Slackjawed with Amazement
Last Thursday, Gavin Grant from Small Beer Press (the publisher of my collection, Mothers & Other Monsters) called me and said, "Can you be in New York in January?"
I hesitated. I mean, I love New York, but it's expensive, and frankly, January is not the best time to be there.
"Say yes," Gavin said.
"Yes," I said.
That's how I learned that I was nominated for the Story Prize. I wasn't allowed to tall anyone until the official announcement today. And I've spent the last days thinking that I was mistaken and it would turn out to not to be true. But it appears it is.
"Now in its second year, The Story Prize, an annual award for books of short fiction, honors three outstanding works chosen from among a bumper crop of exceptional collections published in 2005. The three finalists are: The Summer He Didn't Die by Jim Harrison, Mothers & Other Monsters by Maureen F. McHugh, and The Hill Road by Patrick O'Keeffe."
I still don't believe it.
Here's the website, not yet updated with the nominees.
I hesitated. I mean, I love New York, but it's expensive, and frankly, January is not the best time to be there.
"Say yes," Gavin said.
"Yes," I said.
That's how I learned that I was nominated for the Story Prize. I wasn't allowed to tall anyone until the official announcement today. And I've spent the last days thinking that I was mistaken and it would turn out to not to be true. But it appears it is.
"Now in its second year, The Story Prize, an annual award for books of short fiction, honors three outstanding works chosen from among a bumper crop of exceptional collections published in 2005. The three finalists are: The Summer He Didn't Die by Jim Harrison, Mothers & Other Monsters by Maureen F. McHugh, and The Hill Road by Patrick O'Keeffe."
I still don't believe it.
Here's the website, not yet updated with the nominees.
posted by Maureen McHugh at 10:15 PM
19 Comments:
Yaaaayyyy!! Congratulations! (Actually I knew about it for the past few days, but couldn't say anything until today, same as Gwenda blogging.) We're so happy for you!
Wahoo! That's amazing; and so well-deserved! I hope you win!
Yaayyy!
I already brag that Maureen was my teacher at Viable Paradise. But now, more.
Congratulations, Maureen!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Maureen is among some pretty august company. O'Keeffe I do not know, but Jim Harrison is one of my favorite living writers, a novelist of much greater humor, sensitivity, and stylistic resource than his macho reputation would suggest.
I am faintly surprised that this trio of judges had the wit to make such good choices. Andrea Barrett is celebrated for her historical novellas -- it's nice that someone has learned how to make that game pay -- but she does them badly, with her good characters acting like they live in the present day and her bad guys acting like they live in the era the story is set. James Wood is a sharp enough guy, but a grumpy, faintly reactionary critic (just what you would expect for the New Republic). Well, good for them.
I will see if I can make it to town that day.
Maureen, that's wonderful! I saw the notice in the New York Times. Congratulations!
Maureen,
I am so happy for you! Just the other night, my husband came across your book and remarked on what a great title it has. Congratulations a thousand times a thousand! (And then again.)
Mary Rickert
Woot!
Hot damn. I mean, really. Hot double damn.
Was that a double hot damn with an extra shot of espresso, Mad? They're the best kind.
Kick ass and big conga rats, Maureen! That's such fantastic news!
I knew this book was going somewhere. Here is a review I did for angle magazine:
Review of Mothers and other Monsters
I've been thinking a lot lately about how very good writers don't necessarily get good breaks, and how many times in my career I HAVE gotten a good break.
I'm feeling really lucky.
Whee! Congratulations!
Outstanding news. Richly deserved. Congratulations!
Brett Cox
Is that the sound of doors opening that I hear? Way to go!
D
Fantastic!
Congrats, Maureen! Can I say, "I knew her when ..." now?
Dave Borcherding
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