Sunday 17 October 2010

Anthony Award - Yipppeee!!!!


rain, cool, temps 65

The most beautiful day - THE BRUTAL TELLING has won the Anthony Award for Best Crime Novel in the United States!!!!

I was so totally unprepared that when my name was announced I just leapt up and kissed Michael - and didn't want to let him go because I knew it would mean going onto the podium and accepting...and I was literally speechless. Now, of course, I can think of all sorts of touching, wise, sparkling, clever things to say. And all the people I should have thanked!!!

But all I remember was thanking the readers - who have found the series - an unlikely success at best, given it's set in a tiny village in a little known province in a small (politically) country. And yet, there I was, standing in front of a thousand people, accepting the award. I was - and am - so deeply grateful.

And happy!!!!

I know I also remembered to thank Michael - and then was walking off the stage, still in a daze, but remembered (too late) that I needed to thank Hope Dellon and everyone at Minotaur Books - for making them better than I ever could. so I say it here.

Thank you!

Yay!!!! Especially given who else was nominated. I genuinely thought SJ Rozan would win. But I know everyone in that category deserved to win. And many who were not nominated.

After the awards brunch Michael and I hopped a cab to the hotel, then decided to walk and find lunch. Ended up at this fabulous little neighbourhood placed called the Nob Hill Cafe....Italian. There's a very bad photo of Michael, just raising his head from slurping up his pesto fettuccine.

Wonderful way to celebrate!

And thank you, for celebrating along with me. And thank you too, I know many of you voted for me. I wish you could crawl into my heart and hear the symphony. Yay... I can't seem to stop saying that!!!

Back in the room now, going to spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying.

22 comments:

Shelagh, from Michigan said...

Dear Louise,
Awesome! Wonderful! Bravo! Fantastic! I am so thrilled you won the Anthony for "Brutal Telling." So very much deserved. Enjoy the rest of your visit to San Francisco. Love your "Yippee" - I'm sure you are over the moon with happiness.
Love, Shelagh

Debbie said...

Congratulations Louise. You certainly deserve it.

What must Gamache think about you winning all your awards. Pretty proud to be the title character.

whalewatcher said...

Congratulations Louise!
Can't wait to read Bury Your Dead! I have all the others practically memorized. ; -)
I will email separately to get back on the list for the newsletter. Thanks.
Have a wonderful trip!
Kathy

John said...

Congratulations, Louise! It is a most deserved reward! You're the best!

John.

Bev Stephans said...

Congratulations! May this be the first of many Anthony awards!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

I "think" this is the only spot left from which I haven't sent you a hug! So, here 'tis! And one for Michael (this picture is a hoot!).

Linda said...

Congratulations again, Louise! Of course you won, the book is awesome! I would have said it was the best in the series, but now I'm immersed in Bury your dead, and OMG!!! You are amazing! Bask in the glow!

Mason Canyon said...

Congratulations and well done.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Sue Mom of Two said...

HOORAY! For the best series EVER! From one of the best authors EVER!

Brenda Buchanan said...

Such terrific news! It is a well-deserved honor. Congratulations!

Best,

Brenda B. in Maine

lil Gluckstern said...

Congratulations, and yay, and hurrah and all those words. Well deserved, and it couldn't happen to a better writer, and nicer person.

Eve Barbeau said...

I have just discovered your books and I think the award for A Brutal Telling is well deserved. Congratulations.

Donna K said...

Yippee!! I just finished Bury Your Dead about an hour ago and I was so impressed with the interesting plots and development and all the possible suspects! I knew you had surpassed ....something!
(I lived in San Francisco and Sausalito for 4 yrs....fun area and now you can enjoy it more!

Again Congratulations

Donna K

Diane said...

Way to go - best crime novel in U.S. - mind blowing!! and so is your work. Speechless certainly appropriate.

Congrats!!!

Lesa said...

Congratulations, again, Louise! One more reason to toast you, and your readers.

And, what a nice place for you and Michael to celebrate - the Mark Hopkins. You certainly deserve it. Enjoy the time in a beautiful city with the man you love.

Marjorie said...

I had to leave Bouchercon very early on Sunday to make my flight back to the East Coast, but oh how I wish I had been there to see Louise receiving her Anthony Award. I would have been cheering to the rafters. I was certainly there in spirit.

I hope that if any of you who haven't yet had the opportunity, some day you will get to meet Louise in person. The kindness and compassion in her eyes is not done justice in photos. Oh, and the lovely Michael. His eyes have a sort of sly twinkle and are so filled with his love for his wife that it is a thrill to just be so close by. How lucky I was to see them together in person. And the little drinks gathering (which I had posted about here so that all attendees to B'con who were Louise fans would know about in advance) was terrific thanks to Louise's attention to all who attended and Michael's generosity with the drinks! And the panel with Louise, Deborah Crombie and Rhys Bowen was all that I could have hoped for. What a week!

--Marjorie from CT

Wilma D said...

Dear Louise: Feel like I have a new best friend that has just made a richly deserved award. Met you last year at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale after discovering your books earlier. Was disappointed we had not left our home in Washington State to head to our winter home in Arizona before you arrived to talk about The Brutal Telling. However, I ordered one that hopefully you signed for me.
Congratulations for a wonderful honor to a wonderful author.

bgpringle said...

What a wonderful and well deserved honour!! Many congratulations Louise. I'm right in the middle of Bury Your Dead. I had thought that The Brutal Telling was your best, but am changing that to Bury Your Dead. With every book you just get better and better!!
Yippee!!
Bev Pringle

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Louise. I have read so many books and can say that I am absolutely crazy about your series. I now fully understand the Harry Potter craze as I sip tea from my 3 pines mug! Vive Gamache!

Louise Penny Author said...

Ha - love your comments - had me alternately laughing, smiling, feeling deeply happy and grateful - and even weepy. Thank you for being so supportive. Yay!

Isabelle Lafleche said...

Congratulations Louise, you are truly an inspiration to all writers! Have fun in Quebec City!

Unknown said...

I am so happy for you--still on hold for the book from the library but I don't mind waiting! When are you coming to the Portland, OR area so i can get copies of all the books and have them signed by my favorite mystery writer??