Thursday, May 19, 2011

Whitney Award Pictures!!!

I had knots and nerves and butterflies in my stomach during the Storymaker Conference at the Sheraton in Salt Lake City two weeks ago because the culminating event was the Whitney Award dinner Banquet - an event with nearly 300 people all dressed up and two podiums with stairs and microphones and tons of authors with their families as well as editors and agents. Very heart-fluttering!

I wore my purple velvet dress and my purple shoes which made me very tall and wobbly, but I managed the stairs okay without too much slipping. Coming down was harder than going up!



My category, BEST YOUTH GENERAL NOVEL FOR 2010 had some fantastic Finalists and tough competition, and even though I'd had lots of *love* and *kudos* from many people who had read The Healing Spell, I knew that any one of those books would be a very worthy winner, they were that good. I've heard some chatter around the inter-webs that the Youth General Category was a favorite this year and VERY hard to judge. I agree! (Go to this Whitney Link to see all the Finalists!)

It was like the Oscars! Lisa Mangum from Deseret book and Kirk Shaw from Covenant Communications did the presentation of my category and then opened the envelope with the words, "And the winner is . . . " My heart was pounding so hard I could hardly breathe!  ". . . Kimberley Griffiths Little for The Healing Spell!"

Applause! I gasped! I was thrilled, relieved, SO excited!

I manged to make my way up to the stage and gave a shaky acceptance speech. My voice was shaking, but my husband said it didn't sound like it. I said a jumble of words about the long process of writing the book and my editor but there were things I forgot to say and I probably rambled anyway.

Here are some pictures!

Me holding the engraved award. On the left is Annette Lyon who won for best General Adult Novel! 
Her smile is so cute!


Walking back to my seat. That very handsome young man is one of my sons.


With Sheila Windley Stanley, part of the Whitney Academy and one of my biggest supporters. I loved getting to know her! Sheila is also a reviewer at LDS Women's Book Review - a very FAB site! 


The Envelope!!!


The Award is an engraved *book* that opens and closes. It's gorgeous.


Award in its gold box!

With Stephanie Black, Winner of the Whitney for Best Mystery!

Thank you to everyone who nominated The Healing Spell, judged it and named it a Finalist, and then voted to declare it the winner! I'm so grateful and thrilled beyond what I can fully express.

Don't forget to nominate books published during 2011! I'll send a link when the nomination ballots open. 




16 comments:

Caroline Starr Rose said...

So excited for you and your lovely book!

Tristi Pinkston said...

So very happy for you - and you looked smokin', by the way!

Bethany Wiggins said...

The dress is fabulous! ANd you were up against some awesome books, so congrats again!

Elana Johnson said...

Aaaahhh! This is the best. post. ever. Congrats again, Kimberley!!

Meagan Spooner said...

Congratulations!! You already know how much I LOVED this book, so I'm not surprised, but I will still do a little dance over here. I love hearing about the recap--it's like living it vicariously! :O

And wow, what a dress. The color is gorgeous!

Vonna said...

How wonderfully exciting! Congratulations!

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

I sure wish Blogspot had a way to reply to each of your comments, they are all so wonderful!

Thank you, Caroline, Tristi, Bethany, Elana, Meg and Vonna!!!

And wowza, thanks for the "smokin' kudos, Tristi! It was sure fun to dress up!

I did indeed feel the competition, Beth - it was a tough category. I could see any of those books/authors winning.

You are SO sweet, Meg! Man, do you *have* to live halfway across the world? ;-)

Love to all!

xo,
Kimberley

Heather Moore said...

Congrats again! Loved your book. And it was great to meet you in person!

Donea Lee said...

I'm sure you rocked those purple heels!! :) Congrats, again! That's just so great!

Taffy said...

Excellent post! Loved your book too.

Lois Bradley said...

So happy and pleased for you, Kimberly! Congratulations!

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

Thank you, thank you, Heather, Donea, Taffy and Lois! Y'all are SO awesome!!!

Rocking heels - yep, that was me getting down those stairs after my speech. I was a bit lightheaded! :-)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Kimberley! Lovely pictures--that purple dress and the shoes, so rich and glorious. A wonderful award for a wonderful book.

Kimberley Griffiths Little said...

Aww, Uma, thanks so much! See you Saturday at your launch!!! Can't wait.

Donna K. Weaver said...

You look fabulous and I LOVE those shoes!

Kristina said...

So beautiful - the award, you, and your book! I'm so happy that you won, you really deserve it!

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