A Very Good Day Indeed...

*Apologies for the lack of graphics and hyperlinks in this one: I'm working on a strange computer with reticent internet, while in a horribly sleep-deprived state....*

So...

It's been a good day today. Now I can finally talk about it, too.

Why so good?

Well, today was the announcement of the CBCA Book of the Year Award, and I'm thrilled that Into White Silence picked up an honour book award in the Older Reader's category. The winner was my mate Shaun Tan, for his very funny and thought-provoking Tales from Outer Suburbia. A few years ago, Shaun was generous enough to launch one of my other books; Fireshadow and I remember in his launch speech he joked that perhaps he and I could become one another's nemises (nemisi? Neminesses?) I guess he was more serious about this than I gave him credit for :)

But in all honesty I'm thrilled for Shaun - and really proud and honoured to have my book deemed good enough to be among the action, too. The other honour book was Jackie French's beautiful A Rose for the ANZAC Boys - one of the best YA novels I've read this year, and one which I'd really hoped to see get up there, so that's another thrill too.

The rest of the Older Reader's shortlist was also really strong and, of course, the thing with awards is that for every book lucky enough to make the shortlist, there are lots of other equally fantastic reads that have to miss out.

If this seems a little disjointed, then please forgive me. In addition to being a really good day, it's also been a *really* long one. My poor little boy has a tooth coming through at the moment, so last night involved me getting about two hours sleep, before having to get up at 4.45am to get my plane up to the awards ceremony in Queensland. I'm now sitting in the Virgin Blue lounge at Brisbane airport, waiting for my 7.30 flight home. Needless to say, I'm feeling a little zombified.

The ceremony was lovely, though. Held in the unusual surrounds of the Seal performance enclosure at Seaworld. A lot of my writing cronies were there including Matt Ottley, Frane Lesac and Mark Greenwood, Shaun (of course), Catherine Bateson, James Moloney and lots of others.

The other good news is that this morning, Into White Silence also made the shortlist for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, which are announced in a couple of weeks. Coming on top of the great news yesterday about the Inky's, I'm feeling pretty damn good right at the moment.

Anyway, I'm going to go and have a bite to eat, do some reading for the Melbourne Writers Festival next week, and try to stay awake long enough to get to my flight.

Congrats again to all the shortlisted authors in both the CBCA and the QLD prems. I'm in very good company...