Hillerman wins Kirsch Award

Mystery writer Tony Hillerman on Wednesday was named winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes' Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement.

Hillerman will be honored April 22 at UCLA, when winners of the newspaper's 2004 book prizes are unveiled. Finalists in the nine categories were announced Wednesday.

They included, for fiction: Chris Abani, "GraceLand"; Russell Banks, "The Darling"; Marilynne Robinson, "Gilead"; Colm Toibin, "The Master: A Novel"; and Joy Williams, "Honored Guest: Stories."