Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers

Writing Judge - Mary Taylor Young

Author and naturalist Mary Taylor Young has been writing about the landscape and heritage of Colorado and the

American West for 35 years. Her 22nd book—Bluebird Seasons: Witnessing Climate Change In My Piece of the Wild

—was published in May 2023 by Chicago Review Press. Mary’s honors include the 2018 Frank Waters Award for

exemplary literary achievement and a canon of writing that communicates a deep understanding, celebration, and love

of the West; 2019 induction into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame; 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the

Colorado Authors’ League. She has been an RMOWP contest judge and convention presenter for many years. Mary

contributed to and was the managing editor of her latest project, At Home In Nature: The History of Colorado’s State Parks

•1st Ron Belak - Colorado’s Crusty Crustaceans

• 2nd Michael Salomone - Peacock Bass and

More, Leave the Passport at Home.

• 1st Virginia Staat - All Things Dead

• 2nd Virginia Staat - A Popeye Moment

• 3rd Maryann Gaug - A Walk Among Castles