June 2008 Volume xv, Number 5

Western Writers of America

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(ISSN 1081-2229), is published bi-monthly by Western Writers of America Inc., at MSC06 3770,1 University of MA G A z NE New Mexico,Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. u.s.soe- scription rate: $30 per year. Periodicals Postage paid at June 2008 Vol. xv, No.5 Albuquerque, NM and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to CONTENTS WWAIRoundup Magazine WWA Convention Program Schedule. 5 MSC06 3770 1 University of New Mexico WWA Convention Panels and Events.. 6 Albuquerque NM 87131-0001 Owen Wister Award Winner: U.S. SUBSCRIPTION RATE ...... By Johnny D. Boggs 12 $30 per year (six issues); back issues: $5 each and subject to availability Ferde Grofe: Capturing the Grand Canyon Suite . By Conger Beasley Jr. 16 EDITOR Candy Moulton 2008 Spur Award Winners and Finalists ...... 22 Star Route Box 29 (postal) Lariat Award Winner: 500 Beaver Road (delivery) True West Magazine . . By Cotton Smith 24 Encampment, WY 82325

[email protected] Death of the Western .. . . By Matt Braun 26 307/327-5465

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D.L. Birchfield COLUMNS Editor's Space 2 Western Bookshelf:Juvenile Fiction ._37 PROOFREADER Riding Point 3 In the Chute 38 Renee Thompson-Heide Classified Ads 17 Patron and Sustaining Members 38 WORLD WIDE WEB Western Bookshelf: Fiction 28 New Members 39 WWA Home Page Trail Notes ..41 http://www. westernwriters.org Western Bookshelf: Nonfiction .31 Roundup Online Western Bookshelf: Book Notes .36 Classified Ads ..41 http://www.westernwriters.org/roundup.htm I

June 2008

Vol. XV, No.5

Roundup@Magazineprovidesaforumon issues that pertain to Western literature in general Western Writers of America, and its members, in particular.The views expressed in the columns, articles, editorials. and letters do not necessarily reflect the policies of West- ern Writers of America, its Executive Board, or any of its members.

About the Cover: Grand Canyon, Arizona, Photo by Bob Willis

Members receive a $30 subscription to Roundup Magazine. Roundup, Spur, Literature of the West for the World, and Western Writers of America in combination with the stylized WWA are trade- marks registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Western Writers of America, Inc. Owen Wister Award Winner:

Tony Hillerman By Johnny D. Boggs

someone to help him haul equipment There's no mystery surrounding to a wildcat oil well he had drilled on a Tony Hillerrnan's success. New Mexico reservation. "I didn't have a driver's license, never He could have remained a journalist, I had so many jobs, and I was in bad had one, had a patch over my left eye, but he didn't. He could have stuck to shape in another course. Had an A but her dad drove the big truck and writing nonfiction, but he didn't. He in English, of course, although the I followed in a smaller one with his could have given up on his dreams, teacher had me come in [to] teach red-haired daughter sitting beside me," but he didn't. And he could have me how to spell. So thank God the Hillerrnan says. "Along about Crown- listened to his literary agent, the one Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. New who told him that if he wanted to get possibilities opened." point, we pulled off the main highway his first novel published, he had to "get Serving in the 103rd Infantry on a dirt road, and coming our of the rid of all that Indian stuff." Division, he came away with a Purple hills was a whole column of . He didn't do that either. Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Silver I was used to Indians, but these guys No, Hillerman kept the faith, stayed Star. In France, near rhe German bor- were really dressed up, allan horses, true to his vision and the people he der, he was seriously wounded while men and women, and we stopped to wanted to write about, and through on a reconnaissance mission. let them go. When we got to the ranch, good luck, persistence, and a strong "I got blown up in a barnyard," he I asked the rancher about those Nava- work ethic - not to mention out- remembers. jos. He said some of the boys had just standing storytelling skills - he has Most people wouldn't think of two got back from the Marine Corps and become an international success story, broken legs, almost permanent blind- they're having an Enemy Way cer- an award-winning novelist, and this ness, and having his left foot rebuilt emony, a curing ceremony. I said, 'Boy, year's recipient of Western Writers of ("I still have to buy shoes two different I'd like to see that.' He said if you stay America's Owen Wister Award for life- sizes.") as a blessing, but Hillerman sober and mind yourself, it would be all time contributions to literature about says it was while he was recovering right. the American West. from those severe injuries in a French "They weren't curing bullet wounds Born on May 27, 1925, Hillerman hospital that he began toying with the or broken bones. The whole point was grew up in the small town of Sacred idea of writing. to teach them to get rid of their bad Heart, Oklahoma. His father tried to "I knew I didn't want to farm. I memories, their anger, hatred, indigna- farm and ran a small grocery store. started thinking that maybe I'd like tion for way they'd been treated, been His mother was a former nurse. "We to write, and I started writing a short shot at, just to get them back in what were poor," he recalls while sitting in story in my mind. It wasn't very good. they call Hozjo, harmony with the his home office in Albuquerque, New In fact, it's pretty bad, but I finally put world. I thought, 'Boy, that's wonder- Mexico. "Of course, nobody knew it on paper, got it published, and that ful. That's the way it ought to be.''' they were poor. Everybody was poor." encouraged me." In 1948 - the same year he married He thought he wanted to be a Also encouraged by a reporter at the Marie Unzner (not the redhead he had chemical engineer, and when his fam- Daily Oklahoman after he returned to traveled with to New Mexico) - Hill- ily raised enough money to send one the Stares and was discharged from errnan graduated from the University of their sons to college, Hillerman the Army. Hillerman re-entered the of Oklahoma and began his career as a went to the University of Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma and studied newspaper reporter. He started out on working several part-time jobs so he'd journalism. the police beat at the Borger News Her- have enough money to pay tuition for There was also another significant ald in the Texas Panhandle - he later the next semester - if he lasted that event, although he didn't know it at modeled the character of Joe Leaphorn long. the time, that would affect him. after a county sheriff _ then rook a "I got kicked out of algebra," he He met a girl at a USO dance, and a job at the Morning Press-Constitution says. "I kept going to sleep in class. 1 short while later he was on a road trip in Lawton, Oklahoma, and eventually fell out of the chair one day because with her and her father, who needed covered politics for United Press in

12 ROUNDUP MAGAZINE JUNE 2008 Oklahoma City. Next came a job man- undignified deeds." tion?' I said I wanted to write a novel. aging the United Press bureau in Santa Hillerrnan was also writing nonfiction She said, 'Well, the first thing you've Fe, New Mexico, followed by a stint as essays and articles for magazines, and he got to do is get rid of all that Indian editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican. began working on a novel, calling back stuff." Yet all the while, he wanted to write those experiences he remembered from Hillerman rejected that advice. fiction. his first encounter with the . Eventually, he sent the manuscript "Marie kept reminding me," Hiller- "It took forever to write," Hillerman to an editor at Harper and Row, and, man says. "It was a seven-days-a-week recalls. "I worked on ir for more than after a few revisions, job, and she said if I really wanted to do a year, selling nonfiction to magazines was published in 1970, earning an Ed- this I needed to find anorher job where through my agent. You're not very gar Award nomination from Mystery I'd have time to write." important to agents unless you've sold Writers of America as Best First Novel. In 1963, Hillerman took a position a lot of books. Anyway, I sent her the Hillerman followed that with another at the University of New Mexico in book, didn't hear back from her, finally mystery, 1he Fly on the Wall (an Edgar Albuquerque. "I don't know exactly called her, and she said, 'Tony, I don't finalist), in which he relied heavily what you'd call the job," says Hillerman, think you're ever going to get that book on his days as a political reporter, but who taught journalism, worked on his published.' I said that I wanted to do something started eating him about master's degree, and served as univer- some rewriting, and she said, 'Why 1he Blessing Way. The hero of that sity president Tom Popejoy's "doer of don't you go back and write nonfic- first novel is professor Bergen McKee,

ROUNDUP MAGAZINE 13 JUNE 2008 who gets some timely assistance from Chee was created for People of Dark- He retired from the University of a Navajo Tribal Policeman named Joe ness (1980). In 1986, after two other New Mexico in 1987 and kept writ- Leaphorn. For his next book, Hiller- Chee novels ( in 1982 ing successful, best-selling mysteries: man decided to bring Joe Leaphorn and The Ghostway in 1984), Hiller- , Coyote waits, Sacred back and make him the main charac- man decided to bring Leaphorn and Clowns, , The First ter. Chee together. won the Eagle, Hunting Badger, The wailing "1 liked that guy," Hillerman says. Spur Award, and Chee and Leaphorn Wind, The Sinister Pig, . Dance Hall of the Dead was pub- have been working together, directly or Mystery Writers of America presented lished in 1973, earning the Edgar indirectly, ever since. The next novel, A him the Grand Master Award in 1991, Award and a movie option that never Thief of Time in 1988, not only earned and Hillerman took his second Spur in panned out. Listening Woman, another Hillerman an Edgar nomination bur 2007 for The Shape Shifter. Edgar finalist, came in 1978, and then also served as Hillerrnan's breakout "Growing up with Indians in Hillerman decided he needed another novel, and many consider it his finest Oklahoma, I knew how they are," he policeman, a younger cop, and so Jim piece of fiction. says. "In the first place, you don't want

Western Writers on writing with the mystery genre - not an easy trick. I wish I could do it one-eighth as well as he does. My congratula- Hillerman tions on an honor long overdue." - Owen Wister Award recipient Judy Alter "Tony Hillerman is truly a national treasure, bring- ing all of us wonderful stories of the modern West, while *** giving us memorable glimpses of the distinctive ways of "Tony's body of work informs us that truly master- the . Western Writers of America is proud ful storytelling crosses all boundaries and breaks new to present him with the Owen Wister award for lifetime ground. His novels are a unique fusion of popular literary achievement." - WWA President Cotton Smith gentes that shattered the old stereotype of the traditional mystery novel. Newcomers will be cutting his trail for *** generations to come. He deserves every award and honor "Tony Hillerman is my favorite for pure pleasure read- that comes his way." - Michael McGarrity, author of The ing. He whisks the reader along on a joy ride over the Na- Big Gamble and Death Song vajo country, giving us a dose of Indian mysticism while we puzzle over who did it and why." - Seven-time Spur *** Award-winner Elmer Kelton "I have three reasons fat admiring Tony Hillerman as a standout, stand-alone, srandup writer. One: 1 like his *** Lt. Leaphorn and Sgt. Chee mysteries. (Standout). Two: "Tony Hillerman created a new kind of genre - con- Reports are that the Navajos and respect him for his temporary Western crime novels about culture, place, and depiction of them and their culture. (Stand-alone). Three: character - that built the bridge from the old to the new When I wrote him to ask for a comment for the cover so many of us have now crossed over. He was the first of Ghost w"rrior, he sent a very nice quote. (Srandup)." writer I can recall hearing normal people actually talking - Lucia St. Clair Robson, author of Ride the Wind and about. I remember one couple telling me that they read Ghost \Wtrrior his books aloud while they drove through New Mexico. That's the kind of impact his work has had on the reading *** public. Tony Hillerman started it all, and his kindness and "Tony Hillerman is the most modest and unassuming generosity toward newbies like me will never be forgot- superstar you'll ever meet. All the well-deserved hype that's ten." - C.]. Box, aurhor of Free Fire and Blue Heaven been heaped upon his impressive body of work originated nor with him or his publicists, bur with those readers *** who struggle through the long nuclear winter waiting for "Tony Hillerman excels at what good Western writ- his ne~t book. His deep reverence for history and culture ing should do. His knowledge of the place, setting, and and his balanced approach have played a major part in customs is so thorough that he takes us to the land with dragging the Old West into the new millennium; and just him, and he makes Leaphorn and Chee people we think between you, me, and his millions of readers, he's also a we know, so that we keep coming back to read more of crackling good storyteller." _ Five-time Spur Award-win- their stories. Best of all, he successfully combines Western ner Loren D. Estleman

14 ROUNDUP MAGAZINE JUNE 2008 •

TONY TONY KILLERMAN HILLEIOON UWIOO-_. ... ::~_r..,"", HUNllNli IWlGlR

them thinking you think they're ab- sweat lodges, various rypes of initia- that, but the religious stuff, I was very surd or odd, You let them know you're tions, taboos, and inhibitions. I spent careful with that and the Hopis. too, really interested, as I really was, and many a night and many hours reading and the Zunis, and anybody else 1 ran before long, 1 could ask them abour those, and then I'd ask the Navajos across." taboos, holy people. 1 got acquainted about ir. He doesn't write from an outline, "ex- with a couple of archaeologists, and "I got called on mistakes in my cept in my mind," he says, but comes the basement of the [university] novels, like when I'd mention a guy up with a basic idea - including a library had rows and rows of papers of getting off interstate so-and-so and crime, of course - and then begins an sociologists, anthropologists, writ- turning right to go to Gallup when intensive research phase, talking to Na- ings about all sorts of stuff, describing he should have turned left, stuff like HILLERMAN {continued Qn page 27)

*** Tony Hillerman's West Thunderheads had merged over the Carrizo range, forming a blue-black wall that extended westward far into "I won't tell," Horseman said. His voice was loud, ris- Arizona. The afternoon sun lit their tops, already towering ing almost to a cream. And then he turned and ran, ran high enough to be blowing ice crystals into the jet stream frantically down the dry wash which drained away from winds. By the time he turned south beyond Dennehotso the prairie dog colony. And behind him he heard the Wolf across Greasewood Flats, he was driving in cloud shadow. laughing, - The Blessing w"y, 1970 - Skin walkers, 1986

*** *** Being lost was a new and unpleasant experience for "Have you realized how lucky you are to have been Bernie. In the "Land Between the Sacred Mountains" of brought to the only cafe in Shiprock with napkins?" - A her Navajos, she knew the landscape by heart. Look east, Thief of Time, 1988 the Turquoise Mountain rose against the sky. To the west, the Chuska Range formed the horizon. Beyond that the *** San Francisco Peaks were the landmark. South, the Zuni But now, standing on the Rat stone roof of Yells Back Mountains. North, the La Platas. No need for a compass. Butte, he looked westward and saw the immense sky, the No need for a map. But down here along the Mexican line of thunderheads building over the Coconino Rim, the border all the mountains looked alike to her ~ dry, saw- sunlight reflecting off the Vermillion Cliffs below the Utah toothed, and unfriendly. ~ The Sinister Pig, 2003 border, and the towering cauliflower shape of the storm already delivering a rain blessing upon the San Francisco *** Peaks, the Sacred Mountain marking the western margin With the last rocks removed, Chee squatted in the low of his people's holy land. - The First Eagle, 1998 opening and looked at what remained. The skeleton was still wearing moccasins, put on the wrong feet to confuse *** any chindi that might follow the spirit into the darkness of Emma was a true Navajo traditional with the tradition- the afrerworld. - The , 1980 al's need to greet the new day. That was one of the count- less reasons Leaphorn loved her. Besides, while Leaphorn *** was no longer truly a traditional, no longer offered a pinch Black Mesa is neither black nor a mesa. It is far too large of pollen to the rising sun, he still treasured the old ways for that definition - a vast, broken plateau about the size of his people. - Hunting Badger, 1999 and shape of Connecticut. It is virtually roadless, almost waterless, and uninhabited except for an isolated scattering of summer herding camps. - The Dark Wind, 1982

JUNE 2008 ROUNDUP MAGAZINE 15 TNT movie in 1999. These films were hardly in rhe league wirh Lonesome Dove, Tombsrone, and 3: 10 To Yuma. Devon Dawson Bur rhe film righrs were purchased ~ H Ij I, 'til. j I!JI '. ,JI All!. . .a.I!., .'.'/1.. &' and producrion complered - you ~.&"IIPI.BJ I(QUfJ liI,eaJ

HILLERMAN (from page 15) vajos, archaeologists, anthropologists, your story in some spectacular country ties, still consistently hits the best-seller reading, reading, and reading more. where, when there's nor much hap- lists, and is roying with a few nonfic- His favorite part of writing? pening with your characters or plot, tion assignmen rs and maybe another "It's when you've worked your way you can always write about what your Leaphorn-Chee mysrery. rhrough a problem and you rum on characters are seeing." All in all, the pasr eighry-rwo years the computer and start writing and the In berween The Blessing Wity and The have been a wonderful run. words just flow out, and, sure enough, Shape Shifter, he has wrirren essays, "They've been far better than anyone you know it's going ro work. I like articles, introductions, even a children's deserves," he writes in his memoir, "two that." book (The Boy Who Made Dragonfly: thirds of them brightened with Marie And he offers this advice for any A Zuni Myth) and a memoir (Seldom ... notable for fortunate outcomes and writer just starring out. Disappointed), not ro mendon a nOI1- rare disappointments." "I did a book-signing years back in Southwestern mystery, . A California wirh (Elmore Leonard), and collection of his nonfiction, The Great Three-time Spur Award winner johnny D. Boggstakes over as U7WApresident in he owed his success to cutting out all TaosBank Robber, was firsr published in rhe sruff nobody reads. Bur me? That's 1973. He has seen his works broughr ro June. what I write, so I think it's great to set the screen, such as on PBS' Mystery! se-

ROUNDUP MAGAZINE JUNE 2008 27