Karla K. Morton

04/06/2026

Thrilled to share that Karla has been awarded a 2026 Will Rogers Medallion Award (WRMA) in the Western Written Poetry category for her newest book “Santa Fe Trail: Chasing the Big West,” published by Madville Publishing! Final rankings will be revealed at WRMA’s Banquet and Award Ceremony in October.

Karla’s storytelling brings the spirit, grit, and wonder of the American West to life, and this honor recognizes the heart she pours into every page. Here’s to a well‑deserved achievement and many more trails ahead.

Banquet and Award Ceremony Details:
Date: October 31, 2026
Location: River Spirit Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ticket Info: www.willrogersmedallionaward.net/wrma-order-form

02/06/2026

June is Great Outdoors Month, and our national parks are the perfect place to slow down, explore, and make memories. From waterfalls to wildlife, every trail has a story waiting for you. Where will your adventure take you this month?

Check out Karla’s award-winning book, “The National Parks: A Century of Grace.” Sixty-two national parks are showcased in this amazing book of beauty and wonder!

Available on: Amazon: bit.ly/kmnp or TCU Press: bit.ly/3YKVb0w.

28/05/2026

More photos from the May 21 NEA Big Read Poetry Workshop, what a great time Karla had! Thanks again to National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and everyone who participated, and a special thank you to El Raton Media Works for their continued support in making both workshops a success!!!

Until next time—keep creating 💛

20/05/2026

Tomorrow is the day! Karla’s nature inspired workshop being held by NEA Big Read! We’re counting down the hours and we want YOU there. Bring your energy, your questions, and your curiosity. Come write. Come listen. Come be inspired.

Register here:
events.humanitix.com/nea-big-read-nature-inspired-poetry-workshop-d2

18/05/2026

BIG NEWS … Karla’s newest award-winning book, “Santa Fe Trail: Chasing the Big West,” is buzzing around and is absolutely deserved.

Dive into the article here: https://bit.ly/KKMSantaFeNewMexican
and see why this title is becoming the one everyone’s talking about. Scroll down to the second article “A Legend Lauded” to read and/or listen!

Learn more about the book/CD and get yours at: https://bit.ly/KKSantaFeTrail.

Also available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dNkaKe

Here's your weekly roundup of some of the must-see, must-do, must-know things that need to be on your radar this week.

11/05/2026

We’re counting down the hours until Karla’s next NEA Big Read nature inspired workshop, being held next Thursday, May 21 in Raton, New Mexico. Karla would LOVE to have YOU there! Bring your energy, your questions, and your curiosity. Let’s make it unforgettable. Come write. Come listen. Come be inspired.

Register here:
events.humanitix.com/nea-big-read-nature-inspired-poetry-workshop-d2

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the women who hold families together with love, strength, and a kind of magic the world can’t quite explain. Today we celebrate you — your sacrifices, your laughter, your patience, and the way you make life feel like home.

07/05/2026

Feeling incredibly grateful for everyone who showed up, shared, and created such a meaningful space at our Nature Inspired Poetry Workshop on May 2, hosted by National Endowment for the Arts (NEA Big Read). And, special thanks to Ann Theis, Executive Director of El Raton Media Works who coordinated the event!✨

Your words, vulnerability, and creativity made the experience truly special. It’s not always easy to put thoughts on paper and share them out loud, but you all did it with courage and authenticity—and that’s something worth celebrating.

Thank you for trusting the process, supporting one another, and bringing your unique voices into the room. I hope you left feeling inspired, heard, and energized to keep writing.

Until next time—keep creating 💛

01/05/2026

Hey everyone — quick reminder that Karla will be at the Arthur Johnson Memorial Library (Raton, NM) tomorrow from 1:00pm to 2:30 pm for her nature inspired poetry workshop, sponsored by NEA Big Read.

She would love to have you join her, connect with the community, and be part of the experience. Come write. Come listen. Come be inspired.

Register here for the May 2 workshop: events.humanitix.com/nea-big-read-nature-inspired-poetry-workshop-d1

PS: If you can’t make it tomorrow … She's doing another workshop on Thursday, May 21. You can register for that one here: events.humanitix.com/nea-big-read-nature-inspired-poetry-workshop-d2

30/04/2026

to March of last year, when “Santa Fe Trail: Chasing the Big West” first stepped out into the world. What a journey it’s been – stories shared, miles traveled, and countless conversations sparked by the spirit of the West. We’re grateful for every reader (and listener) who’s come along for the ride. Here’s to the next chapter.

www.bluegrasstoday.com/burnin-vein-from-michael-martin-murphey

PS. In case you haven’t heard, just two weeks ago on April 11, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Karla K. Morton, Michael Martin Murphey and Alan Birkelbach were honored at the 65th Annual Western Heritage Awards event, winning the top Western Music Composition category for "Burnin' Vein," one of the poems/songs in “Santa Fe Trail: Chasing the Big West.” Karla and Alan wrote the lyrics, and Michael Martin Murphey set them to music.

Michael Martin Murphey, he of the 1975 mega-hits, Wildfire and Carolina in the Pines, has a new bluegrass single, taken from a poem called Burnin' Vein.