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Now this? Is a classy lady
Oct. 20th, 2011 09:29 pmLauren Myracle (@LaurenMyracle on Twitter), you are one classy lady.
I am several days behind in my reading so I am just learning now of the sad story of Lauren Myracle, who received the happy and exciting news that her book Shine was a finalist for the National Book Award, only to be told later that, oops, that was a mistake, and gee, we'd mixed up your book with the real finalist, Chime, and um, why don't you publicly participate in your own humiliation and help us cover our asses by graciously withdrawing? Read the entire story of the debacle over at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
libba_bray's journal here.
There was no way the National Book Award committee could come out of this by looking like anything but hurtful idiots, but Lauren Myracle rose above this humiliating debacle in an magnificent way. Shine, in case you do not know it, is about a hate crime against a gay teen and how it affects an entire community. This is, sadly, a reality for teens in much of the world, and, as Lauren said in her gracious statement, “I was also deeply moved that in recognizing "Shine," the NBF was giving voice to the thousands of disenfranchised youth in America—particularly gay youth—who face massive discrimination and intimidation every day. So that something positive may come of their error, I have strongly suggested that the NBF donate to the Matthew Shepard Foundation [a charity focused on respecting human dignity among young people].”
Well, there is one silver lining. As Lauren reports in her first person account, there has been an outpouring of support for the book. Follow the hashtag #ISupportShine on Twitter.
Another interview.
I am several days behind in my reading so I am just learning now of the sad story of Lauren Myracle, who received the happy and exciting news that her book Shine was a finalist for the National Book Award, only to be told later that, oops, that was a mistake, and gee, we'd mixed up your book with the real finalist, Chime, and um, why don't you publicly participate in your own humiliation and help us cover our asses by graciously withdrawing? Read the entire story of the debacle over at
libba_bray's journal here.There was no way the National Book Award committee could come out of this by looking like anything but hurtful idiots, but Lauren Myracle rose above this humiliating debacle in an magnificent way. Shine, in case you do not know it, is about a hate crime against a gay teen and how it affects an entire community. This is, sadly, a reality for teens in much of the world, and, as Lauren said in her gracious statement, “I was also deeply moved that in recognizing "Shine," the NBF was giving voice to the thousands of disenfranchised youth in America—particularly gay youth—who face massive discrimination and intimidation every day. So that something positive may come of their error, I have strongly suggested that the NBF donate to the Matthew Shepard Foundation [a charity focused on respecting human dignity among young people].”
Well, there is one silver lining. As Lauren reports in her first person account, there has been an outpouring of support for the book. Follow the hashtag #ISupportShine on Twitter.
Another interview.