It's a record: 228 books nominated for 2019 High Plains Book Award

Press release

A record 228 books have been nominated for the 13th annual High Plains Book Awards, which recognize writers and their work from seven western states and three Canadian provinces.

This year’s High Plains Book Awards will take place Oct. 11 and 12 in Billings, Montana. The number of nominations this year topped the 207 nominations received in 2018, and the number of entries from Canada — 95 this year — was also a record. The High Plains Book Awards were established in 2006 to recognize regional authors and/or literary works that examine and reflect life on the High Plains, a region that includes Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The 228 nominations were spread out over 12 categories. This year’s entries included seven in Art and Photography; 18 in Children’s Books; 18 in Creative Nonfiction; 43 in Fiction; 23 in First Book; 11 in Indigenous Writer; four in Medicine and Science; 26 in Nonfiction; 26 in Poetry; five in Short Stories; 35 in Woman Writer; and 12 in Young Adult.

Each of the entries will be read and evaluated by four different community volunteers. Based on the evaluations, the top three books in each category will become finalists. At that point, the finalists will be forwarded to judges who will choose the winner in each category. The judges include past winners and published writers with a connection to the High Plains in the United States and Canada.

All of the High Plains Book Awards are sponsored by local organization and individuals. Winners will be announced at the High Plains Book Awards Banquet, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 12, at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings.

For more information about the High Plains Book Awards, visit the website at http://www.highplainsbookawards.org or contact Shari Nault, High Plains Book Awards president, at 406-672-6223 or via email at [email protected].