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The British Book Awards
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I received some great news from across the pond today. Marley & Me has been nominated in the biography category for The British Book Award.
The award is similar to The Quill Book Award here in America, in that both are popular votes with readers choosing their favorite books via online voting. Back in October, Marley & Me won Quills in both the biography/memoir and audio book categories. (Thanks, everyone, for all the votes!)
Now, my book will go head to head with three other finalists, including the runaway bestseller, "The Sound of Laughter" by the British comedian Peter Kay.
To read more about the awards and to vote for your favorite books, please go to: http://www.britishbookawards.co.uk/
To vote: Click the vote tab over on the left side of the page. Voting is open through March 26.
Or to go straight to the short list at:
http://www.britishbookawards.co.uk/pnbb_shortlist_index.asp?
Whatever happens, Jenny and I will be there to attend the March 28 awards ceremony. My wonderful UK publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, is bringing me over, and we've tagged on a couple extra nights to take in some of the sights -- and a few pints -- around London. Wish me luck in not creating any international incidents.
Here's an excerpt from the story that ran today in The Independent:
The Independent (London)
March 8, 2007 Thursday
Fourth Edition
Kay and Gervais shortlisted for British book award
BYLINE: Paul Kelbie
They are best known for their comic performances, but yesterday two of Britain's best-loved comedians, Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay, were shortlisted for the British Book Awards.
Kay is pitted against a diverse bunch of writers in the best book category, including the scientist Professor Richard Dawkins and Victoria Hislop, a first-time novelist. Gervais has been nominated for best children's book for Flanimals, set in a weird world of imaginary creatures.
The Galaxy British Book Awards - also known as the Nibbies owing to the pen nib design of the awards - bring together established authors, celebrity writers and new talent whose work is voted on by ordinary readers.
Kay, who achieved fame with the Channel 4 series Phoenix Nights, is in the running to win biography of the year, as well as book of the year. The Sound of Laughter, which charts Kay's rise from Bolton's stand-up comedy scene to television stardom, was one of the bestselling titles of 2006, shifting a record-breaking 600,000 copies in its first two months on sale.
Almost one million have now been sold- making it the UK's best-selling celebrity autobiography of all time.
The other contenders for book of the year are The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden, which appeals as much to middle-aged men as to children, Dawkins' anti-religious polemic The God Delusion and The Island by Victoria Hislop, a family drama set in Crete, which has already sold more than 650,000 copies. Hislop is also a strong contender for the newcomer of the year award.
In the best biography category, Kay faces stiff competition from Humble Pie, the tale of Gordon Ramsay's rise to culinary fame and the surprise hit Marley and Me, the memoirs of a labrador puppy. "I am usually competing against other chefs," Ramsay observed in expletive-punctuated fashion. "This is the first time I am up for an award against a dog! May the best man or beast win!"
The awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on 28 March will be hosted by the television presenters Richard Made-ley and Judy Finnigan, who oversee one of the most coveted awards - Richard & Judy's best read of the year, based on their television bookclub.
posted by John Grogan at 1:55 PM
 
14 Comments:
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Best of Luck, Mr Grogan!
I recently finished your book and I found Marley's story adorable.
Loving dogs and cats, I have the unfortunate luck of living in a rented house where I am not allowed any pet. I utterly miss my German Sheppard that lives at my parent's house - its name is "Oso" ("bear" in spanish). The most adorable giant ever.
Again, all the best!
Erika - a mexican in Ireland.
Hi John !!! Good Luck and enjoy London a litle bit !!! Ok ??? Rafael Mordente - Brazil.
I just finished your book and absolutely loved it. I had my own version of Marley and her name was Phantom.
Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you the best of luck.
Hello John, I call Fernando I live in Brazil and first it would like to forgive me for my English who is not very good .e is using a text translator! I finished to read its book day 13/03/2007 to the 2:56 of the morning today…. Me identiquei very with that moment its of farewell with its dog Marley, at the moment that it was in the stretcher and you started to talk with it on the stretcher… remembered to Me finishes it very moment who I lived with my alive father to my side in eats in day 20 of September of 2006, was the first one that I read whole number therefore was the only one that corresponded me ..... Congratulations for the book and would like to know when will come to Brazil to make a dedication in mine book? I hug
My e-mail is tevezcorinthiano@hotmail.com
I finished your book on the train on my way home last night and cried like a baby all the way home. My fella who has also read the book told me to warn him when I was getting to the end so that he could warn me a bit.
I truly hope that you win the award. I like Peter Kay loads, he is very funny and incredibly popular over here, but I really think your book is something else.
I hope that you enjoy London. It's great here at the moment as Spring has definitely sprung. If you need a friendly tour guide let me know! If you dont have time to do anything else have a trip on the London Eye, you'll get great views of the city on there.
Enjoy your trip, please post and let us know what you think of the city.
Many kind regards and thanks for a truly heart melting book.
Kim
Sorry one other thing - I'd love for you to make some kind of appearance over here too, I hope that you'll be doing some readings whilst you are here!
I finished the book this morning !!! great book !!! I´m crying like a baby, i had dogs and i lived the same histories. Marley was a great and lovely dog !!!
Kisses from Brasil
Laila
I read 'Marley & me' and now this is my favourite book. I cried an hour.. But book is very funny ;) I wish you the best of luck.
Olka - Poland.
Thank you for the most wonderful book - and more importantly the insight into what makes life important. I wish you the best of luck for the upcoming awards, when you are in London, you should try out the pub "The three Greyhounds" - it should be fitting. I just wanted to let you know that I found your family's story to be so uplifting, I cried uncontrollably, but it was worth it for all the joy. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first pup, I know it will be an experience filled with enjoyment, and a few tears, but if he is anything like Marley, it will be worth it all the way.
Cheers to you and your family,
Nicole from Toronto
Hello John.
I loved so much your book, I want to read again, all the time.
It's really, really good.
I had a lot of fun!
Good luck.
Livia - Brazil.
livisil@hotmail.com
If it's posible.
Thanks.
Kisses.
Hi... I am Brazilian and today I finished to read your book "Marley and me"... I loved... Kisses
My blog is http://endless.freehostia.com/weblog/
Hi John,
All the best for the London event. I am sure you will get it.
Regards,
Vishwas -- India
John:
Here's a shout out from a fellow Erie Dr. dweller and Brother Rice student ('84). I too hung w/ the "Cullens" from David on down. Your depiction of their father was spot on; I went to his funeral at Refuge back in 2005 or so, perhaps you did as well.
Your memoir was personally moving to me, having met your parents on at least one occasion; having seen your father and his clan on dozens of occasions, in and around the "outlot"; probably meeting you somewhere along the way.
We moved into the old Simipson home in 1974, across the street and five houses down from you. I can remember Shaun hanging w/ us in the water from time to time; he'd remember me.
My own Dad, now 72, was one of those "doctors" you refer to in your fine book. My Catholic Mother has quite a bit of Ruthie in her, and bought each of us five kids you memoir.
I will be forever grateful to my parents for growing-up on the shores of Cass Lake. Despite having their faith tested in a few profound ways, they have maintained strong Catholic beliefs. Like you, I questioned and fell away. Unlike you, I'm not in the process of ..."finding my way back yet..."
Great job, despite what Troy Patterson thinks; we should sick Tommie on him...