Literature of the High Plains was celebrated Friday night with the third annual High Plains Book Awards.

Louise Erdrich, author of “The Plague of Doves,” “The Beet Queen,” “Tracks” and “The Bingo Palace,” was honored with the emeritus award during a banquet at Montana State University.

Erdrich’s “Love Medicine” is the topic of the Big Read discussions, workshops and other activities recently launched in Billings.

Her Chippewa heritage and experiences on American Indian reservations are reflected in her writing about Indian and non-Indian customs, values and habits.

The book awards were established by Parmly Billings Library trustees and recognize regional writers or literary works examining and reflecting life on the High Plains.

New this year was an award for best poetry book, which went to Craig Arnold’s “Made Flesh.” A professor at the University of Wyoming, Arnold is presumed dead after he went missing on a solo trek in Japan.

The award for best first book went to Margot Kahn for “Horses That Buck,” while “In Contemporary Rhythm: The Art of Ernest L. Blumenschein, Peter H. Hassrick and Elizabeth J. Cunningham,” won for best nonfiction.

Leif Enger’s “So Brave, Young and Handsom” received honors for best fiction.

Montana resident Jennifer Graf Broneberg received the Zonta Award for best woman writer for “Road Map to Holland,” which was inspired by her son’s experiences with Down symdrome.

Nominations for 2010 awards will be accepted starting Jan. 1, with a March deadline for submissions.

By CHRIS RUBICH Of The Billings Gazette / Friday, October 2, 2009
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