Lubbock author Nathan Dahlstrom, who writes as S.J. Dahlstrom, is a finalist for a national award recognizing Western literature.
The Academy of Western Artists named Dahlstrom's Never Curse the Rain, published by Paul Dry Books, a finalist in its Western Young Reader Novel category for work published in 2025. The book is part of his Wilder Good series, which draws on life outdoors and the American West.
Author: Nathan Dahlstrom of Lubbock, writing as S.J. Dahlstrom
Book: Never Curse the Rain
Recognition: Academy of Western Artists finalist
Awards: Winners are scheduled to be announced Saturday, November 21, in Fort Worth
Dahlstrom is a fifth-generation Texan and a former middle school teacher. His Wilder Good books have received recognition from multiple Western literary organizations, including the Will Rogers Medallion Awards.
About the Academy of Western Artists
Since 1996, the Academy of Western Artists has been the home for people who keep the spirit of the West alive. From the singers and songwriters to the poets, authors, and craftsmen, the Academy celebrates the folks who make Western heritage something you can hear, read, and hold in your hands. Its awards reach even further, honoring chuckwagon cooks, broadcasters, and others who carry the tradition forward, whether they stay true to the old ways or give them a fresh twist.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the Academy is committed to ensuring the stories and skills of the West are passed down to future generations. If you’d like to be part of it, visit academyofwesternartists.com.
From: Academy of Western Artists. Academy events and awards information.
