As they are trying to recreate the glitz and excitement of a Hollywood style event, I’m sure there will lots of red carpet and fancy gowns. The problems that I can see already are authors are nowhere near as photogenic as movie stars and two, horror of horrors, have been known to shun overt publicity. I’m sure the organizers considered these factors while making their plans.
Just who is behind all of this anyway? In response to an email query concerning this, Gerry Byrne, Chairman of the Quills Literary Foundation replied:
I was asked by Reed Business Information (I was publisher of Variety for a dozen years) to look at the opportunity to create an awards program. Appreciating there are many in the space, I looked at creating a pre-qualified "Reader's Choice" awards that would have nominations coming from within the industry (booksellers & librarians) on a national basis... I walked around the idea to the community, created an Executive Council of folks I have a relationship with, took the idea to NBC and thus was born the Quill Awards. Process took nearly two years. Reed has generously put up the financing to get it going and has helped create The Quills Literacy Foundation which will support literacy programs as well as develop many of its own.”
According to their web site Reed Business Information is a subsidiary of Reed Eslevier Group PLS the world leading publisher and information provider. Reed Business Information publishes business-to-business communication and information channels: magazines, web sites, directories, online services, and marketing services, across five continents.
The executive council that Mr. Byrne has created reads like a who’s who of industry heavyweights in the American publishing, film and television production, and advertising worlds. Rounding it out are one writer, a couple of lawyers, some Internet media types, and the current publisher of Variety, Peter Bart.
Aside from producing the awards show, the foundation will also be responsible for selecting an annual Distinguished Service Award for the person or group they feel have made a significant contribution to the advancement of American publishing.
With NBC signed on as their media sponsor and broadcast partner they seem all set to deliver an awards program that will bring sparkle and glitz to the previously staid world of publishing. With the integration of popular opinion into the process, they hope to generate renewed enthusiasm for the written word.
While it cannot be denied that there is the appearance of self-serving behind these awards, to be fair there are very few awards which are not industry generated. Why shouldn’t the book industry celebrate itself in the same manner as other mainstays of entertainment?
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Absolute balderdash for various reasons.
Firstly, as gypsyman points out - it is self-serving and intended to generate publicity
Secondly, who needs a new book award anyway - there are enough
Thirdly, if the reading public is to judge books, the New York Times bestseller list is a fair guide to what's on top.
2 - parker
Don't the readers vote with their wallets already?
3 - M. Lancaster
A member of my family has been nominated as an author. She has no political or big-city connections. I am thrilled that she has had this recognition for her first book.
4 - Cicely
It seems like fun to have an award...even if there are plenty out there. There are plenty of books to read and plenty of people with plenty of opinions. What's the harm?