So my novel, The True Meaning of Smekday (not pictured), was nominated for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. That award was presented last night, and it was presented to J.K.Rowling. And I knew it would be, what with the final book of the Harry Potter series in contention. Now Ms. Rowling can squeeze the Norton into the vast undermountain storage facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania where she keeps all her awards and money.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share the statement that would have been read at the awards banquet if I had won. But I didn't.
TO BE READ AT THE NEBULA/NORTON
AWARDS BANQUET, IN THE EVENT THAT
ADAM REX WINS THE NORTON AWARD:
Wow. Really? Gosh, I should have come. As it happens, I’m currently at home in Philadelphia, feverishly working on the illustrations for a picture book that’s six months past due. And I really didn’t think I was going to win.
But now I wish I’d attended, of course. I don’t even know who’s reading this. Does he read well? Maybe it’s a she. And I don’t know what the venue in which you’re all crowded looks like. If nobody minds, I’m going to go ahead and imagine that it looks like that scene at the Galactic Senate in Star Wars Episode 1 where everybody’s riding those hockey pucks.
Thank you to everyone who has read The True Meaning of Smekday, particularly the members of the nominating and selection committees. And thank you to my fellow nominees, and to all kids’ authors who strive to keep the bar high.
And…if we could all imagine now that that “get-off-the-stage” music is starting to play…I make my exit, waving graciously, seated in the plush throne of a tricked-out hockey puck pulled by tiny unicorns or whatever.
Thank You.
11 comments:
This is the congratulatory message I would have posted if you had won and had the chance to read (or have someone else read)your acceptance speech:
Congratulations! You must be thrilled!
Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter One is online!
The unicorns are a nice touch.
I'm curious. And I have a question. (Those two states are not necessarily connected.) Anyhow . . . had you attended, would you have worn your hair in Princess Leia cinnamon buns? Or gone for the Jar Jar Binks ear flop?
Tough call. Either way, congrats on being nominated. Smekday is a great book!
How do you get away with being six months behind schedule when I've got editors breathing down my necks 1 month before the deadline?!
Congrats on Smekday. I admit, I bought it, I'm still waiting to find time to read it.
Beth – Hypothetical thanks!
Andrea – No.
Dan – I think the answer is that I made some people very unhappy, and my book got bumped to a different list. It's not something I recommend.
Well Adam,
all i can say is a big fat woohoo for Rowlings.
eh...what i do know is that i stood in a barnes and noble reading smekday and just about peeing my pants about a month ago. the little history part in the middle was so freeking funny that i nearly died of asphyxiation :)
just keep inspiring the rest of us man!
if i had an award to give you, i would. but all i can say is that you exude creativity that is absolute quality.
but wait! you could be like julia roberts, and COMMAND them to stop that stupid "exuent" music and finish what you had to say. i'm sure ol' jk had volumes to say and just kept throwing pounds into the orchestra pit to keep them quiet. (no, i'm sure she's a LOVELY person.)
ahhhhh, next time. you'll most certainly be there again and again and once hugo cabret steps down this year, who knows, huh? "frankie eats the caldecott?" ")
My mind immediately went to the year Titanic came out when every good director up for the Oscar must have thought, "Aw crap." And then "Well, it was an honor to be nominated."
Which indeed it was for them and for you. Great book, Smekday. My whole family enjoyed it.
The True Meaning of Smekday did win the Cybil's 2007 Award in the Fantasy and Science Fiction Category.
And ofcourse you'd drop to the floor of the stage and marvel everyone with your one-handed push-ups!
Smekday deserved it for sure. Great book, Adam.
You should have won. Smekday made me laugh out loud way more than HP ever will. Keep writing and drawing please!!!!
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