Crossover story wins Western Writers of America award for Fort McMurray author Therese Greenwood

Western Writers of America Award

FORT McMURRAY, Alta. / March 3, 2019 — Author Therese Greenwood has won a 2019 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for her crossover mystery story about a B-movie cowboy at the Calgary Stampede.

Greenwood received Best Western Short Fiction recognition for “Buck’s Last Ride,” one of 14 stories in her 2018 collection Kill As You Go, released by Calgary-based Coffin Hop Press.

“On one level, it’s a story about a cowboy who hates his horse,” said Greenwood. “It also explores one of my favourite themes, ordinary people who make split-second decisions with no do-overs. In my stories, people are confronted with the unexpected and rise to the occasion — or not.”

Called “a master storyteller” and “a pure Canadian voice” for her short crime fiction, Greenwood’s collection was her first publication following the loss of her home in the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Later this month, the University of Alberta Press is releasing her newest book, the memoir What You Take With You: Wildfire, Family and the Road Home. An eye witness account of the wildfire and evacuation, the book is also about the physical and emotional artifacts we carry with us in times of crisis.

Greenwood’s short fiction has appeared across Canada and in the U.S. in such publications as the Crime Writers of Canada’s Over The Edge anthology and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. She has twice been short-listed for the Arthur Ellis Award, Canada’s top mystery writing prize, and has co-edited two short crime fiction anthologies.

Since 1953, the Western Writers of America has annually honoured writers for distinguished writing about the American West. Spur Award winners in previous years included mystery authors James Lee Burke, Craig Johnson, Joe R. Landsale, and Anne Hillerman.

ABOUT COFFIN HOP PRESS

Calgary-based independent publisher Coffin Hop Press is committed to publishing the best Canadian genre fiction in print and e-book formats. With a commitment to good writing, a savvy grasp of online media, and a feisty approach to championing writers, Coffin Hop is taking the western Canadian literary landscape by storm with an innovative long-range slate of upcoming publications. Visit www.coffinhop.com for more information.

HI-RES MEDIA DOWNLOADS

The following media are available for use by reviewers: