There have been many kind congratulations from many people who are aware of T’s winning a national honor for her book. There have also been many questions from many people, many of which have been leveled at T’s mother, who has no clue, but dutifully passes the questions along. T. was trying to wait until she actually knew something to reply, but knowledge — or the lack of it — has really never stopped her from speaking yet. So, T. will now answer a few questions.
Q: So, she gets to go to New York?
Nope. The award ceremony is in Washington D.C. — it’s a national award, thus it makes sense to go to our nation’s capital. She’s recently discovered that her publishing company is paying for her airfare. This goes a long way toward ensuring she actually shows up. Unfortunately, this also goes a long way toward her feeling like since they paid for the dance, they get to pick the music. This is worrying her more than you might think, as she’s pretty sure something evil like microphones and public speaking are part of paying the piper on this one. Beware the Ugly Electronics.
Q: Does she get to meet Michelle Obama?
If she does, it’ll be on the news. Because there’s a good chance she’ll pass out, and be tackled by Secret Service personnel.
Q: Does she get a medal?
Yes. As the American Library Association (ALA) is essentially the sponsor of the Book Olympics, indeed, there are medals. They cannot, however, be worn on a ribbon around the neck. Fortunately. Book People get out so rarely, there would be a rash of poorly accessorized sweats, if a means to wear the medals were provided.
Q: Is the medal gold?
Nope. As mentioned, this is the BOOK Olympics, not that other one, so the medals are all some kind of etched bronze. Books pretty much don’t rate as much as sports, nor do educational awards get as much flash and bash as athletic awards. It is the way of the world, Young Grasshopper. No one says it makes sense.
Q: Does she get a sticker on her book?
Yes. And for those who live and die by stickers on books, this means a lot. (Some people only buy books for their children that have stickers on them that mean This Won An Award. This is remarkably short-sighted, since the award committees are just made up of …people. Not gods.) To T., it means an amusing guess-where-they’ll-put-it game, since the cover of MARE’S WAR has three people on it, and there’s really not a good spot to place it that won’t look really, really weird. Fortunately, this is not her problem.
Q: Are they giving her money? How much money does she get?
You’ll have to look it up the answer to either or both of those. Like with the X-Files, the truth is out there, somewhere. Since you obviously have failed to recall what your mother said about asking people about how much they make, we are not going to help you with that. At all. And stop asking T’s mother, or she’ll start taking names. Seriously. Since when have her finances — or, more realistically, her lack of them — been your business?
Q: Does it mean she gets more money for her books?
You with the MONEY again! *sigh* Look, maybe. Publishing is, like many other things in the arts, a thoroughgoing gamble, a complete crapshoot. (Please note that this refers to the gambling game, craps, and is in no way as vulgar as it sounds.) While having won a national award increases one’s public profile, and causes editors to scrutinize what you say in interviews to the point of calling your agent and asking about books which do not yet exist (this has already happened), theoretically, it should give her agent more clout in contract negotiations, thus netting her more money in the long run. “More” being an amusing euphemism for “perhaps someday she will earn a living wage from this writing thing.” However, this is all conjecture; this is not T’s area of concern; this is why she has an agent.
Q: Why does she have her name in the New York Times Arts Section for the 21st of January?
Because her editor is kind. And it’s good PR for Random House. No other reason, really.
We hope you’ve been edified, and are as deeply honored as you should be that you now know just as much as we do about what’s going on. Tune in next time as we provide answers to such questions as The Meaning of Life, explore Artificial Intelligence and Time Travel, explain Cultural Relativism, and otherwise reveal our genius to the world.
House Update: No change – but it’s on the far horizon. D. wrote a distinctly polite little note to the property managers over the weekend which did not mention the word “solicitor” at all, yet resulted in a 25% reduction in our rent (woot!), which is more of a response than we’ve ever, ever had from any property manager thus far. Hint: asking for their response in writing and saying that you are collecting documents puts the fear of God into people. The upshot of this is that we may very well be able to stay here… if they don’t delay dealing with things. An engineer came yesterday and looked around, and is going to make a bid; we expected a second one yesterday, but he never showed. Fingers crossed – some kind of movement will happen, soon.
I only hope that one day relatively soon people are asking my mother these questions about my book 🙂 I hope you meet Michelle–more news is good news in the publishing world!
And hot damn on the rent reduction–it’s good to know good landlords are out there somewhere!
Congratulations T. Needless to say, I am happy for you and don’t feel the need for any of these questions. Hope to see you sooner rather than later, although sleepwalking through each day is a problem at the moment 🙂
T – you deserve the honor, and the book was such a great read. So frankly, my dear, I’m not surprised. I say you go wild and splurge on those new sweats! At least wear the medal around the house – when the workmen aren’t there.
I completely understand how incredible this award. My classroom library and reading/writing instruction were grounded by the works of previous recipients of this award, and loved by my students: Walter Dean Myers (prolific…), Christopher Paul Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy), Sharon Flake (The Skin I’m In), Virginia Hamilton (a whole different league…), and for my more mature students, Angela Johnson (wonderful short stories). Fabulous writers, all — Even better memories of sharing their work with kids and watching the influence on their thinking and writing.
I am in awe….seriously.
The book sticker is so cool. I’m a closet book sticker lover.
LOL! Excellent Q & A. 😀
Sending continuous good thoughts regarding the housing situation,
Paz
congrats! congrats! congrats t. sara and i found the questions and answers quite entertaining. good luck with the housing thing. much love.
Double Wooot!! Congratulations on the award, and yes woot for the housing situation getting some answer. Excellent Q&A, (really can’t believe the questions people ask!) But…just between you and me…How much?
So great! Another question…when will T be in Washington DC? It would be amazing if she could meet Mrs. Obama…and not out of the question either.
Ceremony’s in June – and while the Obamas do rather tend to wander and occasionally show up unexpectedly in our nation’s capitol (apparently Mrs. Obama did White House tours one day, to the shock of many tourists) somehow we can’t see either of them showing up at the American Library Association award brunch at oh-dark-early on a summer morning. And it IS going to be early, and probably a ticketed event.