Candace Simar, Pequot Lakes Minnesota Author, was chosen as a Spur Award finalist in the best western juvenile fiction category for her latest historical novel, Blooming Prairie (North Star Press, 2012). The prestigious honor of a Spur Award is an annual literary prize awarded by the Western Writers of America. Simar received her award June 28 at the Western Writers of America annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she also served as a panelist.
“Simar’s descriptions of the natural world are beautiful. Her characters are drawn with subtlety and depth. There are unforgettable death scenes and tender weddings. This is a story of the bonds of family and friendship, of perseverance and love. It is a rare book, powerful and true.”, Nancy Plain, award winning author and Spur award judge.
Simar is author of the “Abercrombie Trail” series of historical novels from North Star Press of St. Cloud, which recount the story of Scandinavian immigrants in early Minnesota during the 1862 Sioux Uprising. The series includes Abercrombie Trail (2009), Pomme de Terre (2010) and Birdie (2011). Birdie won the Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction in 2012.
