March 25, 2024

Spurs That Jingle Jangle Jingle

Craig Johnson

So, I was making the rounds at one of my favorite events, the Tucson Festival of Books, and ducked into the Western Writers of America booth to say hello to everyone. We shared a few words and as I was making to head out, they were all smiling and my buddy Johnny D. Boggs said, “Congratulations!” I nodded kind of nonplussed and said, “for what?” The entire group kind of glanced at each other and then turned back to me. “The Spur Award.” Figuring I must’ve been nominated, I smiled back and made some kind of comment about always being a bridesmaid and went on my way to some very curious looks. Once I got back home to the ranch in Wyoming a few days later, Judy was fixing dinner, and I was sitting at the kitchen table typing away when the phone rang. I answered it and it was Andrew Rossi of Cowboy State Daily, “Mister Johnson, I was wondering if you had a few moments to comment on the Spur Award?” All I could think was, what’s all this about the Spur Award, anyway? “Hey, can you call me back here in five minutes?” “Sure.” We both hung up and I tried to remember when I’d won the award numerous years ago, finally recalling that it was the fourth novel in the Longmire series, Another Man’s Moccasins. I glanced up at Judy. “I think something’s going on.” She flicked her watering eyes at me, pausing as she cut up onions. “Like what?” “I’m not sure, but I think I might’ve won another Spur Award.” “How do you know?” “A feeling…” Quickly jumping on the internet, I looked up Craig Johnson Spur Award and there it was, the announcement that The Longmire Defense had won Best Contemporary Novel. No wonder Johnny and the rest had looked at me as if I was an idiot. I was. The phone rang again, and this time I was a little better prepared. “Mister Rossi, can I be completely frank with you? Um, I was unaware that I’d won until you called…” It’s pretty marvelous to be included with the likes of Louis L’Amour, Glendon Swarthout, and Larry McMurtry -- but even more so to be in the heady atmosphere of multiple best novel winners like Elmer Kelton, Richard S. Wheeler, Sandra Dallas, Fred Grove, Clifton Adams, Benjamin Capps, Robert J. Conley, Loren D. Estleman, Wayne D. Overholser, and Tony Hillerman. I’m on the road, touring with the new Walt Longmire mystery First Frost in June but I’m hoping I can make it to Tulsa and the award ceremony where I’ll be tempted to quote native Oklahoman Ben Johnson in accepting his Academy Award. Assuming his aw-shucks demeanor, Uncle Ben, the only man to win a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association World Championship and an Oscar, dipped his head and told the audience at the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences, “Now, what I’m about to say is gonna stir up a lot of conversation across the country, but here’s something I’d like to leave in everyone’s minds around the world.” He smiled a sly grin, trying not to laugh. “This couldn’t have happened to a nicer feller…” See you on the trail, Craig PS: The twentieth novel in the Longmire series, First Frost hits the shelves May 28th, four months early and I haven’t heard any complaints. You can pre-order it now at your favorite independent book seller, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and others or order a personalized copy from the Bucking Buffalo!