Local author Mike Katko has receives award for his new novel ‘Big Medicine Pretty Water. Courtesy photo

Los Alamos author Mike Katko has won his first award for his debut novel, Big Medicine Pretty Water. At the New Mexico Book Association’s annual summer gala, his novel was named as the finalist in the Trade Book: Non-illustrated category. He can now add the silver award winner symbol to the cover jacket. 

The New Mexico Book Association summer gala draws in some celebrity novelists, publishers and book designers including giants like Anne Hillerman and Jimmy Santiago Baca. 

Big Medicine Pretty Water, Katko says, was his effort to give voice to his great grandmother, Brigida Tolmich, a Native American women abducted by a soldier assigned to Ft. Garland, Colorado. 

Katko has been working with Jeannie Williams of PenPower Book marketing services and Ellen Kleiner of Blessingway. His debut novel is also up for other awards.

“It has been an exciting time these last few months watching the book gather praise,” Katko said.

Big Medicine Pretty Water is selling locally at Samzidat Bookstore in Central Park Square and at the Los Alamos Historical Society Museum. It can also be purchased at his website, MikeKatko.com and on Amazon.