Catalina Claussen was honored in the United Kingdom in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for her young adult novel, “Diamonds at Dawn.” This sequel to her award-winning debut novel, “Diamonds at Dusk,” published by Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, was reviewed by a panel of seventeen readers and selected as a finalist in the young adult category.

One of the reviewers stated, “Read the first book called Diamonds at Dusk and loved it. This is even better.”

“It’s so rewarding to connect with readers this way.” “Diamonds at Dawn” is a blended novel that combines poetry and prose. “I used poetry to convey the interior dialogue of the main character and prose to depict the current action. The effect is a more true representation of the human experience.” In both novels the setting plays a dominant role. Claussen depicts life unique to southwestern New Mexico. “We are blessed to be here. As residents, we are called into an intimate relationship with the land and each other like no other place I have experienced.” 

“There seems to be a place for rural fiction once again,” says Claussen, “and who doesn’t love romance, adventure, and a good Navajo taco?”

Claussen enjoys the vibrant, supportive arts community in Silver City. She has been a guest on the show “Use Your Words” hosted by Elise Stuart and JJ Amaworo Wilson on Gila/Mimbres Community Radio and enjoyed reading for audiences at Tranquilbuzz Coffeehouse, Javalina Coffeehouse, Silver City Public Library, Bayard Public Library, and Western New Mexico University (WNMU).  She participates weekly with a writer’s group and is a frequent contributor to the Silver City Quarterly Review, edited by Chris Lemme. 

Claussen will be participating in the Southwest Festival of the Written Word. She is reading at the Silver City Book Shop on October 6 at 10 a.m.

Her books are available locally at Circle Heart Western Wear, the Mimbres Cultural Heritage Site gift shop, La Tienda del Sol, the WNMU Bookstore, and Tranquilbuzz Coffeehouse.