Irene Ziegler's Blog, page 16

A Few Canadian Literary Awards We Should Adopt, and a Few We Shouldn't.

So I just got back from Vancouver. This trip didn't have anything to do with the book tour; my husband and I just wanted to experience the city. There's a reason it's ranked as the 4th best city to live in the world. It's gorgeous. Canadians seem to have a kinder, gentler thing going on with the "no guns allowed" legislation. Just sayin. And their support of the arts has evolved beyond our Neanderthal attitudes. They actually think it's important.

While I was there, the shortlist was announced Tuesday for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, an award handed out every year for Canada's best English-language novel or book of short stories.
The five finalists are:
• David Bergen, for his novel, The Matter with Morris
• Alexander MacLeod, for his short-story collection, Light Lifting
• Sarah Selecky, for her short-story collection, This Cake Is for the Party
• Johanna Skibsrud, for her novel, The Sentimentalists
• Kathleen Winter, for her novel, Annabel

Ever heard of them? Me neither. They're Canadians, duh. But here's the thing. Two works on that list are debuts. And two are short story collections. I'm like, huh? Canadians read short stories? In the states, the only thing that sells worse than short stories is poetry. And to nominate two unknown writers for such a prestigious prize blows me away. Let's hear it for new voices!
So I Googled the award in an attempt to learn more, and discovered that Canada gives out a lot of literary awards. We do, too, of course, but theirs are so...Canadian. Here a few that got my attention:
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Canadian Authors Association Awards for Adult Literature Honouring works by Canadian writers that achieve excellence without sacrificing popular appeal since 1975.Canadians value popular appeal? How quaint. Americans worship popular appeal, but here, we call it pop culture. And we don't award it with literary honors. We throw our underwear at it.
Marian Engel Award for female writers in mid-career.Discriminatory, you say? Perhaps Canadian men in mid-career agreed, and in 2003, convinced the Writer's Trust to establish a companion award, the Timothy Findley Award, to honour male writers. In 2008, the Engel and Findley Awards were discontinued and merged into the new Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award. Is everybody happy now?
Milton Acorn Poetry Awards for an outstanding "people's poet."Milton Acorn? Really? Does that sound like someone you'd like to know? And what the heck is a people's poet? Someone who writes poems that rhyme?
Pat Lowther Award for poetry written by a woman.What's with these Canadians, they gotta award according to sex. Strangely, 'Pat' is an androgynous name. They should rename this the Patricia Lowther Award to avoid further confusion. BTW, Pat Lowther was murdered by her husband. I should think it would discourage a few female poets. Maybe it's just me.
Prix Aurora Awards for Canadian science fiction and fantasy, in English and French.Maybe the states should award in two languages. Pig Latin, anyone?
Prix Athanase-David for a Quebec writer.Does every state in our union sponsor a writing award? I don't know the answer to this. Do you?
Stephen Leacock Award For Humour.Note to self: if Canadian literary humour writers (note the extra 'u' in there) are as funny than Canadian TV humour writers, this could be an easy steal for say, David Sedaris. Or Benny Hill, for that matter.
W.O. Mitchell Literary Prize for a writer who has made a distinguished lifetime contribution both to Canadian literature and to mentoring new writers.Aw, that's nice. We oughta have one of these. It would have gone to James Dickey who was notorious for "mentoring" young writers, nudge nudge wink wink.
3-Day Novel Contest annual literary marathon, born in Canada.Sounds all hip and all, but is it art? (Yes, I actually said that.)
Information Book of the Year.What, Ripley's isn't good enough for you?
Vicky Metcalf Award.For writing that is "inspirational to Canadian youth." Do we have one of these? For writing that is inspirational to American youth? Does American youth read? JK Rowling doesn't count. She's British. And Stephanie Meyer doesn't inspire. She's the Pied Piper of Teenage Girls. But I digress.

BTW, Husband and I discovered we're not supposed to say we're from America. We were told, "We're all North American, mate. You're from The States." Only I don't think he said 'mate.' Maybe he said 'you elitist continent hog.' Yeah, maybe that was it. Do they give out awards for that?
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To New Authors Who are Planning a Book Signing: You Gotta Get Outta the Chair

To new authors who are planning a book signing, hear me now or hear me later: you can't just sit there. If you're scheduled to read or talk, that's a different deal, but if just sit there like a lovely accessory, you will sell two books, and one of them won't count. If you're happy with selling two books, good for you. If you'd like to sell more than that, you have to get on your feet and talk to people.

I was signing books in Fredericksburg, VA on Saturday, on a custom-ordered day. It was be-...

I Don't Want my Books Anymore, and I'm Going to Hell

Something is going on with me. I don't want my books anymore.

I know, I know! I'm a bad person! I'm like that couple who sent back their adopted kid. I'm TOTALLY going to Hell.

It's weird. I'm a one-time book scout, whose idea of paradise was trolling through someone else's attic or thrift store dumpster in search of a choice modern first edition. And I found a few! My best snag? Booked to Die, by John Dunning, a nifty mystery about a burnt-out Colorado cop and rare book collector who investig...

The Rising Cost of eBooks: Don't Get Him Started

In my post dated 9-9-2010, I requested that book bloggers stop asking me for free books, but instead, contact their local public libraries and ask them to acquire Ashes to Water and post a review online. In return, I offered to send them my first book, Rules of the Lake as a thank-you gift. I got a comment by a book blogger named Zohar. He said he...

Need to Catch a Break? Three Ways to Get Lucky.

When I started promoting Ashes to Water, I had no idea the old ways were...well, old. Since July, I've been traveling from bookstore to bookstore, and my investment (in time, money and good will) has been enormous. (No, my publisher doesn't help, but that's a screed for another day.) Yes, I'm investing in the long term, building infrastructure, reconnecting with friends and family, and all that is well and good. But if you're a writer (or an artist of any kind), and want to promote your art, ...

How I Survived a Book Tour Without Stabbing Myself in the Neck With a Fork

There are less tortuous ways to make a buck than organizing your own book tour. Like holding a stake in place while a blind person takes a whack at it with a sledge-hammer. That would be a cakewalk compared to traipsing the countryside in search of a readership. It's like searching for leprechauns. Not that I've ever done that. (Okay, once.)

I've had a few Come to Jesus moments when I've asked myself why. Why spend the money, invest the time, practice the speech, dust off the interpersonal s...

Dear Book Bloggers: Let's Meet in the Library and Use Each Other.

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Okay, let me say this right off the bat. You ROCK. Without you, unknown writers like me would have no hope of finding a readership. Thank you so much for posting thoughtful reviews on your blog sites. You are doing a very good thing. High...

The 15 Top-Selling Books of All Time, With Commentary By Yours Truly

'Huffington Post' named the 15 top-selling books of all time:
This doesn't include the Bible, with approximate sales of 2.5 billion copies, including all translations. Add in the copies given away, and the total comes closer to 6.0 billion. So just toss that one aside. It ruins the curve. So here are the 15 top sellers:

    Quotations from Chairman Mao (The Little Red Book). This collection of quotations from Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong was put together by the People's Liberation Army in...

Nominate Your Favorite Librarian for $5000 Award

I Love My Librarian Award! 

Nominate your librarian for the third year of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times
Nominations for 2010 stay open through September 20. 

Nominate a librarian in a: 

School Library
Public Library
College, Community College, University Library

There are nearly 123,000 libraries nationwide, and librarians touch the lives of the people they serve every day.  The award encourages library users like you to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, ...

Buy ASHES, get RULES for FREE.

*Donning carny barker hat*

Step right up, step right up!

Have I got a deal for YOU!

From now until September 6, if you purchase ASHES TO WATER, I will send you the prequel, RULES OF THE LAKE for FREE!

BUT WAIT! That's not all!

To sweeten the deal even more, you can save 15% if you buy online at Barnes & Noble. Click on the link below and use coupon code: N7Y9U9J

15% off the highest-priced item in your cart. Not valid on textbooks or nook. Expires 9/6/10.body...