What follows is a word-for-word transcript of a chat between Michael L. Printz Award Committee 2011 Chair Erin Downey Howerton and her Administrative Assistant, Sophie Brookover.
Erin: Oh Sophie, good thing I caught you today.’ I just read a marvelous book, and I am dying to nominate it for the Printz Award! It’s called The Most Amazing Book…EVER, by Fantastic Author.’ We surely must discuss this book amongst ourselves!
Sophie: Oh, I love Fantastic Author! I read that book too, and it is indeed amazing, but I’m pretty sure it was published for the adult market, so sadly, it would not be eligible for the Michael L. Printz Award.
Erin: <wails, gnashes teeth>’ You have to be kidding me… I am so disappointed!’ But I feel so strongly about this book.’ Surely, there has to be something we can do to make sure it gets considered for a YALSA award (even if it’s not eligible for ours).’ Can’t we find the right award or selection list?
Sophie: I bet we can — YALSA has a wide variety of distinguished awards and selection lists.’ Let me look at the eligibility requirements and see what your options are.’ [. . . ] Hey, looks like The Most Amazing Book…EVER is a suitable nomination for the Alex Awards, which, as you know, honor “ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.” You can nominate it for Alex!
Erin: Great idea, Sophie! I’m so glad I asked you. You know, I’m looking at the nomination forms online and it looks like YALSA has totally revamped these.’ The updates make the forms even easier to use.
Sophie: No, I hadn’t! Wow, what a great improvement! It’s so handy to have all of the nomination forms available in one spot! This is going to make it so easy for readers to nominate their favorite books for the appropriate award or selection list!
Erin: Right you are! It’s a good thing we talked today – I feel like spreading the word so everyone knows about this.
Sophie: Me, too! I’m going to go nominate a bunch of great books right now! Which I can do, because I am not an author, editor or publisher!
The Most Amazing Book…EVER, by Fantastic Author, published by Awesomeness Press, an imprint of Rampant Excellence, is available at major imaginary bookstores nationwide.
I loved this post! What a great way of talking about something that could be dull. Thanks!
PS: The link to the “all the forms in one place” is broken.
Aw, thanks! Erin & I had more fun than should be legal writing it together. And thank you for the tip about the link. I fixed it!
The ring of authenticity in that “interview” (smile).
Hee, very clever, ladies 😀
As Chair of the 2011 Alex Award committee, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE nominations from the field (note that titles must be published in 2010 from a publisher’s adult list, and be well written and highly readable, with potential teen appeal). EDH, I look forward to recieving your nomination for The Most Amazing Book…EVER, by Fantastic Author.
Great post! I must read that new book by Fantastic Author!