Justine Larbalestier

reading, writing, eating, drinking, sport

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Wow

I appear to have won an Andre Norton Award for the first book in the Magic or Madness trilogy. Someone pinch me!

This is super amazing because:

  • The books on the shortlist with Magic or Madness are absolutely fantastic.

  • It means I’m in the very tiny club of Norton Award winners with the brilliant Holly Black who won the inaugural award last year for Valiant.

  • I’ve won an award named in honour of one of the most important writers of young adult fantasy books. How cool is that?

  • Now when I’m described as an award-winning author it’s true!

Here’s the speech that Eloise Flood who published and edited the trilogy (as well as Scott’s Peeps and Maureen’s Devilish, which were also up for the award) delivered on my behalf at the ceremony:

Wow. Really. Wow.

This is such an honour. I’m a huge fan of genre YA and in particular of every book on this year and last year’s Norton shortlist. I’m not kidding. These are some of the best books out there: genre or not, YA or not. I can’t believe I’m on this list. And I REALLY can’t believe I won. You guys did read the other books on the list, didn’t you?

I’m bummed that I can’t be here but thrilled that Eloise Flood, who discovered me, nurtured me, and made me as a YA author is accepting on my behalf. Thank you for everything, Eloise! And thank you Liesa Abrams, Andy Ball, Margaret Wright, Kristen Pettit and the whole Razorbill team. You’re all awesome.

Thanks to everyone who nominated and voted for this award. Genre YA1 is in the midst of a Golden Age. The books are better than ever before. More kids and teens are reading than ever before. And these readers are the future of our genre and the future of literature.

This is a truly amazing time. I’m so proud to be part of it. I bet Andre Norton would be thrilled as well to see what she has wrought.

  1. Actually I think all of YA is in the midst of a Golden Age, not just genre. This has been an amazing week. I’m bouncing! [↩]

Posted by Justine at 2:20, 13 May 2007 under Magic or Madness trilogy, Scott's books, Vainglory, Young Adult literature | 68 Comments »

Comments

  1. lili Says:

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    congratulations!

    utterly, utterly deserved.

    !!

    May 13th, 2007 at 2:34 am

  2. Naomi Novik Says:

    yay! congrats! \o/

    May 13th, 2007 at 2:34 am

  3. Malcolm Tredinnick Says:

    Congratulations, Justine. :-)

    May 13th, 2007 at 2:47 am

  4. Gillian Says:

    Mazel tov!!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 3:10 am

  5. Tole Says:

    It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person :)

    The others rock too of cource, but you are the nicest.

    May 13th, 2007 at 4:31 am

  6. Jason Erik Lundberg Says:

    Yay yay yay! I’m so happy for you, Justine. Rawk!

    May 13th, 2007 at 4:49 am

  7. chance Says:

    Congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 5:07 am

  8. chrisbarnes Says:

    W00t! Congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 5:10 am

  9. Lawrence Schimel Says:

    Mazel tov!

    Woo hoo!

    May 13th, 2007 at 5:49 am

  10. orangedragonfly Says:

    justine…that’s fabby!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 5:53 am

  11. jennifer, aka literaticat Says:

    OMG! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

    that will be in lowercase, but I promise you, it’s ALL CAPS BABY!

    May 13th, 2007 at 6:52 am

  12. 12. Justine Says:

    Thank you so much everyone. I’m still bouncing. I may never stop!

    Jennifer: I fixed your caps for you. (And, no, I don’t say that to all the girls.)

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:10 am

  13. elizabeth bear Says:

    Wooooooooooooooooooooo!

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:14 am

  14. Maggie Says:

    Congratulations, Justine!!!!!!!!!!! :D

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:25 am

  15. John Scalzi Says:

    Rock!

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:46 am

  16. Jo Says:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

    That is so cool.

    :-)

    Jo

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:04 am

  17. Eric Luper Says:

    Congratulations. It must be a wonderful feel ing to see something you worked so hard on receive such high recognition!

    Go have an appletini or something!

    Yay you!
    Eric

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:06 am

  18. Micole Says:

    Congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:39 am

  19. jenny davidson Says:

    yes, huge congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:43 am

  20. Sherwood Smith Says:

    It was the only one of this year’s awards that made me smile. smile, heck, to yell HUZZAH!

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:46 am

  21. kate Says:

    eek! congratulations, justine! that rocks. ^_^

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:54 am

  22. Barry Says:

    WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!

    I’d say I told you so, but that would be obnoxious. ;^)

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:57 am

  23. PixelFish Says:

    Congratulations! I’m glad you won it.

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:55 am

  24. Dess Says:

    wow justine! rock! you totally deserve it. the magic or madness trilogy is wicked! (well the first two. i tried to get the third yesterday at borders but they didnt have it. :( ill have to wait till they get it.) *does congratulatory happy dance* (>^^)>

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:55 am

  25. Dess Says:

    aw the rest of my dancing things didnt show up. oh well. you can pretend.

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:55 am

  26. Rebecca Says:

    hurray!!!! that’s awesome. :D morm rocks! you rock! congrats!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 10:25 am

  27. Doselle Young Says:

    That’s the best news I’ve heard all morning! Congratulations and salutations. There will be celebratory alcohol on me the next time I see you–and yes! We’ll make sure its a really good bottle, obviously. Only the best for you, award-winner!

    Ha ha ha.

    You deserve it, you know. So, tell the little voice in the back of your brain to shush!

    FANTASTIC! That’s what you are.

    D

    May 13th, 2007 at 10:47 am

  28. J Says:

    Congratulations! I’ve read the first two books, and they absolutely rock! I will get the third one very soon…

    J

    May 13th, 2007 at 11:17 am

  29. A homeschool dad Says:

    Congratulations on receiving the Andre Norton Award! This is a wonderful trilogy – it was a joy to read. I bought these books after reading of them on boingboing.net. Intend to give them to a friend’s daughter, but when they attived I had to read first. One cannot wait between books – the stories are so compelling.
    Thank you – from a loyal fan.

    May 13th, 2007 at 11:34 am

  30. Janni Says:

    Congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 11:35 am

  31. CAAF Says:

    Hurrah & congratulations!!!! What wonderful and happy news!

    May 13th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  32. Diana Tixier Herald Says:

    Congratulations! You deserve it. And I absolutely agree that the other finalists were also stellar. This is the award I was most watching this year and I am so excited that you won. I’m doing a program on YA SFF on Friday at the Utah Library Association so it will be cool I can talk about it there.

    May 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

  33. Carol Says:

    Superb and well deserved. I was so glad when the award was created, and am thrilled that it’s going to such excellent work. Happy happy happiness.

    May 13th, 2007 at 12:35 pm

  34. Sarah Beth Durst Says:

    Congratulations, Justine!!! Wonderful news! YAY!

    May 13th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

  35. Dan Goodman Says:

    Congratulations!

    May 13th, 2007 at 12:50 pm

  36. Rachel Brown Says:

    Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm

  37. Jo Whittemore Says:

    Fantabulous! Congratulations to you! Now go do something special to celebrate yourself (you can’t go wrong with chocolate and new shoes!)

    May 13th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

  38. Ally Says:

    YYYYAAAAAAAYYYYY! go justine! and welcome back to the u.s.!

    May 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pm

  39. coe booth Says:

    OMG! OMG!!!

    Congratulations, Justine!!! I’m sooo excited for you!

    This is so well deserved! YAY!!!
    :-)

    May 13th, 2007 at 1:36 pm

  40. Will Says:

    Congrats Jerstein! I just finished the 3rd book and I deem it worthy.

    May 13th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

  41. Jay Asher Says:

    Your excitement really shines through. And you should be excited! That is absolutely wonderful.

    Woo-hoo!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pm

  42. Dave Schwartz Says:

    Congratulations, Doc!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 4:07 pm

  43. Nicky Says:

    I’m going with Congratulations, Mazel Tov & because I can Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi (cause no one else seems to have done it yet).

    Time to do the school run – well done & deserved Justine.

    In the words of Xander…. Woo & might I add a big HOO!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 6:14 pm

  44. Candy Says:

    congratulations! i’ve just this minute finished reading ‘Magic Lessons’ and about to pick up the third of the trilogy. Brilliant, breathtaking, wonderful read. You deserve it.

    May 13th, 2007 at 6:16 pm

  45. Delia Says:

    We’re so happy for you, Justine. And what a graceful and utterly Justinean speech! Eloise did a great job of reading it for you, but it would have been been even better to have you reading it for yourself. You were missed.

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pm

  46. Chris McLaren Says:

    Congratulations!

    Well-deserved.

    Now you just need to figure out a way to delicately (but constantly) remind your husband that _you_ are the Norton Award winner. Heh. Even if there’s no career competition in the marriage, there’s still got to be a rich vein of comedy to mine there.

    May 13th, 2007 at 7:51 pm

  47. little willow Says:

    Congratulations, Justine! :)

    May 13th, 2007 at 8:38 pm

  48. Mary S. Says:

    oh, justine, that is wonderful!! congratulations, over and over and over.

    YAY JUSTINE!!!!!

    now, off i go to tell everybody i know and anyone else who’ll listen all about this FANTASTIC AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR and her truly incredible books… again.

    and i even made sure to get the big, excited caps in all the appropriate places, just for you. :)

    ~mary

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

  49. Mary S. Says:

    oops. well I tried. just know that “yay justine” and “fantastic award-winning author” were in big scream/yell excited caps.

    ~mary

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:10 pm

  50. Kathryne Says:

    hip hip
    hooray!

    hip hip
    hooray!

    hip hip
    hooray!

    May 13th, 2007 at 9:26 pm

  51. Dawn Says:

    WOW!!! CONGRATS, JUSTINE!!!!

    May 13th, 2007 at 11:16 pm

  52. Maryrose Wood Says:

    yaHOOOOOOOO!!!!! congrats, Justine, this is supremely fantastic news!!!!

    xoxo
    m

    May 14th, 2007 at 12:38 am

  53. cecil Says:

    yay, Justine! Congrats! Woo hoo! Dance! Dance! Joy! Joy!

    So well deserved!

    xoxooxoxoxoxoxooxo

    May 14th, 2007 at 1:21 am

  54. juliet marillier Says:

    That’s wonderful recognition, Justine! Beats the Aurealis hollow, I reckon. Congratulations!

    May 14th, 2007 at 5:54 am

  55. hipwritermama Says:

    your trilogy is awesome–i read all three books in one week. congratulations!

    May 14th, 2007 at 9:50 am

  56. Steve Buchheit Says:

    Congrats! And I’ll echo all the above with the “well deserved.”

    May 14th, 2007 at 10:07 am

  57. Chris S. Says:

    Congratulations! And very well deserved.

    May 14th, 2007 at 10:50 am

  58. oyceter Says:

    YAY! *\o/*

    Go you!!

    May 14th, 2007 at 4:09 pm

  59. Emmaco Says:

    Belated congrats! It’s fantastic your book won – and not just because you’re Australian, either :)

    May 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pm

  60. claire Says:

    wow, congrats!

    May 14th, 2007 at 10:52 pm

  61. amy fiske Says:

    go you! i loved the whole trilogy and i’ve been recommending it to everyone i know. now i can add award-winner to the sales pitch. rock on, sistah!

    May 15th, 2007 at 10:58 am

  62. Penni Says:

    Oh my god, I just heard. Hooray! Congratulations.

    May 16th, 2007 at 6:03 pm

  63. Benjamin Rosenbaum Says:

    w00t! Congratulations!

    May 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am

  64. Britanne Says:

    Congratulations! I’m not too surprised though. I just read the entire trilogy for the first time recently and each one of them deserves an award. Each one was so believable…I never laughed and said “yeah right”. I just wish there were more…

    May 17th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

  65. Jedi Ninja Says:

    Congragulations. :)

    May 20th, 2007 at 10:01 am

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. [...] …on winning the second annual Norton Award for best young adult SF or fantasy novel! I’ve been holding off ...

    Pingback from Chrononautic Log 改 » Blog Archive » Congratulations Justine! on 13 May, 2007 at 2:57 am

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