- For a start, Sara was one of my author heroines.
- Secondly, this is the inaugural award.
- Thirdly, the award covers series written over a number of years, as long as they were completed between 2011 to 2014 — so it covers an awful lot of years and an awful lot of books… (Pity the judges!!) You can read more about the award here.
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| No, that’s not me…but my name is on that trophy!! |
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there, owing to the arrival of a brand-new member of the family in New York, but I was prevailed upon to write an acceptance speech just in case, which you will find at the end of this post. It was delivered for me by a fellow writer, Donna Hanson (above), at the Aussi Natcon 2016 in Brisbane. And I believe there were celebrations…see photo left.There were a lot more things I could have said in the speech — how much I owe to the then Voyager Australia editor, Stephanie Smith, for example. How much I owe my beta readers for making me a better writer and making those three books better works. How much I appreciate the work put into the awards by the Australian Spec Fic community and the judges.
But here’s what I did say:
When I first read Sara Douglass’s Battleaxe back in the 1990s, I was blown away, not just by the story, but also by the idea that an Australian author could publish a fantasy novel worldwide and find acclaim on a world stage.
At the time I was looking for a publisher for my first book — and Sara’s success was an inspiration. And of course, Battleaxe was just the first of long line of Sara’s groundbreaking novels.
I was delighted to hear that a series award was being created in her name, to acknowledge her pre-eminent position in Australian speculative fiction history. The fact that judges had a massive job of reading the number of series up for the award is a tribute to the present health of Speculative Fiction writing in Australia, a wave of creativity of which Sara was the forefront.
To have been short-listed by the judges for the inaugural award was a breath-taking compliment. The other works on that list are so impressive that I certainly don’t believe, as I write these words, that any work of mine could win. I just love the validation of being on the shortlist though, and I thank everyone involved.
Most of all, I wish you were here, Sara, still with us and still writing.
Congratulations Glenda I am so very happy for you and you deserve every bit of that award. You have produced a wonderful body of work and I have enjoyed every one of them, more than once. I am also proud to be a friend.
Once again Congratulations and woo hoo for Glenda.
Congratulations Glenda! I'm sure mum (Donna Hanson) has told you you're one of my favourite authors. I absolutely loved the Stormlord trilogy ! And am about to get stuck into the Lascar's Dagger. I'm glad to see you are getting some formal recognition of being among the best.
A wonderful win, Glenda, and well-deserved!
Congratulations, I am so pleased for you and you must be so chuffed!!It is marvellous to have your work acknowledged in such a way. I have always loved your books, and I am glad the Powers That Be agree with me at last!!
Fantasy novels have never been on my radar in fact I have never managed to read past the first chapter in other fantasy novels. Much too far fetched for my liking, but because we go back so far and have known each other since your Uni days I was curious. So a few years back I started to read The Mirage Makers. Well,.. what can I say, I was completely blown away. It had been years since I last read a book that I could not possible put down until the very last page. Sat up all night reading, and next day went out and bought the rest of that trilogy. After that I couldn't wait for your other books to be published. The Water Givers and Lascar's Dagger are my favourite books. Now I await your next trilogy with great anticipation.
Congratulations Glenda, your award is so
very well deserved. And congratulations on the birth of your grandchild.
I am almost as thrilled – a Western Australian Author no less! A new grandbubby though, is the icing. Woohoo!
Thank you all! The award is lovely, but even more terrific is how so many people are pleased for me. I have fabulous friends and readers… 🙂
Congratulations, Glenda!
I've read nearly all your books and thought the Stormlord series was magnificent. Am reading Lascar's Dagger and enjoying it very much so far.
It's so pleasing to see your work recognised like this.
Thanks, Kay. The final book is out in another 3 weeks!
Congratulations! That is so exciting, and so well-deserved. It's such a great series!