June 16-20 2009 - Western Writers Gallop into Oklahoma

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