SouthWest Writer members earn writing honors with skills enhanced by SWW presentations and events. If you are a SouthWest Writers member and would like to be listed on this page, please submit your award information to webmaster@swwriters.com with the honor and date awarded.
Please, no book releases and publication notifications for this page. Winners in the contests sponsored by SouthWest Writers are also listed under 2023 Contest Winners, 2022 Contest Winners, 2021 Contest Winners, 2020 Contest Winners, 2019 Contest Winners, Previous Annual Winners, and Previous Bimonthly Winners.
The New Mexico Press Women’s Communication Contest – the 2024 contest boasted many SWW winners! Click here for an extensive listing.
Bodin, Joanne Ph.D.: Book of poetry, Piggybacked, was a finalist in the New Mexico Book Awards. Her novel, Walking Fish, won the New Mexico Book Award and the International Book Award in gay/lesbian fiction. Past vice president of the New Mexico State Poetry Society, and on the boards of Southwest Writers and the New Mexico Orchid Guild. Her latest novel, Orchid of the Night has won numerous state and national writing contests.
Burr, Sherri: 1st place, New Mexico Press Women (NMPW) 2009 Communications Contest, in the non-fiction instructional book category for Sum & Substance on Entertainment Law, 1st place for her SouthWest Sage column in 2008 and 2nd place in the speeches category for “Live Your Life in Search of Material” given to SouthWest Writers in October 2008. 1st place in NMPW’s 2010 Communication Contest, editorial opinion category for “Keep Film Rebate Caps on Shelf,” 1st place for her column in the SouthWest Sage “Minding Finances,” and 2nd place for her speech “Good Job + Right Path = Life Purpose” given at a UNM statistics conference.
Eberhardt, Marty: Death in a Desert Garden won the 2022 Arizona/New Mexico Book award for cozy mystery, the spring Firebird Awards for western fiction and cozy mystery, as well as the CIPA/EVVY bronze award for cozy mystery.
Gamlem, Cornelia: The Manager’s Answer Book is a 2020 winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Career Category.
Greenly, Larry: New Mexico Press Women (NMPW) 2011 Communications Contest third place in the feature story category for “The Real Price of Computers in Writing.” 1st place in NMPW Communications Contest, 2009, for editing the literary section of albuquerqueARTS magazine; 2nd in the National Federation of Press Women national contest for the same. His 2013 book, Eugene Bullard: World’s First Black Fighter Pilot, won a gold medal in the national 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, won Best Young Adult Book in the 2014 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards, was a finalist in the 2015 Crystal Kite Award, won a 2016 Silver Medal in the Military Writers Society of America, earned a starred review from the American Library Association (ALA), earned a recommendation from Voices of Youth Advocates, and is listed in the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the top ten 2014 multicultural books for young adults.
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.
Herrington, Peggy: 3rd place, New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest, 2009, for her editorship of the SouthWest Sage in 2008.
Hoover, Sandi – 2nd place. 2022 National Federation of Press Women Communicaitons (SFPW) Contest for Love and Lies: Call Me Eve.
Kern, Rose Marie: 2021: Story: Until Next Time – Winner of the Before I Die Festival 2021 Short Story Contest sponsored by New Mexico Humanities. Crik Walking and Pageant in the Air – winners of the El Paso Author’s League contest 2021. /// 2020: Stress is Relative – finalist in the 2018 NM Book Awards /// 2020 – Jeremy’s Journey, 1st Place: Philosophy and The Lamb Cake, 2nd place: Humor division of the SWW Annual Writing Contest. /// 2017: 3rd place in the NMPW 2017 contest nonfiction book category for Air to Ground. Finalist in the 2017 NM Book Awards for Air to Ground. 3rd place in the NMPW 2017 contest for editorship of the SouthWest Sage and the SWW Website. 2nd place in the New Mexico Press Women’s 2010 Communication Contest, nonfiction book category, instructional sub-category for FundraisingEvents: A Step by Step Guide. /// 2009: Honorable Mention in the National DIY Book Festival for The Solar Chef.
Koltuska-Haskin, Barbara: How My Brain Works: A Guide to Understanding It Better and Keeping It Healthy — 2021 awards: Finalist in the 2021 International Book Awards (Health: Psychology, Mental Health category); Silver Medal Winner in the Readers Favorite 2021 International Book Awards (Health-Medical); Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards (Body, Mind and Spirit category as well as Self-Help and Guides category); Distinguished Favorite Award in the New York City Big Book Awards; Finalist in the Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards (Health/Medicine category); 1st Place Winner in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards (Health, Diet, Nutrition category).
Layden, Dianne: 3rd place in the 2011 Santa Fe Reporter non-fiction writing contest with her essay on campus violence.
March, Carol: When Spirit Whispers won an Arizona-NM 2022 award in the New Age category and Second Place in the NM Press Women 2023 Communications Contest for Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers. Her short story, “The Women in Blue,” published by All Worlds Wayfarer, won Honorable Mention in the NM Press Women 2023 Communications Contest for a single story.
McKee, Neill: For his travel memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah (2019) — Winner in the 2019 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, Biography–Other; Honorable Mention in the 2019 Reader’s Favorite International Book Award Contest; and a Bronze Medal in the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (Ippy Awards) in the nonfiction regional category for the Pacific Rim, including Australia and New Zealand. For Guns and Gods in My Genes (2020): Bronze Medal in the Readers’ Favorite 2021 International Book Awards, Nonfiction Genealogy category; Winner of New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards 2021 for non-regional Biography and Finalist in History, Travel, and Cover Design. For My University of the World: Adventures of an International Film & Media Maker (2023): Distinguished Favorite in the 2024 Independent Press Awards; Finalist in the autobiography category of the 2024 Book Excellence Awards.
Nowak, Pamela: Never Let Go was awarded a 2022 Will Rogers Gold Medallion for Best Traditional Western Fiction, a First Place Laramie Award for Historical Americana Fiction, was a dual finalist in the Feathered Quill Awards (Historical Fiction and Women’s Fiction) and a finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards (Historical Fiction-Other). Escaping Yesterday won first place in the 2015 Affair de Couer Cover Art contest (Uniquely Yours category). Changes received the 2014 Colorado Book Award for genre fiction as well as a 2014 HOLT Award of Merit. Choices was a 2010 HOLT Medallion Finalist. Chances was a 2009 HOLT Medallion Winner for Best First Book, a WILLA Literary Award Finalist and and was named one of the “Top 10 Romances of the Year” and “Top 101 Romance Books of the Past Ten Years” by Booklist Magazine. Nowak was honored by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers as the 2010 Writer of the Year and the 2020 Honored Guiding Member.
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.
Ramakka, Vicky: Her first novel, The Cactus Plot-Murder in the High Desert, won the New Mexico-Arizona Award for best cozy mystery, second place in NM Press Women 2020 Communications Contest for adult fiction, and was a finalist in the Colorado Independent Publishers Association Mystery/Crime/Detective category. Her short story “Unintended Consequences – Terrorist Turkeys” was first in the humor category in the 2019 SouthWest Writers Annual Writing Contest.
Rose, Elizabeth: 2nd place, 2009 New Mexican Winter Tale competition for “Anna.”
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.
Shannon, Jeanne: Finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards in 2012 for her poetry book In a Rose Wood Wandering and in 2013 for her poetry chapbook At the Horizon Line.
Tessler, Margaret: Finalist, 2010 New Mexico Book Awards, in the novel mystery/suspense category for Deadly Triangles.
Tritten, Jasmine: 2024 New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest 2nd Place, Specialty Articles, Physical Health for her chapter “When Life Turns,” and Honorable Mention, Specialty Articles, Personal Essay for her chapter “Trickles in Paris.” 2023 National Federation of Press Women Professional Communications Contest Honorable Mention for her Travel Story “Across the Atlantic. 2023 New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest 1st Place Specialty Articles, Travel, “Across the Atlantic” and 2nd Place Personal Essay “What’s in a Name?” 2021 New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest On the Nile With a Dancing Dane, 1st Place in the category of Book Designed by Entrant and 3rd Place in Adult Nonfiction Memoir. 2021 National Federation of Press Women Professional Communications Contest Honorable Mention for On the Nile With a Dancing Dane in the category of Book Designed by Entrant. New Mexico-Arizona Book Award 2019 Winner for Kato’s Grand Adventure in the category of Young Reader’s Book and also a finalist in the category of Cover Design-eBooks. Kato won a Silver medal from MWSA in their 2019 book contest in the category of Children’s Chapter Book. New Mexico Press Women 2019 Communications Contest, 1st Place for Book Design for Kato’s Grand Adventure and the story won a 2nd Place for Children’s Books, Fiction. The National Federation of Press Women recognized Kato’s book design with an Honorable Mention. New Mexico Press Women 2016 Communications Contest, Honorable Mention for The Journey of an Adventuresome Dane for Nonfiction books for adult readers. SWW writing competition 1st place, 3rd place, and an Honorable Mention for three short stories.
Tritten, Jim: SouthWest Writers (SWW) Parris Award 2023. Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Writer of the Year 2023. Navy League of the United States: Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement: 1986. New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards: Winner Anthology (Fiction) 2022, Finalist Fiction – adventure or drama 2022, Finalist eBook 2022; Winner Young Reader’s Book 2019. National Veterans Creative Arts Festival: Gold Medal for 1st place 2016 and 2018; Silver Medals for 2nd place 2012, 2013, 2014; Bronze Medals for 3rd place 2013 and 2023. SWW: 1st place 2022 Writing Contest Prose – Flying; Gold Medal for 1st place in Annual Writing Contest 2019, Philosophy. MWSA: Gold Medal for 1st place 2021; Silver Medals for 2nd place 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021; Bronze Medal for 3rd place 2013. National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Professional Communications Contest 2nd place 2021; 2nd place 2022; 3rd place 2023; 2nd place and Honorable Mention 2024. New Mexico Press Women (NMPW) Annual Communication Contest: 2015 contest 2nd place; 2016 contest 1st place, 2nd place, and three Honorable Mentions; 2017 contest 1st place, four 2nd places, and an Honorable Mention; 2018 contest 2nd place, 3rd place, and an Honorable Mention; 2019 contest 1st place, two 2nd places, and two Honorable Mentions; 2020 contest, 2nd place; 2021 contest, three 1st places, and one Honorable Mention; 2022 contest, two 1st places, one 2nd place, two 3rd places, and one Honorable Mention; 2023 contest, one 1st place, two 3rd place, and two Honorable Mentions; 2024 contest two 1st place, two 2nd place, one 3rd place. Naval Submarine League: 1st place Literary Honorarium 1989. U.S. Naval Institute Arleigh Burke Essay Contest: Silver Medal for 1st Honorable Mention 1986; Bronze Medal for 2nd Honorable Mention 1991. Global Ebook Awards Silver Medal 2020. Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge: George Washington Honor Medal for Excellence in Public Communications 1991; Honor Certificate for Excellence in Published works 1984, 1986. Military Operations Research Society: Best Paper presented at Soft Factors in Military Modeling and Analysis Working Group, 1996. Veteran’s Voices: Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary, State Department of Kansas Award: 2012 and 2018; Disabled American Veterans, Ernestine Schumann-Heink Chapter 2 Military Service Award, 2nd place 2013. Editor’s Choice in 2021 anthology.
Wagoner, Kathy (KL): 2002 Writers Digest Writing Competition, Honorable Mention for “Dressing the Dead” in the Memoir/Personal Essay category; 2007 SWW International Writing Competition, 2nd Place for “Fair Trade” in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror category; 2012 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards, Finalist for This New Mountain (writing as Cate Macabe) in the Biography/Memoir category; 2013 SWW International Writing Competition, 2nd Place for “Wishling” in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror category and 3rd Place for “Dressing the Dead” in the Essay category; 2014 SWW International Writing Competition, 2nd Place for “MoatKeeper” in the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror category; 2019 SWW Prose & Poetry Contest, 3rd Place for “Dreamkeeper” in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category; 2023 SWW Annual Writing Contest, 2nd Place for “Wayward Trail” in the category of Opening Pages of a Novel, Unpublished Science Fiction/Fantasy.
Walkow, Patricia: For The War Within, the Story of Josef: 1st place in Biography, 2017 New Mexico Press Women Communications Contest; 1st place in Historical Biography, 2017 National Indie Press Awards; Recommended read, Military Writers Society of the United States.
Walraven, R Janet: Connect for Classroom Success: A Mentoring Guide for Teachers K-12 was a Silver Award Winner with Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, September 1, 2022. Hector and Heloise in Paris was a First Place Winner with Firebird Book Awards, Children Educational and Children Picture Book, April 20, 2023; Bookshelf Honorable Mention for Compelling Read, April 23, 2023.
Wood, Patricia Smith: The Easter Egg Murder was a finalist in the 2013 & 2015 NM/AZ Book Awards. Murder on Frequency won the 2017 NM/AZ Book Award for Best Cozy Mystery.
