Marley and Me
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Thank you, readers! Marley wins two Quill Awards
Well, everyone, you did it. The votes have been counted for the 2006 Quill Book Awards -- and Marley & Me won in both categories in which it was nominated. The winners were announced at a black-tie banquet held in New York at the Museum of Natural History. It was quite the affair with a live performance from Fantasia Barrino of American Idol fame. Presenters included
Harry Connick Jr., Lemony Snicket, Donald Trump, and CNN's Anderson Cooper, whose hand Jenny was thrilled to shake. Caroline Kennedy was on hand to receive the Platinum Quill for her work with the Kennedy Library Foundation. Winning Book of the Year was Tyler Perry’s Don't Make a Black Woman Take off Her Earrings.
The first category in which I was nominated was Audio Book, and I was so sure I had absolutely no chance of winning that I not only didn't bother to prepare an acceptance speech, I didn't even think about the possibility of one. After all, the competition included the ever-charming and loquacious Frank McCourt reading his memoir Teacher Man. How could a guy like me with a Midwestern nasal twang compete with that? When actor Judd Hirsch announced the nominees I was happily shoving food into my mouth, confident there was no danger of having to interrupt my noshing. "And the winner is...Marley & Me by John Grogan." Um, me? I was dumbfounded. I made it to the podium and did my best to ad lib an acceptance speech. Suffice it to say, I kept it very short and sweet.
Later in the evening, Marley & Me won in the Biography/Memoir category, which was a great honor considering the wonderful talent in that category: Joan Didion, Anderson Cooper, J. R. Moehringer, and Charles J. Shields. This time I had some comments prepared. I thanked the many people at my publisher Wm. Morrow, whose hard work and enthusiasm helped turn my dream into a reality. I especially wanted to thank my editor, Mauro DiPreta, who skillfully shepherded my book from the earliest manuscript stage through the latest print run. I thanked my awesome agent, Laurie Abkemeier, who spotted the potential of my story from my half-baked proposal she plucked out of a sea of unsolicited queries. Laurie believed in this book long before anyone else did, and she gets the credit for pulling the story out of me one chapter at a time. Of course, I thanked Jenny and our kids for so generously allowing me to trot them out in public to tell this story.
I saved the best for last. And that's you, the readers. If it wasn't for you, and your amazing enthusiasm, and your word-of-mouth promotion, and wonderful encouragement -- and of course your many votes for Marley during the Quills online voting period -- none of this would be a reality. So let me thank you here, as well. Thank you for validating my belief in the value of my story. Thank you for making my book a bestseller. And thank you for giving me these two Quill awards. I'll treasure them always. You guys are the greatest!
There's no rest for the wicked, nor for authors. After The Quills (and a celebratory drink with my publishing team), I flew out of New York bright and early the next morning for Bowling Green, Ohio, where I spoke to a large (650 people I was told)and spirited crowd. As with just about everywhere I go, they made me feel right at home, proving once again that readers are some of the nicest, kindest people in the land.
I arrived back home this afternoon and immediately jumped in to finish my column for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The column is about the Amish community's amazing capacity to forgive in the wake of the horrific killing spree at the Amish school not far from where I live, and I had been working on it in fits and starts around all the Quills excitement and my travel to Ohio. I got the column wrapped up and in to my editor at 5 p.m. (If you're curious, my columns are at http:go.philly.com/grogan.)And then came here to share my good news with you.
Again, thanks for all your support, your wonderful emails and letters. And, of course, your votes.
Gratefully,
John
posted by John Grogan at 3:43 PM
 
16 Comments:
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WOW! Great job!
First of all, sorry about my english... I´m brazilian! I loved, loved, loved your history! I have a labrador (THOR). He´s 2 years old and he´s so beautiful than Marley (rsss)... I cried (a lot...), smiled and LOVED your book. Congratulation. You realy wright very well!! Thank you for make me see that my dog is so important than i thinked before!!
Congratulations on your well deserved awards. I've just finished Marley and Me and can't wipe the melancholy smile off my face. Thank you for the hours of chuckles, sighs and tears. I didn't want the story to end.
Congratulations!! I too loved the book!! I have a field lab, Josie, who shares so many traits as your Marley. I had to laugh at your descriptions because it could just as easily have been Josie.
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Our household has Jake, an 8yr. old Chocolate Lab that I've always said is "pure double chocolate injected". You've given us both inspiration and validation that we aren't... well, alone in the looney tune world of Labradors. Thanks for sharing Marley with all of us!
I wanted to extend my sincerest Congratulations for winning these well deserved awards! I bought your audio for my father who is blind and has a Golden Retriever Seeing Eye Dog and he LOVED it so much- he even wants to meet you!!
My dog, Mocha, actually ate some of my copy (that you signed in NJ) but I refuse to get rid of it! I'll just have to buy a new one if/when I decide to read it again!
Thanks for your amazing story!
Jessica
Two very well-deserved awards! I recently finished reading your book and had to keep looking at the cover to make sure it wasn't MY dog's picture on the cover!
I thought you might like to know that your writing is making it into curriculum. I teach 9th grade English and some of my colleagues and I are using Marley & Me in a nonfiction unit. My students have only read one chapter and are already hooked. Thanks for giving me something everyone can relate to.
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Well, I just recceived your book from a Scholastic book club order today, and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I had to finish it(or I wouldn't be able to sleep; thinking of what would happen next). My dog, Jake, of about three years now, reminds me so much of marley. Half Labrador rereiver, half Jack-russel terier; he loves to tear up anything he can get his claws on. He's too energetic for me, even! I can't keep up with that slobbering maniac.
But, even as a person, I have to admire him. Yeah, I admire a dog! He's so funloving, caring.... sometimes I wish people could be more like dogs.
Your book has made me realized, though, time and life are very precious things. I opened my agenda for school to see what homework I had left to do-- and on the top of the page read: "One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives." -Euripides
Beside the quote had a picture of a woman hugging her dog-- a golden retreiver. It remided me so much of your book--- Marley, and even my own dog.
I'm so happy; my eyes open to things I have never noticed or appreciated as much before-- the warmth of my dog at the foot of my bed, his undying playfullness, and most importantly: his love of life and living everyday to it's fullest.
Thank you so much, Mr. Grogan.
-Amadna L.
8th grade reader
PS~ Best wishes for many more awards to come, for my favorite book, Marley & Me.
It's late and I couldn't sleep, so I reluctantly opened up "Marley and Me" again. I had been reading it and set it down when it got near the end. I simply could not hold back my tears and decided to save the ending for another time.
Well, tonight was that other time. I literally just finished the book and my face is streaked red, my eyes swollen and puffy. I have never read such a magnificent book, and as a lab owner for 9 years, I too smiled and laughed and shook my fists in rage as I read about all of Marley's escapades.
I sobbed and sobbed finishing this book - I sobbed as if I was at the funeral of a loved one. But it was well worth it.
Thank you for such a wonderful story.
Thank You for such a great book, please write more about Marely. I would love to see another Marley and Me book in stores, with stories that didn't make this book.
I am very happy that your are having such sucess. Congrats and loved your book!
Mr. Grogan,
I have written before when I had just translated the Portuguese version for your Marley & Me and thanked you so much for my first bestselling translation in Brazil. Three months have passed and the book is still # 1 selling at bookstores in Rio and São Paulo and so many communities appeared in Orkut among your readers of the Brazilian edition. I'm happy I did my best to contribute to this happy story telling, although they share the many moments it made them cry.
You deserve all the best for you wonderful family and your venturous experience with Marley the Dog. Congratulations on your Quills Awards! All my best, Thereza Christina Rocque da Motta
hip hip huray! i am very happy thta you win the awards!
i am santi from Indonesia. i just finish reading marley and i can't stop to read it until it finish. you are a very talented writer because i can feel your love to marley.
congrats ^v^