Officially the Princess of the Kingdom of Poison and Flame.: seanan

Officially the Princess of the Kingdom of Poison and Flame.

You guys.

This is so hard to write. I've literally started this post eight times, and deleted it every time, and started over, trying to find the words I want. Words are usually something that I find pretty easy—sometimes too easy, as my tendency to never shut the hell up can testify. Not right now. Right now, the words are very hard. So very hard.

I spent most of this year's WorldCon in a cheerful fugue state, throwing myself into things as hard as I could in order to keep from thinking about the Hugo Awards. Jeanne, Cat, Rob, Liz, Paul, Mondy, Jay, Shannon, John, seriously, thank you so much, because if you hadn't been there, I would probably have spontaneously combusted. As it was, it was occasionally difficult not to ask how people could be so damn calm when the votes were in and there was nothing we could do and why couldn't we just know already?

Sunday, Jeanne, Gretchen, and I descended on Cat's hotel room to get ready for the Hugos. Cat met us at the door, and ordered me to close my eyes. I am a trusting blonde; I closed my eyes. She led me into the main room, and let me open my eyes, to find myself facing a bed covered in tiaras. Covered in tiaras. "Because," she said, "your friends wanted to be sure that no matter what, you went home with a tiara."

You guys.

I love you so much.

Susan came to do our hair. We put on dresses and makeup and nail polish and smiles, like nothing about the night mattered...and to a degree, right then, it didn't. We sang along to "Firebird's Child" and "Ship Full of Monsters," and the Night Kitchen in Seattle filled with people watching the live feed and sending all their love across the sea. We were together, and the world was full of magic, and we went to the reception and drank free champagne and had people tell us how amazing we looked, and it was amazing. (Cat and I managed, totally accidentally, to acquire dresses in basically the same colors. I felt like I should have brought her a corsage.)

Then we went to the actual award ceremony. Cat and I sat in the second row; Gretchen and Jeanne sat right behind us. The order of the evening was "opening speech, video presentation, First Fandom Award, Big Heart Award, Campbell Award." Jay Lake and John Scalzi presented the Campbell. They took the stage together, and explained the tiara, and read the nominees, and I clutched Cat's hand like the audience was an ocean and I was going to go under. Kathryn Daugherty came out, holding the award, name turned toward her so no one could see it. John opened the envelope.

"And the winner of this year's John W. Campbell Award for best new writer is..."

And they said my name.

And I sat there, because the room was spinning and I could taste sounds and they couldn't mean me. And Cat pushed me to my feet, and everyone was clapping, and I walked to the stage while the Buffy: the Vampire Slayer theme played and the room spun and tears made everything blurry, and I just said "Oh my God" over and over again, because there was nothing else in the whole world that I could say. And Kathryn gave me the plaque, and John and Jay gave me hugs, and they put the tiara on my head, and you guys...oh, you guys...

I am the Princess of the Kingdom of Poison and Flame. I am the 2010 Campbell Award winner. I am the first urban fantasist to win the Campbell Award. Because they said my name.

I will be more coherent soon. I will write about my acceptance speech soon. I will stop gasping a little every time I see the tiara soon. But oh, you guys.

I won.

Stephen Blackmoore [blogspot.com]

September 10 2010, 04:11:18 UTC 6 years ago

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Congratulations on kicking ass and taking names. Very well deserved.

seanan_mcguire

September 13 2010, 14:44:55 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you!

dan_phi

September 10 2010, 04:16:31 UTC 6 years ago

Finally you give us the post to throw our congratulations your way. So congratulations!

September 14 2010, 15:31:40 UTC 6 years ago

phoenixsansfyr

September 10 2010, 04:23:24 UTC 6 years ago

I wrote it in my review of Rosemary and Rue - it's OBVIOUS as to why this up-and-coming author is a nominee for the Campbell. And now in my next review I can blather on about the Princess of the Land of Poison and Flame. Because you are JUST THAT AMAZING. And the whole world knows it now. Or at least the whole part of the world that cares.

September 14 2010, 15:31:50 UTC 6 years ago

*blush*

muddlewait

September 10 2010, 04:28:39 UTC 6 years ago Edited: September 10 2010, 05:00:46 UTC

Seanan, thank you for taking the time to share your life as you worked. Seeing this kind of dream come true, documented in real time by the dreamer, is enough to give people a positively dangerous amount of faith in the world's potential. And in their own.

Also, is it just me, or does the color of your dress in the photo match the Campbell? I guess these things happen when you're the author of your own life. :)

And as if it weren't implied -- congratulations!

EDIT: The damn thing's made of GLASS, isn't it? Hoo boy. Well... it SHOULDA been the same color. So there.

September 14 2010, 15:32:14 UTC 6 years ago

It's not made of glass! It just MATCHES MY DRESS!

It was so meant to be mine.

Mine mine mine.

Glee.

kyril

September 10 2010, 04:36:39 UTC 6 years ago

Couldn't have happened to an eviler gal, Ms. Grant. And I say that because I know you meant to be evil in that series. And because you haven't used the phrase "people smoothie" in your books...yet, anyway. Congratulations!

September 14 2010, 15:32:23 UTC 6 years ago

spiffikins

September 10 2010, 05:26:31 UTC 6 years ago

many many congratulations - as someone who made a special trip to the bookstore on Release Day for An Artificial Night, and devoured it that same day - you TOTALLY deserve the tiara!

You're officially on my "must buy" list for books!

September 14 2010, 15:32:32 UTC 6 years ago

That is awesome.

palmer_kun

September 10 2010, 06:05:56 UTC 6 years ago

"And Kathryn gave me the plaque"

I first read that as "plague".

OK, I'll be honest. I read it that way the second, third and fourth times.

It was only after I asked myself "Which plague, and in what form?" did I notice the Q.

I think this says something about both you, and how well you've trained your fans.

September 14 2010, 15:32:47 UTC 6 years ago

You're right: it does. It says a good thing.

yellowblackhaze

September 10 2010, 07:36:23 UTC 6 years ago

I live in the land of Poison and Flame, does this mean that you are my Princess?

September 14 2010, 15:33:11 UTC 6 years ago

Yes.

But I am a kind Princess, and do not put huntsman spiders in people's beds. Much.

6 years ago

ironed_orchid

September 10 2010, 09:36:24 UTC 6 years ago

You totally deserved and I'm so honoured I got to be with you on the night.

~Gretchen

September 14 2010, 15:52:30 UTC 6 years ago

I'm so glad to have met you.

kitrinlu

September 10 2010, 10:16:35 UTC 6 years ago

Congratulations! Yay! ~♥

September 14 2010, 15:52:41 UTC 6 years ago

biguglymandoll

September 10 2010, 13:06:29 UTC 6 years ago

YAAAAAAAAAAAAY for Seanan!!!!!!!!! Happiness abounds, congrats! I've read all three of them plus the short in Ravens/Library book, and you DESERVE the Campbell. I'm not at all surprised!

September 14 2010, 15:52:55 UTC 6 years ago

Awwwww, thanks. :)

she_who_filks

September 10 2010, 17:26:44 UTC 6 years ago

So happy and proud for you!! WHEE! And such an appropriate title to get with your tiara--fking PRINCESS of the KINGDOM OF POISON AND FLAME!
Actually, I'd rather title you, QUEEN of the UNIVERSE! But the other is perhaps more reflective of your tastes I think?? I never doubted that you would have the time of your life in Australia. I'm glad I could be a tiny part in supporting you.

September 14 2010, 15:53:10 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you so much. Seriously.

cathschaffstump

September 10 2010, 17:38:22 UTC 6 years ago

Congratulations!

Catherine

September 14 2010, 15:53:16 UTC 6 years ago

anirien

September 10 2010, 18:06:31 UTC 6 years ago

Yay! Congratulations!

September 14 2010, 15:53:26 UTC 6 years ago

roadnotes

September 10 2010, 18:48:54 UTC 6 years ago

Congratulations! You richly deserve this award.

(And I want to see photos!)

September 14 2010, 15:53:34 UTC 6 years ago

Photos forthcoming!

kyburg

September 10 2010, 19:36:03 UTC 6 years ago

May Cat get a second chance at the tiara, because damn.

This is just so good, it has to be real. Mean it. On those days when the suck is so bad your head spins - here's a night to keep close for balance.

Oh, I am so happy. There aren't words big enough for it.

September 14 2010, 15:54:12 UTC 6 years ago

Sadly, Cat is not eligible for the tiara; you can only win the Campbell within two years of your first sale. But someday, a rocket will be hers.

kvtaylor

September 10 2010, 20:19:01 UTC 6 years ago

Bad. Ass.

September 14 2010, 15:54:32 UTC 6 years ago

Glee.

Deleted comment

September 14 2010, 15:54:51 UTC 6 years ago

Campbell sammich!

ravenclawed

September 10 2010, 22:01:13 UTC 6 years ago

Congratulations! I hope pics of you wearing the tiara are forthcoming.

Just finished reading An Artifical Night yesterday. Damn good book. I patiently await the next book (I think Amazon's already accepting pre-orders).

September 14 2010, 15:55:00 UTC 6 years ago

That's a little daunting.

mneme

September 11 2010, 19:09:51 UTC 6 years ago

I was looking for a good place to say this, so...

Congratulations!

September 14 2010, 15:55:08 UTC 6 years ago

batyatoon

September 12 2010, 01:21:24 UTC 6 years ago

I am so, so late to this party but I have to comment anyway.

SO proud of you, my blonde.

*hugs so much. very much. all the much.*

September 14 2010, 15:55:20 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, darling.

Love you.

jadis17

September 12 2010, 06:37:11 UTC 6 years ago

I can think of no one who deserves it more.
congradulations!
and [non-stalkery internet love] and pumpkins.

September 14 2010, 15:55:33 UTC 6 years ago

YAY PUNKINS!

September 14 2010, 15:55:43 UTC 6 years ago

It was amazing.

carlamlee

September 12 2010, 23:31:11 UTC 6 years ago

Congratulations!

I am the Princess of the Kingdom of Poison and Flame. I am the 2010 Campbell Award winner. I am the first urban fantasist to win the Campbell Award. Because they said my name.

This gave me chills.