Friday, August 7, 2009

The NOPRIZE AWARD


The NOPRIZE award will be given out twice a year for excellence in the western genre. There's no pretty little statue to display, no certificate to hang on the wall - in fact the NOPRIZE is basically a kudos thing - a way for western fans to thank the winners for all they've done for the genre. Details of the categories and of how to vote will be given here soon and I do hope western fans everywhere will cast a vote. Basically the NOPRIZE is intended to be a bit of fun and although there is no physical prize it'll be great for any writer to know that people like their work so much as to vote for it.

And so to start the ball rolling I would like to give a honoury NOPRIZE to publisher, John Hale for his sterling work with the Black Horse Range. If it wasn't for Hale there would be no British westerns at all and the publishing house has supported the genre for many many years. Of course this last year has seen the books starting to get more and more attention and many BHW writers, myself included, have seen their work reviewed on blogs, websites and in newspapers and magazines. Once the BHW range were only available in the UK but they are starting to gain in popularity across the seas, especially in the spiritual home of the genre, the USA. If one man deserves congratulations for this then it is Mr Hale himself who has bucked the trend of the market place by sticking with the genre through thick and thin.

And so on behalf of western writers and fans everywhere The Archive says a big, "Thank you" to Mr Hale who undoubtedly deserves his NOPRIZE award.

6 comments:

margaret blake said...

What a lovely thing to do. Congratulations to Mr Hale.

Jan Jones said...

What a smashing idea! Congratulations to YOU for dreaming it up - and to Mr Hale for being the first recipient!

Michael Parker said...

I concur, even if I don't really like Westerns. Oh, I do read Ross Morton's Westerns (he's a mate of mine!)

Nik Morton said...

Yet another inventive promotion from Garry. Excellent stuff - and a fine photo, too, Jan...

Unknown said...

Great idea, Gary, and wonderful photo!

Monica Fairview said...

Congratulations to Mr Hale!