David Lubar ([info]davidlubar) wrote,
2008-01-14 07:29:00
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Newbery my heart at wounded pride

In a couple minutes, the kidlit world will be abuzz with news of the Newbery, Caldecott, and other awards. Since everyone will be blogging about the winners, I thought I'd use this space to say a few words of consolation to the losers. (That would be you if your phone hasn't rung yet this morning.) Remember what I always say: "When life gives you lemons, make sour grapes." So, feel free to use the comment space to complain, rant, moan, or vent. And come back here throughout the week, as I celebrate losing in all its many forms. (I have no idea what that means, but I'll think of something.)click analytics

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  • 20 comments

[info]eluper

January 14 2008, 14:39:35 UTC 4 years ago

My phone rang TWICE this morning and I scolded the callers for being so insensitive. :-)

[info]writerross

January 14 2008, 15:46:14 UTC 4 years ago

Hold On. And David Lubar wins..

two awards for Monday's Best LJ Subject Title ever

You are sweeping the category, sir. {}

-Pamela
(author of "Very Hidden, in fact, Basically Invisible Talents") ;>

[info]davidlubar

January 14 2008, 15:58:24 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Hold On. And David Lubar wins..

Thanks. I feel entitled. :-)

[info]onegrapeshy

January 14 2008, 17:16:23 UTC 4 years ago

How about some consolation to the "never even got into the race"-ers? ;)

[info]davidlubar

January 14 2008, 21:40:11 UTC 4 years ago

Maybe the consolation is that since they don't announce nominees for the big awards, everyone is in the running until they announce the winner. A barely graspable straw, but a straw, none the less.

[info]onegrapeshy

January 15 2008, 06:37:51 UTC 4 years ago

Good point.

[info]halseanderson

January 14 2008, 20:00:48 UTC 4 years ago

I went to the gym very early so I didn't have to hear the phone not ring.

Worked like a charm.


[info]sarahsbooks

January 14 2008, 20:07:40 UTC 4 years ago

Smart. As opposed to, say, lying in bed listening to the actual sound of the phone not ringing, which was audible even over my iPod. ;)

[info]halseanderson

January 14 2008, 20:11:00 UTC 4 years ago

That is a hideous sound. Rather hollow, don't you think?

[info]sarahsbooks

January 14 2008, 20:19:10 UTC 4 years ago

Uh-huh. And you know what else is odd about it? You can hear the length of it. There comes a point when you just know it's not going to be interrupted.

But hey, I scored two mock silvers, and a bunch of the books I was rooting for got shiny stickers, so all in all it's a pretty decent day.

[info]halseanderson

January 14 2008, 20:55:07 UTC 4 years ago

Brava!

Anonymous

January 14 2008, 22:23:38 UTC 4 years ago

yeah, there are worse things than not getting a sticker. seeing what did get a sticker can be one of them. not this year, though, i think.

[info]davidlubar

January 14 2008, 20:30:12 UTC 4 years ago

Not hearing the phone not ring is a great idea (it made me smile), though you might be accused of twisted logic. :-)

[info]halseanderson

January 14 2008, 20:36:55 UTC 4 years ago

It's a true talent to be able to think like that. Best kept hidden.

[info]davidlubar

January 14 2008, 20:42:33 UTC 4 years ago

Touche.

Anonymous

January 15 2008, 03:25:40 UTC 4 years ago

Newbery my heart

"phone ringing Monday Morning" -NOT

Act-u-ally,
The committees were quick this year and had their final choices decided on early. So they called all the Winners Sunday afternoon. (my spy worked in the ALA office and heard all the cheering and clapping as they talked to the winners -- but not the names. Not even bribery worked to get the names out of her.) (mostly I offered chocolate....)

The other reason they called the winners on Sunday was -- if they did the usual bit of calling on Monday BEFORE the award press conference, they would have been waking people up in California about 4 am. not good. (although most of them would be home....)

When she told me about the Sunday calls, I automatically said, "well, I guess I didn't get it (pick your favorite award) this year, again."

Upon reconsideration, I was more likely to have gotten some award on 2003 when my book was racking in the other awards. AND I did get four phone calls that morning. None of which was THE call, however.

Still and all, I'm always thrilled to actually be at the press conference and was jumping up and down when several of my friends were mentioned for various awards. (or were on the committee -- I'll cheer for everyone.)

-wendieO (whose book signing had only 4 people, because all the rest were either at BBYA -- Teen session or at K A-J's speech on Sunday afternoon. Heck, if I hadn't been tied to that booth, I would have been at one of those events, too.)

Anonymous

January 15 2008, 16:24:33 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Newbery my heart

That's actually not true -- they did make some calls Sunday night (and I believe they often do?), but the Newbery and Caldecott calls didn't happen until Monday morning. Brian S. does live on the west coast, and he says he got his call at 3:30 am.

[info]brentsbrain

January 17 2008, 23:29:19 UTC 4 years ago

Well, it's an honor just to be nominated

Wait, that didn't happen either. :-/

[info]davidlubar

January 18 2008, 01:28:52 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Well, it's an honor just to be nominated

Hey, you expect to be nominated just because you wrote a good book?

[info]brentsbrain

January 18 2008, 01:54:20 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Well, it's an honor just to be nominated

The problem, of course, is that there are 50,000 books (and 200 of them are even pretty good!), butonly five winners.

But hey, we're writers! We live dangerously. We can live with those odds. ;-)

(I saw your name SOMEWHERE, David, so life isn't too bad, is it?)
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