Western Writers Gallop into Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank
Keating is among those who will be honored when the top hands at writing about
the American West gather for the Western Writers of America convention June
16-20 at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel.

Keating, Oklahoma governor from 1995-2003, will receive the WWA Spur Award in
the Western juvenile nonfiction category for his book "The Trial of Standing
Bear." It is one of 16 Spurs to be handed out during the WWA Awards Banquet
June 20 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Western Writers of America (www.westernwriters.org) was founded in 1953 to
promote and recognize the literature of the American West. The WWA convention,
which includes panel discussions, vendors, tours, auctions and the awards
banquet, is open to both WWA members and non-members. Participants may
register on site at a rate of $115 per day for members and $150 per day for
non-members. Tours and meals are priced individually.

Two WWA events, including one scheduled on the eve of the convention's start,
are open to the public. "Redefining the Western: The Scope of the Genre
Today," a round table discussion and Q&A session with WWA authors, is from
6:30-8:30 p.m.June 15 at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library in Oklahoma
City. And the public is invited to a book signing by WWA authors from
5:30-7:30 p.m.June 19 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Other convention highlights include the announcement of the all-time greatest
TV Western series, miniseries and movies, as voted on by WWA members; the
induction of legendary writer Max Brand (1892-1944) into the Western Writers
Hall of Fame; and the presentation of the Owen Wister Award for lifetime
achievement to author Elmore Leonard.

Former Gov. Keating is expected to attend the June 20 awards banquet to accept
his Spur. This is Keating's second Spur. He won the 2003 Storyteller Award,
presented for the best illustrated children's book, "Will Rogers: An American
Legend," also illustrated by Wimmer.

To learn more about the round table discussion at the library, call (405)
606-3879. For WWA information, e-mail wwa@unm.eduor call (505)277-5234.

SOURCE Western Writers of America

Melody Groves of Western Writers of America, +1-505-298-3022,
melodygroves@comcast.net