At The Colorado Sun, our journalism seeks to capture the issues and essence of what it means to be a Coloradan.
But through the words of local writers, fiction and non-fiction books also reveal essential truths about what it means to live and work here — at greater length and sometimes more artfully than we can express in our reportage.
Read some of The Sun’s award-winning journalism here.
Through a feature we call SunLit, we will present new excerpts from some of the best Colorado authors that not only spin engaging narratives but also illuminate who we are as a community. We offer these literary appetizers as part of our mission to reinforce that sense of community as well as to provide ways for readers to experience different points of view — and maybe discover a writer whose work resonates with them.
By partnering with Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, SunLit each Friday will offer selections from that organization’s Colorado Book Award finalists and others for readers to sample — always for free. Those will be accompanied by a Q&A with the featured author to lend context and background to the selection, as well as its place in the writer’s larger catalog.
We hope that this is just the beginning for SunLit.
We’re starting with some basics, but as circumstances allow, we’d love to expand our offerings to showcase more of Colorado’s vibrant fiction and non-fiction writers before a statewide audience — whether through feature articles, reviews or other means.
So kick back, relax and give these Colorado-connected writers a read. Then let us hear your thoughts at SunLit@coloradosun.com.
— Kevin Simpson, Staff Writer
Read the latest SunLit features
- In “Feeling Left Behind,” the widowed author recounts the persistent trauma of a mundane errand
- Author Kim Murdock’s experience as a young widow taught her that feelings need validation
- “Soyala: Daughter of the Desert” brings to life the great migration of the Pueblo people
- Cindy Burkart Maynard’s visits to the archeological sites of ancient Puebloans sparked a novel idea
- Jennifer Kincheloe built her stories around a relatively little-known venue for women’s rights
- In “The Body in Griffith Park,” a period-piece mystery combines interrogation with romance
- In “The Undying Man,” the story begins with a duel of wits and a bit of magic
- Author Todd Fahnestock wrote “The Undying Man” for one really compelling reason: his fans
- In one selection from her collection “Lucid Life,” the poet offers a father’s wish for his daughter
- Catherine R. Berra has been writing poems since she was a girl. Last year, she finally published some.
- In this sci-fi fantasy, the imposing WindRunner arrives to call Owen to a dangerous quest
- Christmas Eve with grumpy grandchildren inspired Natli VanDerWerken to write her book
- Jared Smith evokes sunrise across America in the title piece of his poetry collection
- In “That’s How It Is,” poet Jared Smith celebrates the struggle and dignity of the American worker
- In “To Walk Humbly,” a historical novel, the Ku Klux Klan’s influence is on display
- Laurie Marr Wasmund watched a single volume of her historical novel blossom into a trilogy
- In “Sweet Twisted Pine,” a man on a quest to find his missing sister struggles to adapt to the Old West
- Author Lori Hodges built her first novel around family genealogy — plus her dog’s bouts with a porcupine
- Cast your readers’ choice votes for Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers’ 6-word mystery contest
- In “A Perfect Eye,” a bizarre murder scene reveals puzzling artistic touches