Earlier this month, we shared some lovely feedback from authors happy to see their books on the Cybils shortlists. Here is some additional author joy:
- Bonny Becker (A Visitor for Bear) emailed: "HOORAY!! HOORAY!! HOORAY!! What an honor. All the nominees in fiction picture books are wonderful. Thanks to all the reviewers–not an easy job."
- Lenore Look (Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things) emailed: "WOOOOOHOO!!! I was SO thrilled to find my little Alvin among the finalists for your fantastic award. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw it! And like Alvin, I was stunned speechless. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for loving Alvin, and for giving him this FABULOUS start!"
- Christine Fletcher (Ten Cents A Dance) wrote: "When I say that just being named a finalist is an honor, believe me, I'm not being squidgy. I've read some of these books and been blown away by them. To be included on the same list is…well, it's freakin' unbelievably fabulous, is what it is. Unreal in the best possible way."
- D.M. Cornish (Lamplighter: Monster-Blood Tattoo, Book 2) wrote: "A true and dare I admit astonishing honour – (watch for my over-use of this word in Book 3… 🙁 – to be included amongst such lights. Congrats to us all, to the judges for hour upon hour of reading to get to this list, to anyone who dares attempt to write a book – shortlisted, awarded or otherwise – and to you most excellent folk who read!"
I also wanted to share a quote from one more author. Anna Smudge: Professional Shrink was a Cybils nominee in Middle Grade Fiction this year (though not a shortlist title). Anna Smudge author MAC was recently interviewed by Cybils panelist Shelf Elf (Kerry Millar). MAC closed her interview with this: "I want to take a second to give my sincere gratitude to everyone in the kidlitosphere. Seeing a community spring up to promote literacy fueled solely by these bloggers’ passion is very special. YOU are now the center of children’s literature- not the publishers, the authors, or the trade magazines. You gals and guys are a real inspiration."
If you ask me, all of these quotes are an inspiration. We welcome your feedback, too.
— Jen Robinson, Literacy Evangelist