The Wyoming Arts Council has named Natalie Callum of Lander and Catherine Storch of Laramie as recipients of its 2026 writing awards. Callum received the Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award Inspired by Nature for the submission Exhalations & Dust, and Storch received the Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Writing Award for Writing by a Woman for their submission “To See What Happens”.
An honorable mention was awarded to Beverly Leys of Moran in both award categories.
Callum, the nom de plume of Natalie Ryback, is a writer and poet living in Lander. Her poetry has appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, Willawaw Journal, and GLEAM. In 2025, she released her first poetry collection, “Dust Rises Like Mist,” which explores natural landscapes, inner emotional terrain, and the intersection of the two.
“Gorgeous language, a strong sense of place, and themes of renewal amid the unraveling of nature resonate throughout this outstanding collection of poems,” said Marina Richie, juror for the 2026 writing awards. “The final poem, ‘The Language of Moose,’ lifts the reader into the more-than-human world.”
Storch’s submission was also recognized for its depth and reflection. Richie praised the work for guiding readers through personal history, service in the Peace Corps, and self-examination.
Storch grew up camping and fishing in southeast Idaho and later served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique, where she taught physics and English. Her writing and visual art explore themes shaped by these experiences. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Wyoming and her undergraduate degree from Stanford University.
The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award and the Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Writing Award are made possible through the generosity of Neltje. Both awards recognize Wyoming writers who have not yet received widespread recognition and provide support at pivotal stages in their creative careers.
For more information about the fellowship, visit wyomingartscouncil.org or contact Kimberly Mittelstadt, creative arts specialist at the Wyoming Arts Council, at 307-274-6673 or kimberly.mittelstadt@wyo.gov.