Colour me astonished! I nearly fell over when my name was called as the winner of this year’s Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize at the B.C. Book Prizes. Seriously. I was stunned. I apologize to everyone who had to listen to me stumble through a sort-of acceptance speech in which I invited everyone to drink up and jump in the Lieutenant Governor’s swimming pool at Government House in Victoria. I also managed to mispronounce her honour’s title, which is sounds like “Left-tenant”. I called her “Loo-tenant.” I realized I was going to get it wrong as I was saying it and forged ahead anyway. That is the sign of a great speaker.
Later, when we were having our photos taken with her, I asked if she’d like to sit on my knee. I have no idea why I did that. Apparently I’m profoundly unused to winning things, or being in the presence of authority or behaving with even a modicum of decorum.The honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, handled the various stumbles with grace and good humour. She used to own and operate a ranch in the Nicola Valley, so I imagine she’s a fairly down-to-earth sort. Still, I suspect I will not be invited to become one of her aides-de-camp any time soon, though I think I’d look swell in a military style ensemble with plenty of gold braids.
Side note: I look like a Bulgarian power-lifter in the photo below so I cropped out the lower part. It’s obviously time to take it easy on the weights. I look like I could bench press any two of the other winners plus the Lieutenant Governor. Them guns are getting out of hand!
I may be offered a position in the coat room, however. I had a wonderful chat with the lively ladies working that post. They gave me the history of the extravagantly pink and flowery powder room at Government House. (I have no idea why the photo below imported sideways. I guess that’s what happens when you take a half-selfie in a powderganza room.)
My most sincere thanks to those who support the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize: the BC Library Association, Friends of Sheila Egoff, BC Books for Kids and University of Victoria Libraries and a huge thanks to the judges. The shortlisted titles by Jordan Stratford, Linda Bailey, Darren Groth and my dear friend, Susin Nielsen, are all wonderful and it was a privilege to see The Truth Commission on such a list.
Thanks to the BC Book Prize organizers and Rebus Creative and congratulations to all the nominees and the winners: Alix Hawley (so funny! I heart her!), winner of the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for her book All True Not A Lie In It, Brian Brett, winner of the Hubert Evens Nonfiction Prize, Raoul Fernandez, winner of the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, Briony Penn, winner of the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize, Annette LeBox, winner of the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize, Susan Musgrave, winner of the Bill Duthie Reader’s Choice Award and the great Allan Twigg, winner of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellent.
And a semi-final thanks to all the folks at Munro’s Books for hosting many of us as part of Authors for Indies Day. I loves you guys.
Final-final thanks to my dear friend Anicka, who was my plus one and the Marriott Victoria, who graciously allowed us to stay in style for the night. Thanks for joining me on the adventure!
Second side note: In my defence, I hope everyone is grateful that I didn’t take up Alix Hawley’s challenge to throw heavy metal devil sign from the podium if I won. I also resisted the temptation to try a newly invented etiquette move. While we waited in the receiving line to meet her honour, I was bragging to Alix about how I did a three day meditation retreat last week (bragging being a sure sign of deep spirituality). Alix asked if perhaps I was going to greet the Lieutenant Governor with a “namaste” instead of a curtsy. We decided that a namacurtsy should be the new formal greeting move in BC. I was going to try one onstage, but was too busy mispronouncing her title and trying not to scare everyone on the stage with my powerlifting arms. You know, I think that Alix Hawley might be a bad influence. She did illicitly sit in the L.G.’s special chair, even though I told her not to. Okay. I didn’t tell her not to. I took her picture and laughed and laughed because it was all such fun.
The photo below shows Alix Hawley’s true nature.
Thanks again to everyone involved. Being nominated for the award was tremendously exciting and actually winning means a great deal to me.