Colorado Authors’ League 2011 Award Winners

Judges Choose 2010’s Best Work from Colorado’s Professional Writers

The Colorado Authors’ League, Colorado’s premier organization for professional writers, announced winners of its 2011 Colorado Authors’ League Awards. Independent judges from Southwest Writers of New Mexico chose finalists and winners in eight categories for the 2011 CAL Awards. “CAL’s best work was judged by an independent group of published writers who are our peers,” says contest chair and novelist Bruce Most. “SWW found the high quality of CAL member’s work a pleasure to read, although deciding on a single winner was sometimes difficult.”

And the Winners of the Colorado Authors’ League 2011 Awards Are:

 2011 CAL Awards Winners

Book-length Middle Grade/Young Adult Fiction

• Warriors in the Crossfire by Nancy Bo Flood (Boyds Mills Press: Front Street)

The judge wrote:

I don't know of any other book that focuses on individual islands torn between the Japanese and Americans that looks at the story from the view of the natives of that island, the innocents caught up in an epic war. Young Joseph wants to be a warrior, but also wants to live within the traditions of his people. His father is beaten, but before he dies, he takes Joseph to a distant cave where he has stored provisions for the family. Joseph must save his family by taking them to this cave when the warring nations begin to battle for this island. This is a mighty task for one so young, one caught in the crossfire. Fascinating and deeply moving story.

Book-length Children’s Fiction (Picture Books and Early Readers)

• Cats’ Night Out by Caroline Stutson (A Paula Wiseman Book: Simon & Schuster)

The rhythm of the language and the rhyming words are evocative  and precise. The repeated refrain reminds us these are city cats, and though their dancing isn't appreciated by the city's humans, the music continues to call them, and their feet just won't stay still. Young children know all about how hard it is to stay still. Great book!

Book-length General Nonfiction

• Only in Boulder: The County’s Colorful Characters by Silvia Pettem (The History Press)

A well-written and fun-to-read look at Boulder County’s colorful characters. It’s interesting enough that even readers from outside Colorado would pick it up. And, on a useful side, it helps preserve the past, which can be useful to historians and genealogists.

Book-length Young Adult/Children Nonfiction

• Joseph Stalin by Sean McCollum (Franklin Watts/Scholastic)

The judge wrote: This Wicked History book presents the life of Joseph Stalin against the backdrop of tumultuous Russia in the first half of the 20th century. His unbridled ambition and ruthlessness is not glossed over for middle grade readers. What could be more fun than learning history through the life story of a really wicked boy?

Adult Feature Article

• Country Outposts by Sean McCollum (Fall 2010 issue of Teaching Tolerance)

Outstanding article about a controversial issue—bullying of LGBT students. Dramatic and sensitive. Wonderful, top-notch service journalism.

Adult Essay

• Lighting the Darkness by Susan J. Tweit (Terraphilia Productions)

A well-written and gently melodic essay that draws in the listener and evokes delightful images while exploring a facet of the world around us. Magic.

Poetry (Individual Poems)

• Agitato by Bruce Berger (Autumn 2010 issue of The Dark Horse)

This is a delightful poem flowing with strong images. Each stanza takes the reader in a new direction, each one a new world.

Poetry (books)

• The Crooked Truth by Dan Guenther (Redburn Press)

The judge wrote:

Strong, concrete images in this book. The author knows how to tell a story in crisp, precise language. The terrain is almost like a character in these poems.