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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

Sept 21 Wine and Read

Nov 22-24 Denver Christmas Show

Dec. 7-8 Georgetown Christmas Market

Dec. 14-15 Georgetown Christmas Market

Dec. Holiday Party (date TBA)

Retail Opportunities Calendar

Colorado Conference Calendar

April 18-21, 2024 Readers Take Denver

April 19-20, 2024 American Christian Fiction Writers Conference

April 24-26, 2024 Pikes Peak Writers

July 19-20, 2024 Writing Heights Conference

Aug 23-24, 2024 Castle Rock Writers Conference

Sept 27-29, 2024 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

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.

Margi J Evans

Margi Evans has been named CAL's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Michael Peever

Michael Peever, with the Colorado State Library, has been named CAL's 2024 Author Advocate

Congratulations to our CAL Awards Finalists and winners

Book Cover Design: Children

WINNER

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove

by Connie B. Dow

Cover Design

by

Colleen Pidel

In Search of Kin

Oski Becomes a Service Dog

by Chris Mandeville

Cover Design

by

L.B. Hayden

Book Cover Design: Adult-General

In Search of Kin

Unexpected Riches

by C.S. Boyll

Cover Design

by

Jacqueline and Ariane Peveto

In Search of Kin

Raven Woods: Smoke Signals

by Denise Gard

Cover Design

by

Denise Gard

WINNER

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other

by Bethany Turner

Cover Design

by

Sandra Chiu

Book Cover Design: Adult-Suspense

In Search of Kin

Time Agents: Complications

by Jodi Bowersox

Cover Design

by Tristan Bowersox

WINNER

The Other Side of the Rainbow

by Julie Cordova

Cover Design

by

Julie Cordova

True Crime Redux

by Stephanie Kane

Cover Design

by Christine Van Bree

Illustration

WINNER

Tap and Rap, Move and Groove

by Connie B. Dow

Illustrations

by

Debbie Palen

Too Much!

An Overwhelming Day

by Jolene Gutierrez

Illustrations

by Angel Chang

Poop Theory: Find Your Pony

by Andrea Rudolph

Illustrations

by Jennifer Matthews

Articles

WINNER

"Dwight Eisenhower:

America's First Pilot President"

by Penny Rafferty Hamilton

"Respiratory Distress in Pets:

Helping Clients Understand the Dangers and Signs"

by Roxanne Hawn

"Antidote to Truth"

by Carol Ann Wilson

Essays

"Memento Mori: Eulogy For Marilee"

by Catherine Underhill Fitzpatrick

"Memento Mori: Eulogy For My Father"

by Catherine Underhill Fitzpatrick

WINNER

"Just Like Your Father"

by Carol Ann Wilson

Single Poems

WINNER

"Contemplating a Statue of the Reclining Pan, Nimbin, 2012"

by Dan Guenther

"Sunrise on the Shortgrass Prairie"

by Dan Guenther

"HEAT"

by Petra Perkins

Short Stories

Shoot the Horses First

"Casting Grand Titans"

from Shoot the Horses First

by Leah Angstman

WINNER

"The Light Ages"

from Shoot the Horses First

by Leah Angstman

Anika and Edward

"Anika and Edward"

by Stefan Scheuermann

The Forgotten Shifter Files

"Kami's Curse"

from The Forgotten Shifter Files

by Benjamin M. Weilert

Children

WINNER

Monsters in the Briny

by Lynn Becker

Too Much!

An Overwhelming Day

by Jolene Gutierrez

Cats

by J.B. Stockings

Middle Grade

Hawk's Cry: The Story of a Cheyenne Hero

by Luann Koester

WINNER

Control Freaks

by J.E. Thomas

Katie Cooper: Time Traveler

Katie Cooper: Time Traveler

by Bill E. Wright

Young Adult

Finding Fionn

by M.J. Evans

WINNER

Charting the Course

by Leslea Wahl

Spirited Book 1: No Accidents

Spirited: No Accidents

by S.M. Webb

Nonfiction: Biography/Memoir

Promise Me Christmas

Dr. Martha Cannon of Utah:

The Unexpected Victorian Life of America's First Female State Senator

by Joan Jacobson

In Search of Kin

True Crime Redux

by Stephanie Kane

WINNER

Bluebird Seasons:

Witnessing Climate Change in My Piece of the Wild

by Mary Taylor Young

Nonfiction: General

WINNER

Grace in the Wound:

Finding Hope in Long-Term Grief

by Kathleen Hendricks

Photography and Schizophrenia

Photography and Schizophrenia

by Jean Manthei

Culturally Responsive Reading

Culturally Responsive Reading:

Teaching Literature for Social Justice

by Durthy A. Washington

Nonfiction: History

Promise Me Christmas

Dr. Martha Cannon of Utah:

The Unexpected Victorian Life of America's First Female State Senator

by Joan Jacobson

WINNER

Disneyland on the Mountain:

Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was

by Kathryn Mayer & Greg Glasgow

Gold-Fated Family

Gold-Fated Family:

J.J. Brown--Husband of Unsinkable Margaret "Molly" Brown

by Jody Pritzl

Adult Fiction: Mainstream/Literary

WINNER

Paradise Undone:

A Novel of Jonestown

by Annie Dawid

As Joan Approaches Infinity

As Joan Approaches Infinity

by Kika Dorsey

The Lion's Den

by Jerry Fabyanic

Adult Fiction: Fantasy/Paranormal

WINNER

Personal Demons

by L.R. Braden

Rhenn the Traveler

Rhenn the Traveler

by Todd Fahnestock

In Search of Kin

The Truth Stealer

by Kendra Merritt

Adult Fiction: Historical

WINNER

Louise and Vincent

by Diane Byington

Esperanza's Way

Esperanza's Way

by Cindy Burkart Maynard

WINNER

After Anne: A Novel of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Life

by Logan Steiner

Adult Fiction: Thriller

WINNER

Time Agents: Complications

by Jodi Bowersox

Wyonation

by Dallas Jones

Sinai Surrender

Sinai Surrender

by Jeff Lelek

Adult Fiction: Mystery-Cozy/Amateur Sleuth

WINNER

Brittle Bones

by Paulla Hunter

In Search of Kin

Dying To Ride

by Lenore Mitchell

The Killer Without a Face

by Helen Starbuck

Adult Fiction: Mystery

Law Enforcement

Hunting the Truth

Hunting the Truth

by Kathleen Donnelly

Mamie's Well

by Daniel Ginsberg

WINNER

Play of Shadows

by Barbara Nickless

Adult Fiction: Sci Fi

Crystal of Tears

Crystal of Tears

by A. James

WINNER

Surviving Daybreak

by Kendra Merritt

Promise Me Christmas

Minimum Safe Distance

by X. Ho Yen

Adult Fiction: Romance

Time Agents: Complications

by Jodi Bowersox

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other: A Love Story

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other

by Bethany Turner

WINNER

The Do-Over

by Bethany Turner

Adult Fiction: Novellas

WINNER

The Adventure of the Speckled Band... REVISITED

by Daniel Ginsberg

A Home For Christmas

A Home For Christmas

by Jean Jacobsen

Promise Me Christmas

Promise Me Christmas

by Gini Rifkin

Congratulations to CAL Members Named As Finalists

in the Colorado Book Awards!

The Colorado Book Awards are presented by Colorado Humanities and Center For the Book.

Gold-Fated Family

WINNER

Romance

Brynn & Sebastian Hate Each Other

by Bethany Turner

Autumn of the Big Snow

Romance

Autumn of the Big Snow

by Lou Dean

Not Quite Dead Geniuses at Large on an Angry Planet

Sci Fi / Fantasy

Not Quite Dead Geniuses At Large on An Angry Planet

by R. Gary Raham

Surviving Daybreak

Young Adult

Surviving Daybreak

by

Kendra Merritt

Paradise Undone

Historical Fiction

Paradise Undone

by

Annie Dawid

Did you miss our gift show appearances?

2024 booth Evans, Woodward

You can still get great books by CAL authors!

Check out the CAL Genre Pages for buy links and author websites.

2024 booth Anderson, Bowersox, Scheuermann, Frisbie

CAL Racks in Colorado Springs and Lakewood

Support these businesses that support CAL

5670 N. Academy Blvd

Colorado Springs

Third Space Rack

Located in the

Colorado Mills Mall

14500 W. Colfax Avenue

Lakewood, CO

Perfect Gift book rack

Nowhere near our book racks?

You can still find great books by CAL authors. Check out our Genre Pages.

Autographed books make a great gift year-round. Contact authors directly to get signed copies.

CAL Authors Release New Books!

An archeologist must stop a century-old crime to save his daughter.

A novel about the power of friends and family.

Can Darcy find answers before more innocent people are dragged into the violence?

Buy yours today!

A collection of poetic snapshots of a long life, well lived.

Buy Your Copy Here

A whimsical bedtime story.

They just have to find Tera. And make her a Giant killer.

Buy Your Copy Here

Every choice has cosmic consequences.

Buy yours today!

Jake is drawn ever deeper into a morass of treachery, danger, and tragedy.

Buy yours today!

Will Khyven prevail? Or will he go to his grave along with everyone else?

Buy Your Copy Here

If When Harry Met Sally had a love child with Gilmore Girls' Luke and Lorelai, you'd get Cole and Laila.

Available on Amazon

Diplomacy has never been Alex’s strong suit…

Buy Your Copy Here

A fascinating and meaningful integration of recovery ideas.

Lance Bear Wolf's Origin Story

When all hell breaks loose, Maddie knows she's going to have to cowgirl up to ride this rodeo.

Available on Amazon

Amidst the chaos of war, a Valkyrie defies the gods to save a fearless warrior.

Buy yours today!

And Publish Plays, Essays, Articles, and Poems!

Cassi Clark Ward-Hunt has published her first short story, "The Woman Who Planted Men" at CommuterLit.com.

Carol Ann Wilson's nonfiction flash essay, "Trust," was published in April 2024 and can be found in HerStry. Her essay, "House of Mirrors" was published in the Spring 2024 volume of The Awakenings Review. You can read it here.

Gregory SETH Harris' poem "After the Flood" was published by Lightwood.

Kathryn Winograd's essay, "Mist Nets: After the Uvalde Shooting," is now posted at Terrain.org. Another essay, "Floating in the Riparian," can be read at Shanti Arts!

https://www.shantiarts.co

/SPAQ/SPAQ49/files/winograd.pdf

Theresa Crater's story "Sugar Plum Faeries," part of the Spirit Springs series can be found at https://amzn.to/4agV8Pk. On Winter Solstice, can Willow find the Heart of Spirit Springs in time to save the town's magic?

An essay by Petra Perkins, "What Oppenheimer Didn't Show," appears in Elephant Journal. Find it here: https://www.elephantjournal.com/2024/01/what-oppenheimer-didnt-show-petra-perkins/?fbclid=IwAR1zZcTl

What is Bibliotherapy

Storytelling has been integral to the human experience for over 40,000 years.
Reading fiction can build empathy, enhance theory of mind, and improve social skills.
Research shows that bibliotherapy can help children overcome anxiety, depression, and aggression.

CAL Authors In Action

Helping Students

In 2020, CAL members joined together to create a book of writing prompts for students of all ages.

Paperback and Kindle versions available on Amazon

Download Options in English and Spanish

Lisa Reinicke 2

Helping the Community

CAL authors often contribute to Little Free Libraries!

The CAL Awards

The CAL Awards are now closed. They will reopen for a new submission year on Nov. 1, 2024

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.

Barb Lundy was the 2023 CAL Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Watch Barb at the 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

CAL Is A Proud Sponsor of

Colorado Sun