Kent Haruf’s “Eventide,” a sweet-souled look at small-town life on Colorado’s eastern plains, was named best novel in the 14th annual Colorado Book Awards.
Haruf, who lives near Sedalia and was a National Book Award finalist in 1999 for “Plainsong,” was among 13 writers and editors honored in nine genres. The winners were feted Thursday night at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom in Denver.
Sponsored by the Colorado Center for the Book, the awards are voted on by the state’s book community. The 2005 winners and finalists reflect the broad spectrum of literary efforts underway in the region.
Other winners include:
Poetry: Mark Irwin, for his volume “Bright Hunger.”
History: “Painting a New World: Mexican Art and Life, 1520- 1821,” edited by Donna Pierce, Rogelio Ruiz Gomar and Clara Bargellini.
Young Adult Literature: Julie Anne Peters for “Luna,” the story of a transgender teen. The novel was a National Book Award finalist.
Biography/Memoir: “Halfbreed: The Remarkable True Story of George Bent,” by Andrew E. Masich and David Fridtjof Halaas.
Popular Fiction: Margaret Coel’s “Wife of Moon.”
General Nonfiction: Nile Southern’s “The Candy Men: The Rollicking Life and Times of the Notorious Novel CANDY.” Southern is the son of Terry Southern, who penned the ’60s-era classic.
Educational Nonfiction: “Xeriscape Colorado: The Complete Guide,” by Connie Lockhart Ellefson and David Winger.
Children’s Literature: Linda Ashman’s “Just Another Morning.”
This year’s gala saw a convergence of words and music. The evening featured an “etown”-style show created by Nick Forster, founder of the syndicated radio program. Local musician Wendy Woo and her father, poet Bataan Faigao, were featured guests.
The Colorado Center for the Book is a program of the Colorado Endowment for the Humanities.
