LITERARY AWARDS | Friends Of Ppld

The Literary Awards

The Frank Waters and Golden Quill Literary Awards Luncheon

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Each year, the Friends of the Pikes Peak Public Library District select and present two awards during their
annual luncheon, The Frank Waters and Golden Quill Literary Awards Luncheon; its signature event.

The event is designed to encourage and recognize exemplary national and local writers.

Historically, The Frank Waters Award celebrates its namesake’s love of the American West. The $2,000 award is given to a writer who strives to foster literary excellence and a recognition of the people, culture and landscape of the American West.

The Golden Quill Award, the newer award, is a $1,000 prize given for literary achievement by an outstanding local author, illustrator, photographer or publication. Its recipient often is also engaged in fostering literacy in the community.

For more information on the life and books of Frank Waters, please visit Adobe Gallery and Biblio.

For past winners of the Frank Waters Award, click here.

For past winners of the Golden Quill Award, click here.

2024 Frank Waters Award Winner

Mark Lee Gardner

The Frank Waters Award recipient for 2024 also received the Golden Quill award in 2010. Mark Lee Gardner’s accomplishments since then have merited this additional recognition. Gardner is a local author with a national reputation, and a lifelong historian whose fascination with the American West has inspired his many books. The honoree for this award demonstrates writing excellence and produces work that reflects the people. places, culture and spirit of the West.

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2024 Golden Quill Award Winner

Donna Guthrie

The Golden Quill honoree for 2024 is Donna Guthrie, an esteemed children’s book author, playwright, documentary filmmaker and podcaster. The award is given to an author from the Pikes Peak region who has achieved excellence in their published work.

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2024 Best Friend Award Winner

Jim and Mary Ciletti

Not every year, but on occasion, the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District will elect to present one more award during the Literary Awards Luncheon. This award is called the Best Friend Award and it is presented to a person(s) who have demonstrated their support and commitment to both the library and the Friends that goes above and beyond. This year, the Friends are pleased to be honoring the power couple, Jim and Mary Ciletti.

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