Oooh boy - that was a thing. Pinch me.
Aurealis Award in situ
I’m a writer, not a photographer, dammit!
First, when the Aurealis folks tell you to prepare a speech no matter what you think your chances are... Do that. Should I be so fortunate to be in this position again, acceptance words will be written!
Lessons were learned.
BUT. It wasn't false modesty when I've been saying for months to anyone who would listen, that it's an honour to be nominated but there's no chance of me actually winning due to the calibre of my fellow nominees. They included the following high-profile and well-regarded authors: T R Napper (who then took out the Best Science Fiction Novel award with 36 STREETS), Garth Nix and Matthew Reilly. I truly believed that I was in fine company - and what an amazing fucking thing it was for my name to be among those giants - but that would be the end of it. I even created an “Aurealis Award Nominated” badge. That’s how sure I was.
What a dick.
Another winner aptly named the authors in their category as an, "intimidation" of fellow nominees. Truer words….
So there I was, speech-less and gobsmacked and struggling not to throw up.
I hope I thanked the Aurealis judges.
I hope I thanked my publisher, Grey Matter Press.
I hoped there was grace in my torrent of unprepared and unexpected remarks.
I really don't know what I said and I will never seek out the livestream recording to cement my fears that I looked like the proveribal deer in headlights. My best friend, and beautiful support human for the night, told me I didn't totally fuck up so that's good enough for me.
No passing out. No actual vomit. Winning in all the ways that night!
It was a tremendous honour to be at the event and to not only meet authors I've only ever spoken to online, but also see some true heroes of the genre flitting about the room. Me, a first timer to the Aurealis Awards and an extreme introvert, valiantly struggling through small talk without a drink in my hand... One for the books!
Still: go you little imitation bunny, go!
