Eventful

We got back last night from Boston, where the PEN/Hemingway awards event was held at the JFK library.  It was a fascinating experience.  After working on Icebergs so long in the dark, and imbuing it with all my fears and expectations as my first published book, it was strange and exhilarating to see it honored.  I'd say I felt like someone else wrote it, but I'm still too close to the exhaustion and panic that accompanied its writing for that to be true.

It was also a busy weekend, and with my parents in town too we didn't have much of a chance to see the city, and no time at all to visit with any of the friends who live in the area.  I had to miss seeing Jane of Jane's Calamity and the twins.  A couple of good friends did make it to the ceremony on Sunday, however, including Jennifer Haigh and Bret Anthony Johnston.  It was great to have a couple of friendly faces in an audience of 400-some people, because I was shaking so hard as I stood on stage I was afraid everyone could see.  Thank God I didn't have to read or make a speech.  That was left to Ben Fountain, this year's winner, who read a bit from Brief Encounters with Che Guevara.  I was impressed by the thoughtfulness and humor of the piece he read and am looking forward to reading the whole book. 

The night before the awards, we had a chance to meet two of this year's judges, Sue Miller and Elizabeth Berg, who were gracious and funny, and we had a terrific dinner with them in the Beacon Hill area.   Most importantly, we made a fabulous new friend in the other finalist for this year, Yvette Christianse, who was as lovely and personable as anyone I've ever met, the kind of woman you feel immediately that you will know for the rest of your life.  I strongly urge you all to run out and buy her lyrical and powerful first novel, Unconfessed, the story of a slave woman in South Africa in the nineteenth century.  Go.  Go right now and get it.

Comments

[Motel Manager]

I'm so excited to hear the update! I can't wait to hear more about it.

[MotherPie]

Congratulations on being named a finalist for these prestigious awards.

Loved your line earlier on life where your parents are living in Myrtle Beach: "ou can sin and get redeemed AND buy a hermit crab all on the same street corner."

[Churlita]

I'm so happy for you. I'm glad it went well and that you met some great people. It sounds like the perfect weekend.

I better go so I can add some books to my reading list.

[TLB]

Thanks ladies. MotherPie, that line was Brando's favorite too.

[Grendel]

Wish we could've been there. Big congrats aimed at you from across the water.