Craig Childs’ Tracing Time, a compelling work of creative nonfiction inspired by the author’s excursions through the American Southwest, has been awarded a 2023 15 Bytes Book Award. With a career spanning several decades, Childs has distinguished himself through a unique blend of adventurous exploration and deep scholarly research. Tracing Time, published by Torrey House Press in 2022, is a profound and introspective exploration of ancient rock art and its enduring legacy.
“Childs’ writing is characterized by a keen observation of landscapes and a thoughtful consideration of the human and ecological histories they contain,” writes this year’s jurors. “His writing not only educates but also deeply resonates with readers, inviting them to ponder their own relationship with the natural world and its ancient past.”
“Organized thematically around motifs such as spirals, bighorn sheep and birthing scenes, Tracing Time is a tapestry weaving descriptions of art with the context of the surrounding landscape. In his quest for understanding, Childs consults a diverse array of voices, including Native peoples whose ancestors created these artworks, scholars, art enthusiasts, and contemporary artists. He confronts the complex issue of discussing Indigenous rock art as a non-Native writer with sensitivity and introspection. He refrains from imposing his interpretations, focusing instead on personal experiences and the broader context provided by others, emphasizing the collective nature of understanding rock art.”
Craig Childs has a BA in Journalism from CU Boulder with a minor in Women’s Studies; an MA in Desert Studies from Prescott College; and has taught writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Mountainview MFA at Southern New Hampshire University. Known for previous books like The Secret Knowledge of Water, House of Rain and Apocalyptic Planet, Childs is celebrated for his profound and immersive narratives that explore the intricate relationships between the natural world and human history, particularly focusing on the American Southwest and its ancient civilizations. Tracing Time is his second book with Torrey House Press.
In its eleventh year, the 15 Bytes Book Awards recognize excellence in publishing in the categories of Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction and Art Book. The awards are sponsored by Artists of Utah.
Tracing Time
Craig Childs
Torrey House Press
2022
224 pp.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Book Awards | Literary Arts
