships among the staff and board members really are. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Betsy Randolph Cat Carlyle is an Oklahoma radio broadcast journalist who has a tendency to tell little white lies. Preyed on by a serial killer, Cat is forced to face a horrible truth or lose everything she loves. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Judy Alter Irene is back in town. And Henny’s life is a mess. The diva chef is searching for her good friend, dead or alive, but for Henny the search threatens her TV job and her new, idyllic marriage to Patrick. What really did happen to Florence? Will they find her? For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Womenwritingthewest.org®
Thriller & Suspense Author: Eva Moran Intentionally, some are marked at birth. Nineteen-year-old Chloe Winter considers herself an adult now, but the cult she grew up in doesn’t allow independence. Can she escape Badger Creek United? Run with Chloe as she tries to break the chains of the past and find a new life. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Marcia Rosen A body is tossed into the lion’s habitat at the zoo where Miranda is the senior vet. A fan since childhood of Christie, Raymond, and Sherlock, they live in her head telling her what to do…and not do. Murders and a gangster father often get in the way of romance For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Jayme H. Mansfield Olivia Danford’s life unravels when she, an acclaimed expert in art forgery detection, investigates a purported Modigliani portrait and discovers there is far more than what lies beneath the layers of paint. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook Womenwritingthewest.org®
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Thriller & Suspense
Author: Randi Samuelson Brown Emory Cross is a young, tough, no nonsense brand inspector in Colorado's cattle country. She's intent on preserving her legacy ranch's traditional way of life at all costs...even if it means crossing lines. Decisions lead her down a road fraught with danger, exposing an uneasy past and an uncertain future. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Kathryn Dodson Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Goldrush Award Finalist Two women. One missing, one hired to find her. When the hunter becomes the hunted, she’ll need more than tequila to survive the night. Jessica won’t let anyone hurt her again, but the tough as nails woman softens when a Mexican tycoon with shady connections begs her to locate his missing daughter. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook; Audiobook
Author: Mary Coley 2022 Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction Winner Journalist Claire Northcutt plans to write a newspaper story about the famous Mother Road (Route 66) but her investigation of one small Oklahoma town uncovers a disturbing secret. With the help of a waitress, 'Rhonda' who is hiding under Witness Protection, she tries to stop the criminals' deadly plot.
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For more information or to purchase visit Mary Coley. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook
Womenwritingthewest.org®
Thriller & Suspense Author: JoAnn Connor Susanna Warren was taught to love the mountains and respect the Native American customs. When she stumbles on thieves stealing artifacts, she engages in a battle of wills with the local sheriff, who can't decide whether to lock her up or protect her in the quest to stop the thieves. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Claire Naden A forty-something woman inherited a bookstore in her aunt's will. Bungalow Books came with a cache of valuable artifacts. Is what lies hidden under the stacks of Bungalow Books deter Cate from finding the cache of valuable artifacts with historical implications? For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
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Young Adult Fiction Author: E.S. Jameson It’s 1925. The small cabin deep in the San Juan Mountains is the only home seventeen-year-old Lenora Giovanni has ever known. But when her father dies from tainted moonshine, leaving her alone, she is forced into a life of danger. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Helen F. Wand The year 1897... Recently widowed, Julianna, left alone with eight children on a remote homestead in the mountains of the Columbia River Gorge struggles for survival. Based on a true story of how neighborliness, caring, and love come together to build the community called Pleasant View... A readers delight. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Sally Harper Bates A young reader selection. Takes the reader through the life of a young man on ranches through the eyes of many who watched his struggles and victories. Each chapter is a different "speakers" voice. It's unique, personable, and rich with the traditional lifestyle of the working cowboy and his family. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback
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Womenwritingthewest.org®
Young Adult Nonfiction Author: Sarah Byrn Rickman 2023 WILLA Literary Award Finalist A youthful pioneer spirit and love of adventure led Jean Landis to volunteer to fly trainer and fighter aircraft for her country in wartime – when skilled pilots were desperately needed. Jean Landis WASP Pilot is Sarah Byrn Rickman’s twelfth book about the women ferry pilots of WWII. For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats available: Paperback; eBook
Author: Joyce Lohse WILLA Literary Award Silver Finalist Baby Doe Tabor, the Silver Queen of Leadville, went from rags to riches and back to rags, earning fame as an unforgettable character in Colorado history. She faced life in mining camps and early Denver with pioneer spunk and spirit. For more information or to purchase visit Filter Press Books. Formats Available: Paperback
Author: Heidi M Thomas Samantha Moser rescues horses with the power to heal, helping troubled teens and veterans. Harsh Montana winters, abandonment by her fiancé, limited finances, dishonest contractors, and a disastrous barn fire turn her dream of a healing center to ashes. Can she find love again and resurrect her dream? For more information or to purchase visit Amazon. Formats Available: Paperback; eBook Womenwritingthewest.org®
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Young Adult Nonfiction Author: Corinne Brown 2023 Colorado Independent Publishers Silver Award An award-winning edition of six art lessons inspired by horses for children ages six to ten. Young artists’ work grace the pages along with equine art from the past. Not a “how to” book, but rather a “why not?” book, each lesson offers directions, materials and tips for group leaders. For more information or to purchase visit Corinne Brown Website Formats available: Paperback
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Womenwritingthewest.org®
J o i n u s i n D e n ve r, C o l o ra d o o n Oc to b e r 10 -12, 2024, f o r th e 3 0 th An n i ve rsa ry o f th e Wo me n Writin g th e We st C o n f e re n c e . Th e th e m e , " Th ro u g h A Wo man ' s Eye s," will h o n o r b o th wo me n write rs an d wo me n ' s sto rie s alo n g with th e Fo u n d i n g Me mb e rs o f Wo me n Writin g th e We st. Wo rksh o p s w i l l b e o f f e re d f o r write rs f ro m b e g in n e rs to p ro s. L e arn ab o u t writin g an d p u b lish in g th ro u g h au th o r p an e ls an d ag e n t a n d e d i to r p a n e l s. H i g h lig h ts in c l u d e th e p re se n ta tio n s o f Th e WIL L A L ite rary Award , Th e L AURA Sh o rt Fi c ti o n Aw a rd , Th e D OWN IN G J o u rn a l i sm Aw a rd a n d th e H i g h Sc h o o l Wri ti n g C o n te st Aw a rd s. We l o o k fo r wa rd to se e i n g yo u th e re ! WomenWritingtheWest | Women Writing the West Awards | Conferences | Webinars & Workshops | Blog