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Attention Book Illustrators and Cover Designers!

Colorado Authors League has long been about the business of storytelling, and now we’re opening our membership to include those who tell stories through art!


Book Illustrators and Cover designers, we invite you to apply for membership and take advantage of the rich benefits that CAL provides its members from friendship to promotion

to a chance to win your very own CAL award for Illustration or Cover Design!


We want to promote your work, click HERE to see just one of the ways.

Read CAL's Statement on AI

UPCOMING EVENTS



Nov. 1 CAL Awards Open for Submissions


Dec. 7 Holiday Party


Retail Opportunities Calendar




Colorado Conference Calendar


Aug 23, 2025 Castle Rock Writers Conference


Sept 26-28, 2025 RMFW Colorado Gold


Oct 16-18, 2025 Women Writing the West Conference


Feb. 5-7, 2026 Superstars Writing


April 17-19, 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference


June 2-5, 2026 Glen Eyrie Fiction Writers Retreat and Conference


Introducing the CAL Speakers' Bureau


Are you searching for a speaker for your special event or book club? Look no further! Click HERE to find a Colorado author to fit your needs.

Lifetime Achievement and Author Advocate Award Winners Announced


Watch the CAL Awards Celebration HERE

Denny Dressman

Denny Dressman has been selected as CAL's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Dressman enjoyed a long career with the Rocky Mountain News where he worked as reporter, executive sports editor, newsroom administrator and ultimately Director of Labor where he managed a workforce of 1,250. He keeps his hand in journalism as a weekly sports columnist for The Villager.

 

As author, he's published 16 titles with his 17th due this summer. Titles include Eddie Robinson: He Was The Martin Luther King of Football, Orchids and Butterflies, Game 163: The Epic '07 Wild Card Tiebreaker, and the Rockies Team that went to the World Series, and Living Vows. HIs impressive history includes his contribution to 20 additional books as either editor, contributor or ghost writer. Dressman, a past president of the Colorado Authors League, the Denver Press Club and the Colorado Press Association is the recipient of multiple honors and awards including a Pulitzer Prize nomination. He's also taught writing and editing classes at the University of Denver and is a popular speaker.

 

Amie Pilla Named as CAL's 2025 Author Advocate

Author Advocate winner Amie Pilla is being recognized for her many efforts in promoting local authors through book clubs associated with the Berthoud Community Library, as well as via the Berthoud Literary festival. "I loved how this festival brought our community together through books and created meaningful discussions as well as putting Berthoud on the literary map," her nominator explained. Pilla also hosts "This is Berthoud," a podcast featuring local authors.


Both Amie and Denny will receive their awards at the 84th Annual CAL Awards in July.

Congratulations CAL Awards Finalists

Winners in Red

Children's Book Cover

Always Flying Bobby


by C.S. Boyll

Cover Design by Jessica Santiesteban

The Year Santa Took the Toys Back


by Sheri Cobb South

Cover Design by Flo Minowa

Skippy

SKIPPY Farm Dog of the Year


by Anna-Maria Crum & Laura Adams

Cover Design by Anna-Maria Crum

Children's Book Illustration

The Year Santa Took the Toys Back

The Year Santa Took the Toys Back


by Sheri Cobb South

Ilustrated by Flo Minowa

The Ofrenda That We Built


by Jolene Gutiérrez

& Shaian Gutiérrez

Illustrated by Gabby Zapata

Boo Bear's Light

Boo Bear's Light


by Catherine Ann Russell

Illustrated by Jessica Robin Harkey

Children's Book: Story

Little Lou and Just Being You


The Year Santa Took the Toys Back


by Sheri Cobb South



Little Lou and Just Being You


by Leslie Mitchell Assini



Cat & Rabbit


by J.B. Stockings

Early Reader

Skippy

Mother Cabrini

A Heart for the World


by Claudia Cangilla McAdam

The Miracle of the August Snow


The Miracle of the August Snow


by Claudia Cangilla McAdam


Skippy

Farm Dog of the Year


by Anna-Maria Crum & Laura Adams

Magic on the Mountainside


Magic on the Mountainside


by Nancy Godbout Jurka

Articles

"Early Medieval Art of the British Isles:

Celtic or Anglo-Saxon?"


by Kathleen Guler


"House of Mirrors"


by Carol Ann Wilson

"The Day the Asteroid Changed the World!

(And left Its Mark In a Colorado State Park)"


by Mary Taylor Young


Essays

"Unexpected Visitors"


by Lou Dean

"On Mystery:

Fragments About Art, Religion, and Philosophy"


by Joachim Glage

"Trust"


by Carol Ann Wilson


Short Stories


"The Purgatory of Emily Gray"


by Fleur Bradley Visscher


"A Place to Heal"


by Cassi Clark


"Subversive"


by Collin Irish


Single Poems


"Collaring the Wolves"


by Dan Guenther


"Tracking the Lynx"


by Dan Guenther


"Through the Pane"


by Petra Perkins


YA/Adult Book Cover

Tales of the Incorrigible: A Song of Wood and Meat

Tales of the Incorrigible:

A Song of Wood and Meat


by Kevin Bowersox

Cover Design by Tristan Bowersox

Unmasked

Four Corners Voices


edited by Mark Stevens, Lisa C. Taylor & Chuck Greaves

Cover Design by Jody Chapel

A Warrior's Path


by Steve Stratton

Cover Design by Momir Borocki

Middle Grade

Coal Dust and Dreams


Coal Dust and Dreams


by M.J. Evans



Skyriders


by Polly Holyoke

Keeper of the Gremkat Key


Keeper of the Gremkat Key


by John Lyon & Brad Lyon

Young Adult


Dogs Don't Cry


by John F. Andrews

DEAD GIRL


Dead Girl


by Kerrie Faye

Unmasked


Unmasked


by Kendra Merritt

Fiction: Mainstream/ Literary

Chacolata


Chacolata


by Jerry Fabyanic


The Wild Road Home


by Melissa Payne

Burying Norma Jeane


Burying Norma Jeane


by Leah Rogin

Fiction: Historical, Pre-20th Century

Fairest of the Fayre


Fairest of the Fayre


by Sheri Cobb South

The Ring of a Bell


The Ring of a Bell


by Ellen Kingman Fisher


King of the Gulls


by Stefan Scheuermann

& Paul Alexander

Fiction: Historical,

Post-19th Century

An American Nurse in Paris


An American Nurse in Paris


by John F. Andrews


Our Desperate Hour


by John F. Andrews

Blossoms on a Poisoned Sea


Blossoms on a Poisoned Sea


by Mariko Tatsumoto

Fiction: Fantasy/ Paranormal

Bane of Giants


Bane of Giants


by Todd Fahnestock

Slayter and the Dragon


Slayter and the Dragon


by Todd Fahnestock


The Death Bringer


by Kendra Merritt

Fiction: Romance

Fairest of the Fayre


Fairest of the Fayre


by Sheri Cobb South

Perfect Office Pact


Perfect Office Pact


by Tricia Copeland


Cole and Laila are Just Friends


by Bethany Turner

Fiction: Sci Fi

Messenger


Messenger


by Collin Irish


Epoch:

A Poetic Psy-Phi Saga


by Dave Jilk

Keid_Cover-Zettle


KEID: A Lost Civilization


by Robert G. Williscroft

Fiction:

Cozy Mystery

Court Human


Court Human


by Hawkings Austin

Lawyers, Dogs, and Money


Lawyers, Dogs, and Money


by Tracy Carter


Murder, Mystics, and Menopause


by Theresa Crater

Fiction: Amateur Sleuth Mystery


The Suicide Detective


by WL Bach

Wild Ride


Wild Ride


by Lenore Mitchell

Trailridge


Trailridge


by Kevin Wolf

Fiction: Law Enforcement Mystery

A Well Too Full


A Well too Full


by Daniel Ginsberg


Kakuloa: The Downhill Slide


by Alastair Mayer

Lethal Blues: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective Mystery Novel


Lethal Blues


by R. Weir

Fiction: Thriller

Black Dog Escape


Black Dog Escape


by W.L. Bach

A Warrior's Path


A Warrior's Path


by Steve Stratton



Operation Vela Redux


by Robert G. Williscroft

Nonfiction: Memoir

The Mountains We Climb

The Mountains We Climb:

Walking Through Life’s Peaks and

 Valleys with My Dad and My Father


by Erin Boydston Kohler

Falling to Fly

Falling to Fly:

The Book to Read Before You Give Up on Your Writing Dreams


by Todd Fahnestock

A Tree with My Name on It:

Finding a Way Home


by Victress Hitchcock

Nonfiction: General

In the Land of Forgetfulness

In the Land of Forgetfulness:

Meditations on Dementia Care as Spiritual Formation


by Wayne A. Ewing

Fiddler on the Roof of Africa:

How to Fail Successfully as a Peace Corps Volunteer


by Derek Lowstuter

The December Dilemma

The December Dilemma:

U.S. Christmas Stamps 1962-1972


by Jody L. Pritzl

Anthology

Colorado Mystery Merge


Colorado Mystery Merge


by Sisters in Crime

Colorado Chapter

Four Corners Voices


Four Corners Voices


edited by Mark Stevens, Lisa C. Taylor, & Chuck Greaves


At Home in Nature:

The History of Colorado’s State Parks


by Mary Taylor Young

Poetry Collection

Liberties


Liberties



by Constance E. Boyle


Good Ash


by Kika Dorsey

This Visible Speaking: Catching Light Through the Camera's Eye

This Visible Speaking:

Catching Light Through the Camera’s Eye


by Kathryn Winograd

Prose Collection

Return to Sender:

A Book of Poetry, Prose, and Otherwise Unsent Letters


by Alice Allis

The Devil's Library


The Devil's Library


by Joachim Glage

Congrats to CAL members who are Colorado Book Award Finalists!

Winners in Red

Anthology


Four Corners Voices


edited by Mark Stevens & Lisa C. Taylor

The Future Lies

Sci Fi / Fantasy


The Future Lies


by John Be Lane

Cole and Laila are just friends

Romance


Cole and Laila Are Just Friends


by Bethany Turner

Fairest of the Fayre

Romance


Fairest of the Fayre


by Sheri Cobb South

Mystery


Play of Shadows


by Barbara Nickless

Death Valley Duel

Mystery


Death Valley Duel


by Scott Graham

Unmasked

Young Adult


Unmasked


by Kendra Merritt

ADELA'S MARIACHI BAND

Children


Adela's Mariachi Band


by Denise Vega

CAL Authors Release New Books!

Yearnings

"A book for those who feel deeply, love wholly, and see the world in signs, in poems." - Devon Bohm

AVAILABLE NOW

Murder in Paradise

An impetuous yet loyal dog named Peacemaker unleashes whimsical forces that lead to adventure.

AVAILABLE NOW

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance

Wes left Addie at the altar two decades ago . . . and that was supposed to be the end of the story.

AVAILABLE NOW

The Other Side of the Lie

Unlikely partners must outwit a crime family, corrupt police officers, and the feds...and hope to get away with murder.

AVAILABLE NOW

King Cotton III: Jack & the Ripper

Jack Bailey is back and embroiled in some of the most notable events of the late 1800's.

AVAILABLE NOW

No Lie Lasts Forever

In this taut, terrifying thriller, a reformed serial killer searches for the imposter trading on his name.

AVAILABLE NOW

Murder in Paradise

In a paradise built on buried truths, can one woman uncover the cost of justice before it's too late?

AVAILABLE NOW

Mantis Tales

Join the crew of the starship Mantis for daring adventures and feats across the galaxy!

AVAILABLE NOW

You Were Chosen, Just Like Mary

This touching true story offers readers the chance to see the unseen and believe the unbelievable.

AVAILABLE NOW

A Clan Chief's Daughter

Book two in the "She Who Rides Horses" series continues the story of Naya, the first person to ride a horse.

AVAILABLE NOW

Sick as a Dog

Can Veronica and her team decipher the sources of evil that have turned the Repentant River deadly?

AVAILABLE NOW

Lullaby of Love

Each poem in this collection crystallizes a point in time that celebrates the mystery and wonder of our everyday lives.

AVAILABLE NOW

The Soap Bubble Fairy

Drift into a world of gentle warmth and charm with this old Irish fairytale lovingly retold for today’s families.

AVAILABLE NOW

Reflections

Penny Rafferty Hamilton's "Reflections on World War II Heroines" is included in MWSA's 2025 Reflections.

AVAILABLE NOW

Boo Bear's Light

Embark on a wonderful rhyming adventure as you learn the value of all living creatures, great and small!

AVAILABLE NOW

Sick as a Dog

As part of the "Poop Theory" series, this book teaches the importance of composting and how to compost.

AVAILABLE NOW

Only with a bit of magic and support from their friends will Jessie and Matt stay alive long enough to say "I do."

AVAILABLE NOW

To Be a Fae

The series concludes with a harrowing tale of a fae queen’s attempts to secure Middle and Upper Earth.

AVAILABLE NOW

A Summer to Treasure

Join these teens on an unexpected journey toward new friendships, deeper faith, and solving a decades-old mystery.

AVAILABLE NOW

Preserve, Protect, and Defend

The nonstop action of this riveting political thriller will keep you turning pages late into the night.

AVAILABLE NOW


CAL is now an official Amazon Associate and may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

And Publish Plays, Essays, Articles, and Poems!

"Night of the Living ZomBees" by R. Gary Raham is currently featured in Colorado Gardener. Find the complete article HERE.


Lou Dean has a feature article in the May/June issue of Angels on Earth magazine. The piece, entitled "Help Me Help Her," is about the challenging situation of caring for an older sister who can no longer live alone at home.

An article written by Bethany Turner entitled "How to Find a Literary Agent as an Established Author" has been published in the August issue of SheWrites. The article can be found HERE.


Lou Dean's article "Where Did I Belong?" is featured in the July/August issue of Angels on Earth, a Guideposts magazine.

Linda Duval's essay, "In Memoriam: Author and Adventurer Stewart Green," can be read HERE in Rocky Mountain Reader.


An essay by Kathryn Winograd entitled, "Memories of a Suburban Naturalist," is now posted at Terrain.org, along with several of her original photographs.

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CAL Member News

The CAL Awards



The CAL Awards is now closed but will reopen for a new submission year on Nov. 1, 2025


The CAL Awards isn't just about books. We also have categories for published Poetry, Essays, Short Stories, Articles, Illustration, Plays, Screen Plays, and Cover Design!


Find out more HERE


Finalists will be announced in June.


CAL Awards Celebration will be held in July.

YA_Evans.jpg



Margi Evans was the 2024 CAL Lifetime Achievement Award Winner


Margi at the CAL Awards


Watch past CAL Celebration videos


79th Annual CAL Awards, presented by Jodi & Kevin Bowersox


80th Annual CAL Awardss, presented by Jody Pritzl


81st Annual CAL Awards, presented by Jodi Bowersox, Laurie Marr Wasmund, and Claire Fishback



82nd Annual CAL Awards, presented by Jodi Bowersox, Laurie Marr Wasmund, and Kathryn Winograd


83rd Annual CAL Awards, presented by Jodi Bowersox, Laurie Marr Wasmund, and Judy White


84th Annual CAL Awards, presented by Jack Mahar, Judy White, Todd Fahnestock, and Jodi Bowersox

CAL Is A Proud Sponsor of

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