Contemporary
FICTION:

Entries will feature the stories of western women and girls set within the fifty years prior to the book’s publication date.

HISTORICAL FICTION:

Books featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the North American West prior to contemporary times. WWW defines Historical Fiction as any story set a minimum of 50 years prior to the publication date.

ROMANCE:

Entries in the Romance Category should have a central plot focus on the development of a relationship between two people. The plot builds toward an optimistic conclusion without including the use of erotica or erotic themes.

MYSTERY/THRILLER

Mystery entries must feature stories which focus on a puzzling crime, situation, or circumstance that needs to be solved by the protagonist. Thriller entries must feature plots which give the reader heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, anticipation, and anxiety.

CREATIVE NONFICTION:

Entries are true accounts, well told, featuring the story of a woman or girl and set in the North American West. Includes autobiographical works.

SCHOLARLY NONFICTION:

Entries in this category are typically academic or
educational in nature. Scholarship, research, organization and presentation are some of the judging criteria. Includes edited diaries, also anthologies.

POETRY:

Individual collections or anthologies.

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS:

Entries must have a storyline that is appropriate for ages 4-8, with short, easy-to-follow sentences. They must also have a narrative that is easy to read out loud with pictures that match the story.

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION AND NONFICTION

Fiction entries can be written about issues important to modern day readers ages 9-14, such as divorce, bullying, but without foul language or sexual content. Nonfiction books should show the importance of research, with topics that challenge readers.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION AND NONFICTION:

Entries can range from young adult books with mature themes to picture books and graphic novels; from fiction to nonfiction to poetry.