SWW Storyteller

Award-winning SWW Members

SouthWest Writer members earn writing honors with skills enhanced by SWW presentations and events. Listed below are honors awarded in the past 2 calendar years. If you are a SouthWest Writers member and would like to be listed on this page, please submit your award information to the with the honor and date awarded. Please, no book releases and publication notifications for this page. Winners in the contests sponsored by SouthWest Writers will continue to be listed under the Contest tab on this site.

Azpadu, Dodici: Winner in the July 2010 Alibi Flash Fiction Contest. Finalist in the Fiction, Other, category of the 2010 New Mexico Book Awards for Living Room.

Bannwart, Shanti E.: 2009 national competition of the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. San Francisco Branch, 3rd in international essay for "Reflecting on Dragons and Angels," honorable mention in fiction; "April Fool's Day" and in memoir; "Appointment With History."

Bodin, Joanne: Finalist in the 2010 Santa Fe Writer's Project for her novel, Walking Fish. Nominated for the 2010 EVVY Award: Colorado Independent Publishers Association, for Walking Fish: A Novel. The 2011 International Book Awards, Winner in Fiction: gay/lesbian and First Finalist in Fiction: Best New Book. Her novel, Walking Fish was a 2011 New Mexico Book Awards winner for gay/lesbian fiction, and was a finalist in three other categories (Fiction: adventure/drama; Fiction: other; First Book Published by Author. It also was a finalist for the 2011 USA Best Book Awards in lesbian/gay fiction.

Bradberry, Karin: 2nd in the National Federation of State Poetry Society's contest for her poem "The Undoing" and honorable mention for "Chollales."(August 2009). 1st for poetry in the 2009 Prescott Professional Writers contest for "When Nobody Wore Clothes." (December 2009). 1st in the 5th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Contest for her villanelle, "Javelina." (June 2010)

Brennan,Janet K.: Reviewer’s Choice, Small Press Bookwatch, March, 2010, and Amazon Reviewer’s Choice, 2010, Pushcart nominated her book of poetry, Gentle Tugs; a celebration of life, love and other addictions.

Bullis, Don: Named the official New Mexico Centennial Author. Finalist in the History Book – New Mexico subject, category of the 2010 New Mexico Book Awards for New Mexico’s Finest, and Duels Gunfights & Shootouts: Wild Tales from Land of Enchantment.

Burr, Sherri: 1st, New Mexico Press Women 2009 Communications Contest, in the non-fiction instructional book category for Sum & Substance on Entertainment Law, 1st for her SouthWest Sage column in 2008 and 2nd in the speeches category for "Live Your Life in Search of Material" given to SouthWest Writers in October 2008. 1st in New Mexico Press Women's 2010 Communication Contest, editorial opinion category for "Keep Film Rebate Caps on Shelf," 1st for her column in the SouthWest Sage "Minding Finances," and 2nd for her speech "Good Job + Right Path = Life Purpose" given at a UNM statistics conference.

Carden, Frank: 1st for No Life But This, in the national novel contest conducted by The Bay Area Writers League of Houston. (September 2009). Finalist for the Eric Hoffer award for the best book of 2009 with The Prostitutes of Post Office Street, which was also a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal, awarded for the most thought-provoking book.

Cruz, Sylvia Ramos: Honorable Mention in the Wildflower Press "To a Wild Rose" poetry contest. (September 2010)

Davis, Jerry: Finalist, 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Master of None in the crafts/hobby/how-to category.

DeNoon, Donald: 3rd in the Southwest Theme division of the 2009 NM State Poetry Society Contest for "Midnight on the Rio Grande." 1st in the humor division with the same poem. 2010 New Mexico State Poetry Society Contest: 1st in the humor category with "I Thought About You" and 3rd in the southwest theme category with "High Noon in Dodge City."

DuBois, Barbara: First prize in the 18th Annual Artists Embassy International's Dancing Poetry Contest with "Vivaldi." Two honorable mentions from Writer's Digest for the poems "Bags" and "Dr. Hermes". (December 2009). Honorable mention in humor in the NM State Poetry Society contest and lst in humor in the Poetry Society of Michigan contest. (November 2010). 2nd in the Chimera Division of the Utah State Poetry Society contest with "Centimentality" (May 2010). Honorable mention in humor in the NM State Poetry Society contest and lst in humor in the Poetry Society of Michigan contest. (November 2010)

Finical, Marcia: Last Chance at the Lost and Found won best General Dramatic Fiction from the Golden Crown Literary Society. (January 2010)

Friesen, Ruth: Second place, 2011 National Federation of Press Women, editing of www.southwestwriters.com. New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest first place for editing the SouthWest Writers website, and second place for developing it. 1st, 2010 New Mexico Press Women's Competition, for her essay "Just Imagine," published in the anthology Going Green: True Tales from Gleaners, Scavengers, and Dumpster Divers in the non-fiction book category, essay appearing in a book not written by entrant. 1st for SouthWest Sage in the category for publications regularly edited by entrant - newsletters (not internal or public relations). 1st, 2010 National Federation of Press Women’s communications contest for her essay in Going Green: True Tales from Gleaners, Scavengers, and Dumpster Divers. 2nd, 2010 National Federation of Press Women communications competition for SouthWest Sage in the category for publications regularly edited by entrant - newsletters (not internal or public relations).

Galligan, Elizabeth Ann: 2nd for her poem "Eating Alone" and an Honorable Mention for another entry "Body Poetic" in the High Prairie Poets, New Mexico State Poetry Society Bi-Monthly Contest, (May 2009). 1st in the 2009 NM State Poetry Society Contest, free verse division, for her poem "What Keeps Me: Japan, 1981", and honorable mention for "A Poem Without Love." (October 2009)

Greenly, Larry: New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest third place in the feature story category for "The Real Price of Computers in Writing" published in the June 2010 SouthWest Sage. 1st in New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest, 2009, for editing the literary section of albuquerqueARTS magazine; 2nd in the National Federation of Press Women national contest for the same.

Groves, Melody: Finalist, 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Border Ambush in the novel-historical fiction category.

Hall, Loretta: Her 2011 nonfiction book Out of this World: New Mexico's Contributions to Space Travel won the following awards: "Best New Mexico Book" and 1st place in the Nonfiction History Book in the 2011 New Mexico Book Awards, "Notable Book" by the Tucson/Pima County (Arizona) Library in 2011, 2nd place in the Nonfiction Book, History category and 1st place in the Nonfiction Book, General category in the 2012 New Mexico Press Women Communications Awards.

Haugen, Merry: New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest first place in the writing for the web category with a teacher guide written for National Geographic Explorer Magazine.

Hauth, Katherine B.: 4th in Albuquerque's Poetry on the Bus contest for 2009 with her poem "Musical Light." "What's for Dinner? Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World" was chosen by the Junior Library Guild as a premier selection title for 2011.

Herrington, Peggy: 3rd, New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest, 2009, for her editorship of the SouthWest Sage in 2008.

Hester, Constance: Honorable Mention in the Wildflower Press "To a Wild Rose" poetry contest. (September 2010)

Hickman, Kirt: 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Worlds Asunder in the science fiction & fantasy category. 2009 SouthWest Writers Instructor of the Year Award. ReadingNewMexico.com; Caliente Award for Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness (2009). Finalist in the 2010 Ben Franklin Award in the educational/teaching/academic category and also in the self-help category for Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness. Winner, 2010 New Mexico Book Award in the craft/hobby/how-to category and also the self-help category for Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness. Winner, 2010 New Mexico Book Award in the science fiction and fantasy category for Venus Rain. Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Award in the children's picture book category for I Will Eat Anything.

Kern, Rose Marie: 2nd in the New Mexico Press Women's 2010 Communication Contest in the non-fiction book category in the instructional sub-category for FundraisingEvents: A Step by Step Guide. An honorable mention in the 2009 National DIY Book Festival.

Layden, Dianne: Won third place in the 2011 Santa Fe Reporter non-fiction writing contest with her essay on campus violence.

La Turner, Nancy: 2009 National Novel Writing Month Contest, Reach or pass the 50,000-word finish line, Accidental Adventure – Winner

Mandelbaum, Jonna-Lynn: Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the novel – mystery/suspense category and in the novel – adventure or drama category for Unpredictable Crossing.

Manno, Lois: 1st in New Mexico Press Women's 2010 Communication Contest in the history sub-category with Visions Underground: Carlsbad Caverns.

Marano, Nancy: New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest first place for editing PETroglyphs. Honorable mention in the 78th annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition in the magazine feature article category for a piece called "Therapy Cats." 2nd in the New Mexico Press Women's 2010 Communication Contest in the columns category with "Cat Chat" and 3rd for editing the publication PETroglyphs.

McKerley, Jennifer Guess: Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the juvenile book-grade school to junior high school category for Swamp Monsters. Winner, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the young readers book-to grade 3 category for Amazing Armadillos.

McKinnon, Karen: 1st for her poem "Introducing (about a crocus)" in the Wildflower Press "To a Wild Rose" poetry contest. (September 2010)

Miller, Jonathan: Finalist, 2009 New Mexico Book Award in the novel-adventure or drama category for La Bajada Lawyer. Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards in the novel – adventure or drama category and in the novel – mystery/suspense for Conflict Contract.

Norton, Hana Samek: Winner, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the Novel – historical fiction category for The Sixth Surrender.

Orman, John: Runner-up in the albuquerqueARTS Flash Fiction contest for his essays "The Clock Strikes Midnight for the Captain" and "Devil’s Workshop." (June 2009). 3rd in the Humor division of the 2009 NM State Poetry Society Contest with "Chest Nut." Several winning captions in the Albuquerque Journal's Photo Caption contest.

Putcamp, Luise Putcamp jr.: 2nd in the Rhyming Poem category of the 79th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition with "Pompeii Exhibit," 34th with "Schizophrenia as Hades," and 50th with "Amber."

Pyeatt, Keith: 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Struck in the Novel – mystery/suspense category. Finalist in two other categories: gay/lesbian, and first book published by author.

Redmond, Shirley Raye: Finalist for the Golden Quill Awards, sponsored by the Phoenix Desert Rose chapter of Romance Writers of America, for Rosemary's Glove (July 2010). 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Rosemary’s Glove in the novel – romance category. Finalist: 2009 New Mexico Book Award for Blind Tom: The Horse Who Helped Build the Great Railroad in the children's picture book category.

Rose, Elizabeth: 2nd, 2009 New Mexican Winter Tale competition for "Anna"

Ross, Inez: Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the novel – romance category for Sotherton Abbey: Jane Austen Meets Santa Fe.

Rubin, Gail: New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest third place, for her nonfiction book, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die..

Schwartz, Elaine: 2nd and 3rd in the 2009 NM State Poetry Society Contest in the free verse division for "Mother's Hands" and "Deluge."

Stablein, Marilyn: New Mexico Press Women 2011 Communications Contest first place in the book, creative verse category for Splitting Hard Ground. Winner, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards in the poetry book (individual or collection) category for Splitting Hard Ground.

Stasik, Valerie: 4th in the stage play division of the Writer’s Digest 78th Annual Writing Competition with her first full-length play Prelude. (December 2009)

Tessler, Margaret: Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the novel – mystery/suspense category for Deadly Triangles.

Thompson, Jim: Finalist, 2009 New Mexico Book Awards, in the religious book category for The Physics of Genesis and for The St. Nicholas Solution in the self-help book category.

Wagoner, Kathryn: (Writing as Cate Macabe) Finalist, 2012 New Mexico Book Awards, in the biography category for This New Mountain.