recognizing
the best books in
New Mexico & the Southwest
Each year, the New Mexico Book Awards Program honors special New Mexico authors/publishers for their special contributions to New Mexico's book community. In 2009, the New Mexico Book Awards will present Friends of New Mexico Books Awards to Michael McGarrity (Santa Fe), Joe Sando (Albuquerque) and Howard Bryan (Albuquerque) and Joe Wesbrook (Albuquerque) will be honored with the Friends of New Mexico Books Award for their support of local New Mexico books. In 2008, Denise Chavez (Las Cruces) and David Morrell (Santa Fe) were honored with the Friends of New Mexico Books Awards for their support of local New Mexico books, and Ruthe Francis was honored with the Friends of New Mexico Books Award. In 2007, Tony Hillerman (Los Ranchos) and Rudolfo Anaya (Albuquerque) were honored with the Friends of New Mexico Books Awards.
In 2009, the Friends of New Mexico Books Awards are sponsored by New Mexico Book Association and New Mexico Book Co-op.
Honorees
2009
Michael
McGarrity (Santa Fe)
Michael McGarrity lives in Santa Fe and is most know for his novel Tularosa. He has since written many books and has won the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. He often lectures at the Hillerman Conference.
Joe
Sando (Albuquerque)
Joe Sando lives in Albuquerque but is also very attached to the Jemez Pueblo and the Sun Clan. He has be instrumental in encouraging Native American writers and it speaking on Native American history. He wrote Popé among many other books.
Howard
Bryan (Albuquerque)
Howard Bryan lives in Albuquerque. He has written Albuquerque Remembered and received Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1994. He also won the Spur Award from Western Writers of America for Incredible Elfego Baca. He was a journalist for 42 years.
Joe
Wesbrook (Albuquerque)
Joe Wesbrook was the Marketing Manager at the University of New Mexico Press and now works part time at Bookworks in Albuquerque. He first love is New Mexico Books and bees. He has been a frequent contributor to the New Mexico Book Co-op.
2008
Chavez is an author, playwright, director, actress, activist, and lecturer. The Mexican culture is a constant theme in her books as she grew up and lives in Las Cruces. One of the many things she is known for is the annual Border Book Festival in Old Mesilla which is celebrating its 14th year promoting literature of the Southwest. She is an award winning author and has written numerous books including Loving Pedro Infante, Face of an Angel, and the Taco Testimony.
Morrell is a Canadian transplant who taught at the University of Iowa. He now lives in Santa Fe. He might be best known for his ”Rambo” books. He is considered the “Father of modern action novels.” His books have been turned into films and television series. With over thirty books, Morrell is best known for First Blood, Brotherhood of the Rose, and Burnt Sienna. He is a guest instructor at the Hillerman Mystery Writers Workshop.
Francis is an author or publisher’s best friend. She has had a long career as a reader, bookseller and now as a book consultant. She advises authors and publishers on how to write their books, their covers, and how to market their books. Many of the books she edited have been selected as Winners in the New Mexico Book Awards. She has been an active participant in the New Mexico Book Co-op since its beginning and has been a Board Member in the New Mexico Book Association. She is the first recipient for the Friends of New Mexico Authors from the New Mexico Book Awards.
2007
Hillerman was born is Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, and now lives in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. He was a reporter in Texas, Oklahoma, and Santa Fe. He finally settled in Albuquerque and taught at the University of New Mexico. He has written many books and may be known across the world “as the New Mexican author.” Thanks to his daughter Anne, he now has a yearly mystery writers workshop — the Tony Hillerman Mystery Writers Workshop and an annual writers contest by Wordharvest and partners. His books have been turned into movies, television shows, and specials.
Born in Pastura, New Mexico, Anaya now lives across the river in Albuquerque. He has been called the "Father of modern Chicano literature." Anaya began his career as a public school teacher and later taught at the University of New Mexico. His first novel, Bless Me Ultima has received countless awards, including the 2007 People's Choice Award from the New Mexico Book Awards. He has gone on to publish many books about the Hispanic culture of New Mexico. His four seasons collection talked about the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and Jemez Springs. He has made it possible for many writers to be published.