don argo award

Don Argo Award

First presented in 2010, the Don Argo Award recognizes the best in Florida writing by SCWG members in memory of beloved educator, author of Canaveral Light, founding member of SCWG, and longtime Florida resident Don Argo.

Originally from Arkansas, Dr. Don Argo was a mathematics professor at Brevard Community College (now known as Eastern Florida State College) for 38 years. He was also a founding member and president of the Space Coast Writers' Guild. He received a couple of awards for his historical novel Canaveral Light, which was published in 2001. Dr. Argo passed away from cancer at age 72 on October 19, 2008. He was survived by his wife of 33 years, Kathy; four children; and two grandchildren.

guidelines & rules

Submission

If you have written a book set in Florida or know of another author you would like to recommend for the award, please see our guidelines.

Authors may self-nominate or may be nominated by someone else. Submissions (which must include identification of author, address, phone, email, book title, and year published) are being accepted until August 18, 2019. The submissions will be reviewed and scored by three judges. The Don Argo Award will be presented at the October 19, 2019 SCWG meeting. The winner will receive a cash prize and an engraved plaque.

Guidelines

Fiction or non-fiction (no poetry or children’s books)
Published within the last two years
Set in Florida
Entrant must be a member of the Space Coast Writers’ Guild. Brevard County residents may submit their work, along with a $40 non-refundable entry fee. Payment of this fee will get you one full year of membership in the Space Coast Writers Guild. Contact SCWG President, Joanne Fisher, at jfisher@scwg.org for more details.
Submit the first 50 pages by email to amcgrath@scwg.org
One submission per SCWG member.

Don Argo award winners

2018 - Linda Zern

The 2018 winner of the Don Argo award is Linda Zern for her novel titled The Gryphon's Glade .

Cum Gryphae Equis Iungunt: When pigs fly, that’s what Reed Baye Hunter’s family motto means. When gryphons mate with horses, it’s another way of saying “impossible, fantastic love.”

People say that URBAN LEGENDS grow out of a kernel of truth, some small seed of fantastic reality . . .

Reed Baye Hunter comes home from one bloody war, only to discover a more horrific conflict in her own backyard. Ari Ben Warrick, her darkly mysterious neighbor, has answers. Reed needs answers: how is she going to find her missing horse; who is killing her livestock; and what is behind the legend of the ghost lights of 'Taintsville, Florida?

The dark water that slips through the cypress knees of Reed's childhood home bear silent witness to the secrets and myths and nightmares found in the Gryphon's Glade.

2017

Dianna Dann Narciso, Bury Me

2016

Cindy Foley, The Truth Lies...a Florida Saga

2014

Ruth Rodgers, Reparation

2013

Marshall Frank, The Upside to Murder

2012

Elaine Viets, The Dead-End Job series