Along the horizon of Eastern Colorado, resting just above the late summer prairie grasses and yucca plants what seemed like white puffy clouds gradually gave way to the rugged, snow-capped Rocky Mountains. And the teenage boy from rural Missouri would never be the same again. Those mountain and the vast prairies spread out before him would burn a love of the American West deeply into the heart and soul of Two-Time WWA Spur Finalist Award and Two-Time Will Rogers Medallion Award Winning Author Phil Mills, Jr.

Phil was recently presented the prestigious 2024 Stirrup Award from the Western Writers of America (WWA) at the group’s annual meeting in Oklahoma City. The award is given annually for the Best Article in WWA’s Roundup magazine as voted on by the group’s more than 700 members. Phil’s April 2023 article entitled “70 for 70” took a look at 70 writers/authors of the American West born before the 20th Century.

Phil’s first novel Where a Good Wind Blows touches on the emotions and sensations of someone seeing this land for the first time. This honest and exciting story set in the late-1800s in Eastern Wyoming received a Spur Finalist Award for Best Western Audio Book in 2010 from the Western Writers of America (WWA). This same book is available in paperback and has limited availability in a hardback/large print edition.

Phil’s second historical novel and the sequel to Where a Good Wind Blows is also available. Entitled Where the Wildflowers Dance, this novel further shares life in 1800s Wyoming and those who love this rugged and unforgiving land. The third book in his “Good Wind Western Series” has been written and is currently being edited for publishing. This third book has a working title of Where Cold the Waters Run.

The first of Phil’s five children’s books entitled Scooter the Cow Dog was published in 2016 to critical acclaim. Set in South Central Texas it was illustrated by talented Western Artist Michael Melson. Phil’s second children’s book entitled Mud Between My Toes is set in Oklahoma and explores rural life in a simpler time. This book was illustrated by talented artists Robert Brooks and Cindy Smith.

Phil’s third children’s book, entitled Bandit the Cow Dog is still receiving critical acclaim and excellent reviews. This book received a 2021 Spur Finalist Award for Best Storyteller/Illustrated Children’s Book from the Western Writers of America. Bandit the Cow Dog also received a 2021 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award in the Western Fiction – Young Readers/Illustrated Category. Bandit was illustrated by talented artist/illustrator Jeanne Conway.

Phil’s fourth children’s book Tommy the Tugboat Turtle was released in April 2024. This great story about friends helping friends was illustrated by talented Texas Artist Colleen Erickson. His most recent children’s book entitled The Story was released in August 2024. The Story was illustrated by nationally recognized, award-winning illustrator/artist and author Jean Abernethy. She’s known worldwide for her “Fergus” the horse series of books.

Another of Phil’s recent endeavors was his contribution to the anthology of Western mystery stories/novellas entitled, Perilous Frontier.  He joined with talented, award-winning authors John D. Nesbitt, Larry D. Sweazy and Jim Jones in writing a story for the book. Phil’s story entitled “Cold the Bitter Heart” received a 2022 Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award in the Western Fiction – Short Story category.

Phil is staying busy working on a collection of short stories, an inspirational book, a book of poetry and photos, along with an exciting new novel entitled The Laramie Letter.

In the summer of 2021, his short story “Bend the Blades of Grass” and his poem “Age Too Quickly Comes” appeared in the publication “Saddlebag Dispatches”. He was also featured in the May 2023 issue of “True West” magazine in the column “What History Has Taught Me”.

Phil, whose grandfather Oscar Mills grew up in Montana and rode at times with the famous Western Artist Charles M. Russell, is also an avid fan of professional rodeo. In 2016, he attended the Chad Nicholson Rodeo Announcer Seminar in Fort Worth, Texas.  Then he spent the summer of 2016 and early spring of 2017 announcing rodeos in Bandera, Texas, “Cowboy Capital of the World”, along with barrel racing events in Georgia and Alabama.

Phil is a long time member of the Western Writers of America (WWA), and served as the group’s Vice President for two years, before serving as WWA President for a short time. He also hold memberships in the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA), Women Writing the West (WWW), and the Montana Historical Society. Phil is also a lifetime member of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association (CBHMA). His experiences includes being a small town newspaper editor, farm magazine editor, and work with two major advertising/public relations agencies. Phil has traveled to many parts of the world, but keeps coming back to write about the American West.

Today, Phil Mills, Jr. is married and together they have four children and seven grandchildren. Phil and his wife, Sonja, live west of Fort Worth, Texas. You can also find him on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.