Welcome

Welcome

The Montana Book Award is an annual award that recognizes literary and/or artistic excellence in a book published during the award year.  Eligible titles are either set in Montana, deal with Montana themes/issues, or are written, edited or illustrated by a Montana author or artist.  Books for all ages are considered for the award.

Nominations for the 2023 Montana Book Award are now being accepted.  Learn more.

2022 Winner

2022 Winner

On a Benediction of Wind: Poems and Photographs by Charles Finn and Barbara Michelman

On a Benediction of Wind: Poems and Photographs is a collaboration between poet Charles Finn and photographer Barbara Michelman that weaves a tapestry of words and images from the natural world in the Pacific Northwest, the American Southwest and Montana. This collection of free verse and prose poems is paired with black and white landscape photography that creates an intimacy, strength and lyricism to calm the spirit. Its emphasis on birds, the innate holiness of nature, and experiences shared by an unnamed couple invites the reader to leave the modern world behind and listen to “the confessions of snow” and “the breathing of stones”.

Art and Artist Info for 2022 Winner

These two beautiful ceramic plates created by winner of the 2012 Treasured Montana Artist, Helena-based painter and sculptor Betsey Hurd. Betsey Hurd is inspired what she knows – horses, cows, sheep, dogs – all the four-legged creatures she lives with and observes daily.  For our authors, she has turned to the sky to depict the sereneness of birds a flight.    

https://betseyhurd.com/