Each year, Texas Book Festival presents the Texas Writer Award — formerly known as the Bookend Award — to an esteemed writer in recognition of outstanding contributions to Texas literature. TBF’s Author Selection Committees consider adult fiction and nonfiction writers, children’s book authors, journalists, and screenwriters when nominating candidates for the award. Nominees are evaluated on originality, literary achievement, and the impact of their body of work. The award recipient is honored during a public session at the Texas Book Festival.
2023 Recipient
Elizabeth Crook has published five previous novels, including The Which Way Tree, The Night Journal, which received the Spur Award from Western Writers of America, and Monday. Monday, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2014 and winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award from the Texas Institute of Letters. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family.
Previous Recipients
Elizabeth McCracken (2022)
Don Tate (2021)
Stephen Graham Jones (2020)
Attica Locke (2019)
James Magnuson (2018)
Dan Rather (2017)
Benjamin Alire Sáenz (2016)
Pat Mora (2015)
Sarah Bird (2014)
Steven Weinberg (2013)
Tim O’Brien (2012)
Stephen Harrigan (2011)
Larry Wright (2011)
H.W. Brands (2010)
Rick Riordan (2009)
Robert Caro (2008)
Dagoberto Gilb (2007)
Rolando Hinojosa-Smith (2007)
Greg Curtis (2006)
Evan Smith (2006)
Sandra Cisneros (2005)
T.R. Fehrenbach (2005)
Mary Margaret Farabee (2004)
Larry L. King (2004)
Walt McDonald (2004)
Shelby Hearon (2003)
Elmer Kelton (2003
Bud Shrake (2002)
Bill Wittliff (2002)
Dr. William Goetzmann (2001)
Stanley Marcus (2001)
John Graves (2000)
