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Mammoth – Former Mammoth resident Rachelle “Rocky” Gibbons, now residing in southern Utah, has been named a Spur Finalist 2013 in the storyteller category from the Western Writes of America for her delightful children’s book, Big Buckaroo & Moose The Cow Dog.
Gibbons grew up in Mammoth and graduated from San Manuel High School in 1974. She credits her third grade teacher, Elisabeth Plunkett of Mammoth Elementary, for encouraging her to embark upon a writing career.
The character of Big Buckaroo is based in loving memory of A.C. Ekker, a distant cousin of Rocky’s, and a true American cowboy. Gibbons is also the author of Big Buckaroo’s Little Sister.
Since 1953, Western Writers of America has promoted and honored the best in Western literature with the annual Spur Awards, selected by a panel of judges. Awards for material published in the last year are given for works whose inspiration, image and literary excellence best represent the reality and spirit of the American West.
Previous winners include Larry McMurtry, Tony Hillerman, Lucia St. Clair Robson and Elmer Kelton.
Winners and finalists in 17 categories will be honored at the WWA Convention, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in Jun. 25 to 29. For a complete list of winners and finalists, log on to WesternWriters.org.
Big Buckaroo & Moose The Cow Dog is available online at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.
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