Tayari's Blog: It's a Honor Just To Be Nominated
Posted by TayariJones on November 3, 2006 10:46 AM
Filed under
The Writing Life
Well, tonight is the Hurston/Wright Awards at the DC Press Club. The Untelling is nominated in the category of fiction. I must confess that I am not really looking forward to it.
Three years ago, Leaving Atlanta was nominated in the category of debut fiction. I won the award, which was quite a thrill, but the experience of sitting around waiting for the verdict was something that is probably illegal under the Geneva Conventions. It was like a little slice of high school.
After my name was announced, I couldn't exactly run a victory lap in my sliver ball gown since all around the table were the fine writers who had not won!
So tonight, it's deja vu all over again. I've got a dress, and you know I've got the shoes. (And yes, I'll take pictures of the event.)
I want to win one of those awards that you don't know is coming. The kind where you are sitting at home in your footie-pajamas and get a magic phone call out of the blue. I can just see myself, "Hello... yes, this is she..." After that I'd be jumping up and down and blubbering with joy.
Well, y'all, wish me luck.
UPDATE: Kayne West has been kind enough to provide us with a little what NOT to do lesson.
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There are 5 comments on "It's a Honor Just To Be Nominated". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by KLB ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Congratulations on your nomination! You certainly deserve it.
Karen
November 3, 2006 12:06 PM
Comment #2, by Ladylee
Yeah, a while ago I saw that The Untelling had been nominated, and was wondering why you hadn't mentioned it! Congratulations on the nomination! I do hope you win!
This time, run that victory lap, girl! :)
November 3, 2006 12:54 PM
Comment #3, by Judy
Okay, saw the dress, but I see I'll just have to wait to see da shoes. Nice, quiet understated dress. I anxiously await the pictures. And you know, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how yadda, yadda. I agree with you that it's great to be nominated -- and to have won the first time out. I wonder whether they call you at home for the Pulitzer. Ummmmmm.
November 3, 2006 01:17 PM
Comment #4, by j
Glittering indeed!
She did not mention the shoes [which i am sure you will, as soon as you can get the pics loaded] but certainly got the 'glittery'-- that is, magnificently illumined and illuminating-- character of T [not to mention the actual "glitter"]. Congratulations for the nomination. i look forward to getting the calls from you, after you get the calls announcing that you've won those type of prizes one receives before deciding what dress to wear [and that black number was a very nice one!]i sometimes jump up and down and shout when i see your books in the bookstore and in the lie-berry! it is all amazing and richly deserved.
J
From Washington Post reporter, DeNeen L. Brown:
"You stop finalist Jones, who is glittering in her beauty. She says quickly: "There is a multiplicity of message. We are black writers, but we express our individual stories. It's messier now. You never know what black writing looks like now. When you open a black book, you never know what you might get."
November 4, 2006 06:47 AM
Comment #5, by Jackie
I am waiting on the results and the pics!
As for Kanye, I thought it was brave of him to say what many of us were thinking regarding Katrina. Now I am beginning to wonder if the man has a psychological problem that is becoming progressively more pronounced over time. I want to like him, I certainly respect his talent, yet he is sounding more like either an ass or mental patient. Maybe he should spend more time around "regular" people to regain is bearings.
November 4, 2006 08:32 AM