Sweet Success for Darby Karchut

Published November 27, 2025

Darby Karchut’s THE HORSE WHO CARRIES THE STARS (contemporary MG novel set in southern Colorado) recently won the 2025 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award. This is the book’s fourth award, which includes the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award (winner), the Women Writing the West’s WILLA Award (winner), and the High Plains International Book Award (finalist).  

ABOUT THE BOOK  Thirteen-year-old Reece Harding has both hands full dealing with one headstrong mare who’s all go and no whoa. When a devastating wildfire threatens their corner of Colorado, it’s going to take all of Reece’s horse skills and some Appaloosa luck to save the day and prove to herself—and her family—she can handle Kip, the horse who carries the stars on her rump and a fire in her heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Darby Karchut is an award-winning author, former teacher, and compulsive dawn greeter. Her many books include the DEL TORO MOON series, ON A GOOD HORSE, and THE HORSE WHO CARRIES THE STARS. She is the recipient of the Colorado Book Award, the WILLA Award, the High Plains Book Award, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, and the Will Rogers Medallion Award. A native of New Mexico, she now lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Repped by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management. Visit the author at www.darbykarchut.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Goodreads.