Quill Awards on NBC Stations Tonight

My wife and attended the Quill Awards in New York on Monday night, along with my editor Rick Wolff, PR folks Rob Nissen and Mark Fortier, and one of my two literary agents, Christy Fletcher (Don Lamm, my other agent, couldn't make it).  It was a lot fun, as I have never been to anything like that.  There was red carpet and a bunch of photographers, and various "personalities" including Stephen Colbert (who opened the show), Gay Talese, Sarah Ferguson, Brooke Shields and Tiki Barber, Lorraine Bracco, and Dan Rather. 

It was a lot  of fun, but  went on quite awhile because  -- as this was an event  designed to be filmed for an NBC show tonight that is shown tonight  (on NBC stations, so it could be on CNBC or MSNBC in your area -- I think about 7:00 PM in most areas) --  they stopped the show constantly  reset for filming the next round of awards.  As this story from Fox indicates, I agree that the best speech of the night was from Walter Issacson, who won the Quill for his wonderful book  on Albert Einstein.  As Fox put it, he said:

'"Someday the book will replace the Internet,” he said drolly, and then explained how the idea of being able to see a book on paper and not on a screen might catch on for its portability if nothing else.'

The best business book award was given nearly last, and we didn't know the order of awards, so I sat in my seat constantly revising my little speech in my head.   I think it got better, and at least I was able to give it without using notes because I had three hours to work on it!   My award was presented by Tina Brown, the former editor of Vanity Faire and the New Yorker, and author of the recent Diana Chronicles.  Tina was charming backstage when I talked to her, but was apparently a bit apprehensive about about saying the a-word.  My wife heard her companion talk about her discomfort, and Fox also picked it up:

'Tina Brown was set to present an award for Best Business Book to Robert I. Sutton for his “The No A—hole Rule.” She didn’t want to say the offending word, even though it would be bleeped out.  

“What should I do?” she wondered aloud. Luckily, she was drowned out by exit music, but she still looked bemused swallowing the title.'

The round of awards right before was given by ventriloquist and his dummy; so even if Tina wasn't wild about reading the title of my book, I was delighted to get the award from her instead of the prior guy. I wouldn't be surprised if my speech isn't played, as they will edit it  heavily, but it was a lot of fun in any  case.

The  "Book of the Year," which was determined by popular vote on the Internet, was Nora Roberts, for Angels Fall.  She is pictured to the left with Brooke Shields and Tiki Barber. I suggested here earlier that it was Comarc McCarthy's The Road; I was wrong, but that was a great book.      

Comments

[Jaiwon]

Congratulations! I read the article about you in the korean newspaper. Hope to see you in person!

[David Maister]

Congratulations. I look forward to the movie of the book!