Spur Awards are literary prizes awarded annually by the

Western Writers of America Western Writers of America (WWA), founded 1953, promotes literature, both fictional and nonfictional, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional Western fiction, the more than 600 current members also include historian ...

(WWA). The purpose of the Spur Awards is to honor writers for distinguished writing about the American West. The Spur awards began in 1953, the same year the WWA was founded. An author need not be a member of the WWA to receive a Spur Award. Among previous Spur Award winners are

Larry McMurtry Larry Jeff McMurtry (June 3, 1936March 25, 2021) was an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas.

for '' Lonesome Dove'', Michael Blake for ''

Dances with Wolves ''Dances with Wolves'' is a 1990 American epic western film starring, directed, and produced by Kevin Costner in his feature directorial debut. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 novel '' Dances with Wolves'' by Michael Blake that tells the ...

'',

Glendon Swarthout Glendon Fred Swarthout (April 8, 1918 – September 23, 1992) was an American writer and novelist. Several of his novels were made into films. ''Where the Boys Are'', and ''The Shootist'', which was John Wayne's last work, are probably the bes ...

for ''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name.Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. It is John Wayne's final film ro ...

'', and

Tony Hillerman Anthony Grove Hillerman (May 27, 1925 – October 26, 2008) was an American author of detective novels and nonfiction works, best known for his mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Several of his work ...

for '' Skinwalkers''. The

Owen Wister Award ''Owen Wister Award'' is an annual award from the Western Writers of America given to lifelong contributions to the field of Western literature. Named for writer Owen Wister ('' The Virginian''; 1902), it is given for "Outstanding Contributions to ...

for lifetime achievement in

Western literature Western literature, also known as European literature, is the literature written in the context of Western culture in the languages of Europe, as well as several geographically or historically related languages such as Basque and Hungarian, an ...

, first awarded in 1961, is also a Western Writers of America award, distinct from the Spur awards. Spur awards were first awarded in five categories: western novel, historical novel, juvenile, short story, and reviewer. The categories have expanded and changed (or been renamed) over the years. There is no guarantee an award will be made in each category every year. The 2015 Spur Awards have the following categories: *

Spur Award for Best Western Novel This is a list of the works of fiction which have won the Spur Award for Best Western Novel: * 1953 - Novel: "Lawman" by Wayne D. Overholser using the pseudonym Lee Leighton * 1954 - Novel: "The Violent Land" by Wayne D. Overholser (2) * 1955 - No ...

Spur Award for Best Novel of the West This is a list of the works of fiction which have won the Spur Award for Best Novel of the West: * 1953 - Best Historical Novel: "The Wheel and the Hearth" by Lucia Moore * 1954 - Best Historical Novel: "Journey by the River" by John Prescott * 195 ...

* Spur Award for Best Western Contemporary Novel * Spur Award for Best Western Historical Novel * Spur Award for Best Western Traditional Novel * Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction * Spur Award for Best First Novel * Spur Award for Best Western Historical Nonfiction * Spur Award for Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction * Spur Award for Best Western Biography * Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction * Spur Award for Best First Nonfiction Book * Spur Award for Best Western Storyteller (Illustrated Children's Book) * Spur Award for Best Western Short Fiction * Spur Award for Best Western Short Nonfiction * Spur Award for Best Western Poem * Spur Award for Best Western Song * Spur Award for Best Western Drama Script * Spur Award for Best Western Documentary Script

References

External links

Western Writers of America

Western Writers of America – Spur Award

Western Writers of America – Spur Award winners

Goodreads SPUR Award Winners

Barnes & Noble: Spur Awards by Year

Exxon Valdez Book Wins Western Writers Award

American literary awards Culture of the Western United States Western (genre) novels {{US-lit-stub