Writing Awards
Memoir Magazine's Award for Best Memoir, Second Place for Animal Bodies, 2022
Gold Medal for Best Travel Book, Independent Publishers Book Award, 2021
National Indie Excellence Awards, Finalist in Travel, 2021
Foreword INDIES Excellence Awards, Best Travel Book of the Year, Bronze Medalist, 2021
Story Circle's Women's Book Awards, Finalist for the Gilda Award, 2021
Bronze Medal Winner for Best Travel Book, North American Travel Journalists Association, 2021
Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Award, Runner-up for "In Love with the World," 2020
Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts, The Rick DeMarinis Short Story Award, Finalist, 2019
Writer Advice, Flash Travel Contest, Finalist for "Odds Are," 2018
Travelers' Tales Bronze Medal and "Editor's Choice" for "Bellagio People," 2017
Notable Mention in Best American Essays, 2015 for "The Same Story"
Travelers' Tales Best Travel Writing Award, Silver, 2015
Pushcart Prize Nominee. "The Same Story," Creative Nonfiction, 2014
First Place, Mistakes Essay Contest, Creative Nonfiction, 2014
2012 National Outdoor Book Award Winner for Almost Somewhere
Gotham Writers Travel Essay Contest, Finalist, 2012
Anderbo Creative Nonfiction Contest, "Auntie Suzanne," Finalist, 2011
Pushcart Prize Nominee, "Skeleton" from Poems and Plays, 2011
Eda Kriseova Fellowship for Nonfiction Writing in Prague, 2011
The MacGuffin Prize, Honorable Mention, "The Road," 2010
Fourth River Award for Poetry, "Poulty Stall," 2009Pushcart Prize Nominee, "The Falling Sky" from Poems and Plays, 2008
"The Next Great Travel Writer," Award, Travcoa and National Geographic Traveler, 2008
Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Rize, Calyx Magazine, Finalist, 2007
McMillan Award for the “Best Piece of Creative Writing about Nevada,” 2007
Blue Lynx Book Prize in Poetry, Eastern Washington University Press, Semi-finalist, 2006
Sixth Annual Erskine J. Poetry Prize from Smartish Pace, Finalist, 2006
River Styx International Poetry Contest, Finalist, 2006
NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006
The Randall Reid Creative Writing Award, UNR and the Sierra Arts Council, 2005
MacMillan Award for the “Best Piece of Creative Writing about Nevada,” UNR, 2005
Boyd/Harris Creative Writing Award, 1988
Gold Medal for Best Travel Book, Independent Publishers Book Award, 2021
National Indie Excellence Awards, Finalist in Travel, 2021
Foreword INDIES Excellence Awards, Best Travel Book of the Year, Bronze Medalist, 2021
Story Circle's Women's Book Awards, Finalist for the Gilda Award, 2021
Bronze Medal Winner for Best Travel Book, North American Travel Journalists Association, 2021
Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Award, Runner-up for "In Love with the World," 2020
Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts, The Rick DeMarinis Short Story Award, Finalist, 2019
Writer Advice, Flash Travel Contest, Finalist for "Odds Are," 2018
Travelers' Tales Bronze Medal and "Editor's Choice" for "Bellagio People," 2017
Notable Mention in Best American Essays, 2015 for "The Same Story"
Travelers' Tales Best Travel Writing Award, Silver, 2015
Pushcart Prize Nominee. "The Same Story," Creative Nonfiction, 2014
First Place, Mistakes Essay Contest, Creative Nonfiction, 2014
2012 National Outdoor Book Award Winner for Almost Somewhere
Gotham Writers Travel Essay Contest, Finalist, 2012
Anderbo Creative Nonfiction Contest, "Auntie Suzanne," Finalist, 2011
Pushcart Prize Nominee, "Skeleton" from Poems and Plays, 2011
Eda Kriseova Fellowship for Nonfiction Writing in Prague, 2011
The MacGuffin Prize, Honorable Mention, "The Road," 2010
Fourth River Award for Poetry, "Poulty Stall," 2009Pushcart Prize Nominee, "The Falling Sky" from Poems and Plays, 2008
"The Next Great Travel Writer," Award, Travcoa and National Geographic Traveler, 2008
Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Rize, Calyx Magazine, Finalist, 2007
McMillan Award for the “Best Piece of Creative Writing about Nevada,” 2007
Blue Lynx Book Prize in Poetry, Eastern Washington University Press, Semi-finalist, 2006
Sixth Annual Erskine J. Poetry Prize from Smartish Pace, Finalist, 2006
River Styx International Poetry Contest, Finalist, 2006
NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, 2006
The Randall Reid Creative Writing Award, UNR and the Sierra Arts Council, 2005
MacMillan Award for the “Best Piece of Creative Writing about Nevada,” UNR, 2005
Boyd/Harris Creative Writing Award, 1988