Since 1996, SDCTE has presented its South Dakota Author of the Year Award to an outstanding regional writer.
The 2001 South Dakota Author of the Year is Dan O'Brien. O'Brien's books include The Contract Surgeon, The Rites of Autumn: A Falconer's Journey Across the American West, and Equinox: Life, Love, and Birds of Prey. His essay "The Heart of the Wind" appeared in the 1998 edition of American Nature Writing.
Paul Higbee, Contributing Editor of South Dakota Magazine, was the 2000 author of the year. Visit South Dakota Magazine on-line to read an excerpt from Higbee's "Hotel Alex Johnson."
The 1999 award winner was Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. She is the author of Grandpa Was a Cowboy & and an Indian and Other Stories, The Trickster and the Troll, and The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman.
Kent Meyers was named in 1998. His credits include The Witness of Combines, The River Warren, Light in the Crossing and Other Stories.
Honored in 1997 was Linda Hasselstrom. Her works include Leaning into the Wind: Women Write from the Heart of the West, Feels Like Far: A Rancher's Life on the Great Plains, and Bitter Creek Junction.
Kathleen Norris was the honoree in 1996. Her works included
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, The Cloister Walk, and Virgin of
Bennington.