You’re up for the Campbell, again. (Congratulations, by the way.) What can you tell our readers about the Campbell award? What does the field look like? (Um, are you allowed to discuss this?) What are the mechanics of the award—how it’s given, who decides it? Does it pay a million dollars, like the Nobel?
The Campbell pays only in prestige. You don’t even get a cool little statue, like you do with the Hugo (the big award that is presented in the same ceremony as the Campbell.) You just get a plaque and, in recent years, a tiara. (Don’t ask.)
The Campbell is the “rookie of the year” award for science fiction and fantasy. A person is eligible their first two years after they publish, and I was lucky enough to get nominated both years of my eligibility. It’s voted on by fans who attend the World Science Fiction convention that year. (This year it’s in Japan.)
The field looks. . .well, rough. To be honest, I don’t have a shot at this one. Naomi Novik, a nice lady who got a HUGE publishing deal and released three books in the same year, hit the scene last year. She’s nominated for the Hugo for best novel, Peter Jackson bought the movie rights to her books, and she’s had amazing exposure. There’s really no question who’s going to win. (Even if she weren’t there, there are three of us that I would say are neck-and-neck for the award.)
It sounds like a cliché, but it’s an honor to be nominated. Honestly. Plus, Naomi’s books are good. (She got Steven King, Ann McCaffery, and Terry Brooks all to give her cover blurbs. Talk about a marketing behemoth!) I have no problem losing gracefully to her.
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