The
New Mexico & Arizona Book Awards
The First 10 Years
In the past ten years, the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Program has given out 2,282 awards recognizing 1,389 titles/authors. Quite an accomplishment for an entirely volunteer collaborative organization. In addition, almost 12,000 books have been donated to libraries and literacy programs in New Mexico, Arizona, and even to a flood-ravaged library in Lousiana; Tribal libraries and the Historical Society of New Mexico also received donated books.
Introduction
The prestigious New Mexico Book Awards were established in 2007 and today we celebrate its tenth anniversary. It was one of those things that had to be done — almost every state around us had a book awards program — so it was time to start one here in New Mexico. We do celebrate books in New Mexico. New Mexico has a long tradition of celebrating books and their authors. The Territorial Governor of New Mexico, Lew Wallace, wrote Ben Hur (1880) in the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. It is now recognized all over the world as a classic. We are determined to continue recognizing excellent authors and great books about New Mexico and now Arizona.
There are organizations such as the New Mexico Press Women’s Association that award specicifc articles and books in their communications contest each year and the New Mexico Book Association that awards their Book-in-Hand Award to individual authors or bookstores. But no group or organization awards a broad category of books for adults and children covering virtually all genre of books.
So ten years ago, the New Mexico Book Awards began, sponsored by the New Mexico Book Co-op. The criterion to enter is that each book must have been written by a New Mexico author, published by a New Mexico publishing company, or significantly about New Mexico. Five years later in 2012 Arizona was added to the mix and now any books from either state are eligible.
As part of the program, awards are given to individuals, organizations, and bookstores that have gone above and beyond in their support of suthors and the book community. Among previous special awardees are: Tony Hillerman, Anne Hillerman, Denise Chavez, Rudolfo Anaya, David Morrell, Nasario Garcia, Max Evans, Don Bullis, and others.
Bookstores that pride themselves on having local authors talk and sign are honored like Bookworks, Treasure House, and Derek Buschman of the defunct Borders chain. SouthWest Writers won for their help for new and aspiring writers. UNM Press’s John Byram won for bringing the book publishing industry in New Mexico to the forefront and to acknowledge UNM Press as the largest book publisher in New Mexico. Pat Hodapp won for her support of the Santa Fe Libraries, other libraries in New Mexico, and New Mexico books. She also is a staunch advocate of reading. The awards are: Friends of New Mexican Books, Friends of New Mexican Authors, and the New Mexican Literary Award. Radio shows, websites, and book reviewers have also been honored.
In 2012, the Arizona book publishers group unexpectedly folded. With just a few weeks notice, the New Mexico Book Awards brought in Arizona, to celebrate the Arizona and New Mexico statehood centennials. Arizonians took to it so completely that it has remained in the Awards with some ONLY Arizona categories. All books are judged on their own merit with almost 100 judges all over the country. Ebooks were added in 2015.
A group of authors, publishers, and bookstore experts devised the judging sheet and categories. A committee votes on each year’s special awards. Each book is judged by at least three judges and as many as nine. There are even children judges for the kid’s books. The scores are entered into a computer and the results are printed out. Covers are judged by a group of five to ten judges.
Individuals or publishers may enter the awards program. The finalists are announced in September at the New Mexico Book Co-op lunch then put online. The Friends of New Mexico Authors and Books and Literary Awards are also announced at this time. The winners are announced at the Awards Banquet.
First time authors, self-published authors, books from big book publishers in New York City, books from small publishers, and local book publishers have all gotten awards. All books are treated equally. Single authors and groups working on a book have been honored. It doesn’t matter who the author is. The only consideration is if the book is good or great. One dog has even won three awards – Travelin’ Jack. Winners receive a trophy and finalists receive a certificate. Winner and finalist stickers are available for purchase.
Winners are celebrated and announced at the Awards Banquet. The banquet has been held at the MCM Elegante Hotel, Hotel Albuquerque, and now Tanoan Country Club.
The “Vannas” were a pleasant accident that has remained. They pass out the trophies to the winners of each category. Gloria Bullis, Sabra Brown Steinsiek, Jill Lane, and Loretta Hall have all served as “Vannas.” Paul Rhetts has acted as the Maestro of Ceremonies every year and Barbe Awalt has coordinated the distribution of all the trophies; Gary Herron and the late Terrie Q. Sayer pitched in at two of the awards banquets as MC’s.
Businesses, authors, publishers, organizations, and libraries sponsor a category to donate money to make the Awards work. Without them it would be expensive to mail books to judges.
Another accident is the auction that has grown and the money raised defrays the costs of trophies and postage. All entered books are donated to libraries in Arizona and New Mexico, literacy programs, the Historical Society of New Mexico, Native American libraries, and schools. One year, books were donated to a Louisiana library with hurricane damage. NO BOOK IS THROWN AWAY.
The New Mexico & Arizona Book Awards celebrate the best in books for the region. It is our way of saying “support local books.”