2023

Rifkin a Medalist for best Medieval Romance of the Year.

Virginia Rifkin’s "Promise Me Christmas" is a finalist at N.N. Light Book Heaven for best Medieval Romance of the Year. Each of these books was given at least a 5 star review by the reviewers at N. N. Light's Book Heaven. The winners will be announced on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Maynard and Scheuermann Among Chaucer's Short-Listed Authors

Cindy Maynard’s "Esperanza's Way" and Stefan Scheuermann’s "Kyra" were among the 26 titles that have been moved from the long list to the short list for the Chaucer Book Awards, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards, which recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in pre-1750s Historical Fiction. Their books will now compete for positions as semi-finalists, from which finalists and first-place winners will be selected and recognized at the author conference in 2024.

CAL Member Virginia White Dies

Virginia White has passed away after a year-long battle with cancer. As an educator and author, she touched many lives with her children's books and the cookbook she put together during the pandemic, the proceeds of which go to a local food bank. She never missed participating in the CAL co-op booths, and was even there at both Denver and Colorado Springs this past November. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Play Based on Funke's Children's Book Premiers in NYC

Teresa Funke and her daughter, Lydia, have adapted Teresa’s children's book, “Wave Me Good-bye,” as a play that is premiering October 7 and 8 at the Kraine Theater in New York City. The play celebrates “a very special friendship between a Jewish girl in the Bronx and an English orphan during World War II,” Funke said. Lydia has a graduate degree in theater education from NYU. The show is appropriate for all audiences over age 9. Tickets at https://www.frigid.nyc/event/6897:495/. There is a livestream option for the Sunday show.

Clark's Puzzling Ink Chosen as 1 of 10 Best Puzzle Books

"Puzzling Ink (Crossword Puzzle #1)" by Becky Clark has been included as one of “10 of the best puzzle mysteries” by Book Riot. Its website (bookriot.com) describes the 10 mysteries it has chosen as all “centered around particularly clever and puzzling plots. Some are self-aware of their difficulty and the genre itself, offering a metafictional narrative or themed premise that can be entertaining for more seasoned mystery fans.” Its blurb for Puzzling Ink: Quinn Carr is a woman with obsessive-compulsive disorder who finds a creative outlet in writing crosswords for her local newspaper. But when a customer at her day job as a waitress is murdered, Quinn must put her puzzle-creation skills to the test by solving a particularly strange one.

Bell Wins Imadjinn Award

Donnell Bell has won first place for the thriller category  in the Imadjinn Awards for his novel, "Until Dead." The Imaginarium 2023 Awards Banquet was held last month in Louisville East.

Donnelly a Finalist for Thriller Novel Award

Kathleen Donnelly is a finalist in the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards for her suspense novel, “Chasing Justice.” The sponsors of the award indicate that it “seeks to discover and honor the best books of the previous year (novels, novellas, collections and anthologies, and non-fiction) that incorporate the elements of mystery, thriller, and suspense in numerous genres or, in the case of nonfiction, books that are applicable to writers in general.”

Noel and Hamilton named to Authors Hall of Fame

Bill Hamilton and Tom Noel are among 12 Colorado inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame for 2023, a designation that recognizes Colorado authors who have made contributions to their fields of work; inspired others; and advanced the status of authors. Among Hamilton's 40-year career writing a weekly "Central View" opinion column for newspapers across the Great Plains, he spent 19 years as a featured columnist for USA Today. With his wife, Penny, he co-authored 4 espionage novels, drawing largely on Bill's adventures as a Cold War "spook." He wrote “War During Peace: a Strategy for Defeat,” a history of the Vietnam War based on 2 years of combat in southeast Asia. Noel is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Colorado Denver. A former Sunday columnist for the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post, he was “Dr. Colorado" on Channel 9’s “Colorado & Company.” In 2018, he was named State Historian and received the 2021 University of Colorado Board of Regents Medal.

Rivers Places in International Contest

Amy Rivers' "Stumble and Fall" was a finalist in the International Book Fest in Suspense.

Evans Takes First Place in Purple Dragonfly Awards

M.J. (Margi) Evans' book "The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy" won first place for young adult fiction in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards that evaluate Children's and Young adult literature.

Carlson's Book Shortlisted for Eric Hoffer Award

Pete Carlson's "Deep Waters of Destiny" has been named to the "short list" for the Eric Hoffer Book Awards for 2023.

Perkins' Book Wins Two Categories in International Book Awards

"Full Circle: A Hands-On Affair with the First Ferrari 250 GTO" by Petra Perkins has won Shortlist Finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards: Creative NonFiction and Sports. Previously, it won Shortlist Finalist in nonfiction book category in the Faulkner-Wisdom Writing Competition (2021), and also was a finalist in the Colorado Author's League contest, nonfiction category (2022).

Dallas's Little Souls Wins CO Book Award

Sandra Dallas’s Little Souls, a novel about two sisters who move to Denver during the flu pandemic of 1918, has won the 2023 Colorado Humanities and the Center for the Book award for best historical fiction. 

The organizations announced the winners of the 16 literary categories June 10, 2023, at El Pomar Foundation’s Penrose House Garden Pavilion. “When I fell and broke two ribs last week, I thought I’d received a message from God not to show up at the ceremony,” Sandra said in an email. “But I did, and I was thrilled. Since there are so many good books out there, I really didn’t expect it.”

S.M. Webb's Spirited Wins Silver Readers Choice Award

S. M. Webb’s young adult paranormal novel, “Spirited,” has won the silver medal in the Teen category of the Spring 2023 Readers’ Choice Book Awards. The awards are given twice a year in four categories. A cash prize is awarded to the gold winner. 

The awards were established in 2020 to give authors another opportunity to have their book independently reviewed. Applicants can request a book review with their submission to the contest for $50 to $300 (depending on the length of the book) along with the $25 entry fee.

Apache's Poetry Collection Wins Emerging Writers Award

Crisosto Apache’s poetry book, Ghostword (Gnashing Teeth Publishing), has won the Publishing Triangle's 2023 Betty Berzon Emerging Writers Award. The Publishing Triangle presents eight book awards annually, honoring the best LGBTQ published literature. The award ceremony was held June 27th. 

The Emerging Writers Award was previously administered under the auspices of the Lambda Literary Foundation. The prize is given in honor of Betty Berzon (1928–2006), an author and psychotherapist renowned for her work with the LBGTQ community. It is sponsored by Berzon’s widow, Teresa DeCrescenzo. The winner receives $1500.

Braden's Paranormal Novel Wins Indie Book Award

L. R. Braden’s novel, Demon Riding Shotgun, has won a Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Paranormal category. Winners and finalists will be honored at an awards reception at The Newberry Library in Chicago, IL, Friday, June 23.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest International awards program for indie authors and independent publishers. The contest was established 17 years ago to recognize and honor the best independently published books of the year in more than 80 categories, and is administered by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group and the Allen Literary Agency (formerly the Allen O'Shea Literary Agency).

Dallas and Cross Finalists for 2023 Reading the West Awards

Sandra Dallas and Eliza Cross have been named finalists for the 2023 Reading the West book awards. Dallas's "Tenmile" is a finalist in the Young Adult category, and Cross's "Hot Diggity" is a finalist in the Eating the West category. The annual Reading the West contest was created by the Mountains and Plains Independent Bookseller Association. The 44 finalists in nine categories were chosen by the group's booksellers from the140 books submitted for judging.

Rivers' Book Stumble & Fall wins Firebird Awards

CAL member Amy Rivers’ book "Stumble & Fall" has won the Firebird Book Awards in two categories: suspense and social political change. The awards are distributed quarterly by Speak Up Talk Radio. Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says in a press release created for her award winners: “We offer creative people a welcome place to promote themselves via book awards, podcast awards, radio interviews, audiobook production, and podcasting services, including free opportunities to be featured in the BOOMBANGOHMYGOSHWOW podcast.” Rivers’ interview with Rullo can be found on the Radio’s website: https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/amy-rivers/.

Charlier Selected for Vashon Arts Residency

The Vashon Arts Residency has invited CAL member Marj Charlier to a one-month residency starting April 24. Charlier entered the competitive selection process with a plan to complete a historical novel set in the sixth century in Frankish Gaul and Visigothic Spain. The Vashon Arts Residency invites about 40 artists a year--about one-fourth of whom are writers--to spend a month in a shared residence on Puget Sound. The artists are selected by a peer-review panel. Charlier's most recent published novel is The Rebel Nun, also set in sixth century Gaul, released by Blackstone Publishing in 2021.

CAL Authors Finalists for CO Book Awards

The Colorado Humanities Society named its finalists for the Colorado Book Awards, including several CAL members. The CAL-member finalists in each category are: Anthology: "Bizarre Bazaar," Jennie MacDonald, contributor; "Denver Noir," Barbara Nickless, contributor. General Fiction: Melissa Payne, "A Light in the Forest." Historical Fiction: Sandra Dallas, "Little Souls." Mystery: Chuck Greaves, "The Chimera Club." Sci Fi/Fantasy: L.R. Braden, "Demon Riding Shotgun." Thriller: Barbara Nickless, "Dark of Night;" Pete Carlson, "Deep Waters of Destiny." The winners will be announced on June 10th. The authors have been invited to participate in public readings of their works in April, May and June as detailed on this website's "Upcoming Events."

Braden's Chaos Song a Finalist for Imadjinn Award

Chaos Song, Book 6 in the Magicsmith series by CAL member L.R. Braden, has been named as one of three finalists for the Imadjinn Award's Best Urban Fantasy Novel 2023 alongside two USA Today bestselling authors. The Imadjinn Awards are presented as part of the Imaginarium Convention, a unique event for writers and storytellers of all genres, including filmmakers, game developers, artists, musicians, poets, cosplayers, and many other creatives, and their fans. Winners in each category will be announced at the awards banquet July 15th. The bestselling Magicsmith urban fantasy series follows metalsmith artist Alex Blackwood as she discovers she is not entirely human in a world where magic is feared, persecuted, and controlled. Alex works to unite the warring factions of her world, while at the same time struggling to accept the disparate parts of her own existence.

Co-author Schneider reports American Book Fest Award

College Secrets of Highly Successful People: Keys to Launching a Great Life has been awarded the Best Book Award from American Book Fest. Co-author Lindy Schneider reveals the stories of celebrities and CEOs and what they did while in college that changed the trajectory of their lives. The book gives tips from these stories that anyone can follow to attract success to their business and personal lives. The book has been purchased in bulk quantities by high schools for their juniors and seniors and has hit the bestseller mark on Amazon. It can be found at CollegeSecretsBook.com.

Bradley's book longlisted for Reading the West award

Fleur Bradley’s “Daybreak on Raven Island” has been longlisted for a Reading the West Book Awards in the young readers category. It was published in 2022 by Viking Books for Young Readers and is available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book, and as an audiobook available through Amazon.

From Reading the West’s website: “The Reading the West Book Awards are sponsored and promoted by the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. The awards honor the best fiction, non-fiction, and illustrated books for adults and children set in one of the states [served by the association], or created by an author or artist living or working in the region. The awards, given to books published in the previous calendar year, celebrate the rich variety of writing in and about this region, and reflect the extraordinary diversity of the reading public. Winners will be announced in the spring.”

Holme's Beet Life a Finalist for North Street Book Prize

Tyler Holme’s Beet Life, about a fictional blogger, finished as a finalist in the Art Book category of the North Street Book Prize, sponsored by Winningwriters.com.

Tyler describes the book as a satiric take on health & lifestyle culture and social media influencers. “After receiving over 100 followers on Instagram, Beth has decided to do what every extremely successful social media influencer does when they amass a huge following: write a self-help book full of unsolicited life advice for whoever will read it!” he wrote.

Self-published in September 2021, the book is available as an e-book on Amazon, and in e-book and paperback formats on the author’s website, https://booksbybeetsbybeth.com/.

Tyler said first found out about the North Street competition on the Resources for Authors page on the CAL website. The judges received 1,946 entries from independent and self-published authors, and Beet Life finished in the top 38 overall.

Nowak a Finalist for Laramie Award

Necessary Deceptions: The Women of Wyatt Earp, by Pamela Nowak, has been named a finalist in the 2022 Laramie Book Awards, one of 16 categories of awards from the Chanticleer International Book Awards, sponsored by Chanticleer Book Reviews. “Laramie Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the Americana and Westerns fiction genre,” the company reports on its website.

Nowak’s book was published Feb. 16, 2022, by Five Star Publishing. The publisher’s website says the company publishes historical fiction and traditional Western books, inviting readers to “Explore the finest voices in American Frontier Fiction.”

In its review of Necessary Deceptions, the Historical Novel Review wrote, “It is a rapidly paced book, with twists and heartbreaks maintaining interest throughout. The novel shows evidence of extensive research and a perceptive winnowing of truths, half-truths and deceptions.”

Bradley Nominated For Mystery Award

Fleur Bradley's "Daybreak on Raven Island" has been nominated for an Agatha Award in the Children's/Young Adult category by Malice Domestic, an annual "celebration of traditional mystery." The winners will be announced at the April convention in Bethesda, Maryland.

Bradley Wins Award

Fleur Bradley's Midnight at the Barclay Hotel has won the Sunshine State Young Reader's Award.

Meaghar Named As Finalist

Matthew Meaghar's YA Novel Irish Town has been named a Finalist in the American Writing Awards.

Angstman wins Indie Author prize

Leah Angstman is the winner of the Colorado division of the Indie Author Project with her collection of stories, Shoot the Horses First.

Small wins award

Brenda Small's Smart Kid Terminology has won a Firebird book award.

South and Her Narrator Win in Audio

Sheri Cobb South and narrator Joel Froomkin won the 2022 Audiobook Reviewers Awards for both Best Historical Mystery and Best Mystery Series.

Taylor wins for The Birthing House

Kathy Taylor won an International Firebird Book Award (multicultural fiction) for her new novel The Birthing House.

Torreano wins awards

Mike Torreano's White Sands Gold has received a Firebird Book Award for western fiction, an American Book finalist award for mystery/suspense, and a Literary Titan gold award for fiction.

CIPA Evvy Awards Names Finalists

Story Collection: Food For Thought Vol. 2 by Jerry Fabyanic

Animals and Cover Design: Corky Tails: Sagebrush and the Never Summer Mountains by Joni Franks

Children 0-5: Quack by Laurel McHargue

Women's Fiction: The Price of a Contract by Ellen Kingman Fisher

Multicultural: African Slave Conquistador by Anthony Garcia

Anthology: Shoot the Horses First by Leah Angstman

Historical Fiction: The Rebel Nun by Marj Charlier

Religious/Spiritual: Hidden Buddha by Jim Ringel

Young Adult: Feathers of the Phoenix: The Atlantean Horse by Cheryl Carpinello and The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy by M.J. Evans

Romance: A Christmas to Remember by Jean Jacobsen

Fantasy: Freedom Rings by Brenda Hardwick

Nonfiction--Animals/Pets/Nature: Echoes in the Stars by Gordon Frisbie

CAL Authors in Mountain of Authors Virtual Showcase

The Pikes Peak Library District's Mountain of Authors Showcase has announced that CAL authors who submitted materials for consideration for the May 6, 2023 Mountain of Authors Showcase now have their submission materials posted in the "virtual showcase" on the library district's website, ppld.org/moa. They include GaGa Gabardi and Judilee Butler, co-authors of The Phoebe Korneal Mystery Trilogy; and Jim Henderson, a science fiction writer whose 2023 book is "Mantis Infected."

7 CAL authors in Mountain of Authors event in Colorado Springs

Seven CAL members have been chosen to participate in the Mountain of Authors event, Saturday, May 6, from noon to 4:30 at the 21c Library in Colorado Springs. Dian Curtis Regan, Mike Torreano, Sarah Byrn Rickman, Shannon Lawrence, and Valerie Niemerg will be in the Authors Showcase. Patricia Raybon and Randi Samuelson-Brown will be panelists. Mountain of Authors is an annual community program that provides an opportunity for the public and local authors to network, listen to notable authors, and learn about the craft of writing and trends in publishing. It is free to attend and there is no registration. To find out more about the event, see: https://research.ppld.org/mountainofauthors

Colorado Book Awards Names Finalists

Anthology: Denver Noir, Barbara Nickless, contributor and The Bizarre Bazaar, Jennie MacDonald, contributor

General Fiction: A Light in the Forest by Melissa Payne

Historical Fiction: Little Souls by Sandra Dallas

Mystery: The Chimera Club by Chuck Greaves

Sci Fi/ Fantasy: Demon Riding Shotgun by L.R. Braden

Thriller: Dark of Night by Barbara Nickless and Deep Waters of Destiny by Pete Carlson

Winograd Nominated for Award

Kathryn Winograd's essay "Floating" has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

William Hamilton inducted into CO Authors' Hall of Fame

Dr. William “Bill” Hamilton was recently inducted into the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame. He is already a Laureate of the Colorado Aviation and Nebraska Aviation Halls of Fame, Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, and Oklahoma Military Foundation Hall of Fame. The Colorado House of Representatives recognized him at a Colorado black-tie ceremony. Penny is also a CAL member and was inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame in 2021.

Winograd Named as Finalist

Kathryn Winograd's essay, "Nets of Mist," was named a finalist in Terrain.org's contest