SLJ Exclusive: Lauren Myracle Opens Up About NBA Fiasco
RSSBy Debra Lau Whelan
We spoke to Myracle, who says the ordeal made her feel like Carrie at the prom, to find out how she dealt with this fiasco—and what good came of it. It's been a hell of a week for you. How are you doing? Okay, I am laughing here in my kitchen. Um, yes it HAS been a hell of a week (though my mom would prefer if I said a heck of a week, or, better, that I have been forced to deal with an unfortunate situation...). But I am doing great. I really am. Was I last week? No way, Jose. Time brings perspective, though, and time also brings endless tweets and Facebook wall postings and emails and champagne and cookies and more tweets, emails, and postings, and oh my blessed stars, people have been supportive beyond belief. I would never have wanted this to happen, but given that it did, I feel insanely blessed and humbled by how much love has been beamed my way on marshmallow lasers. What went through your mind when you realized what had happened? Where to start? Hmmm, it was more what went through my heart, I'd say, and what went through my heart was shame. I felt like poor Carrie, invited to the prom just to have pig's blood dumped on her head. I cried and snuffled and took many therapeutic naps (stress is exhausting, as I'm sure you know), and then I shook the fog off and tried to figure out how to reclaim my Lauren-ness. Which had never really been taken away in the first place, but it sure felt as if it had. It must've been the complete opposite of what you were feeling when you got the call last Monday from Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the National Book Foundation, to say you were a finalist. What was that conversation like? I'm giggling again, because Harold was truly such a dear when he called. (And Harold is still a dear! I so don't want him to be demonized because of all this. I'm not interested in trying to lift the curtain on whatever went on, but one thing I can say is that he treated me with kindness, courtesy, and respect throughout the whole mess. Harold? If you're out there? Thank you.) As for that first call, I had no idea whom I was even talking to. My son had yelled out, "Mom! Someone from the National Book Festival wants to talk to you!," so I picked up the phone and chatted, Lauren-style, with Harold for a full 20 minutes before we even got around to the reason for his call. When we did get down to the nitty-gritty, I basically spazzed out and said, "Really? Really? You're sure you're talking to the right person? WH-HOO! So at first, the National Book Foundation tells the world that they're going to include six titles and then suddenly last Friday, they ask you to withdraw? Some would have said, "It's your mess, so you fix it." Why didn't you? I *did* initially say that to myself. I'd gone from exulted to devastated to horrified to ashamed, and plus, I was just plain worn out. I was like, "Oh, nossir. Y'all made this, y'all clean it up." It was only later—after my beloved editor, Susan Van Metre, gave me the wise advice to sleep on it—that I realized that were there cleaning up to be done (and boy, was there), I'd prefer to be the one to do it. And can I quickly add that Susan Van Metre, who went through all the highs and lows with me, is one of the most incredible and classy people I have ever had the exquisite pleasure of knowing? I'm sure you've seen all the support for you and Shine from fellow authors (like Libba Bray), fans, and librarians. How has that helped you through this mess? I wouldn't be smiling now without them. I wouldn't be healing without them. The entire kids' writing community—plus bonus writers/editors/random peeps in the "grown-up" community—has sappily but oh-so-truly been the wind beneath my wings. Without them, I would be a pulpy mess. As for Libba? Holy mad cow, that woman can write! Someone get her a book contract, quick! (Love you, my Libba!!!) And what about your two best friends: Sarah Mlynowski and Emily Lockhart? What did they have to say about what happened? Ohhhh-ho-ho. For the sake of their pristine reputations, I will zip my lips on that one. Suffice it to say that THEY ARE, WITHOUT DOUBT, THE BEST FRIENDS A GAL COULD HAVE. Oops, was I shouting? Well, it bears shouting, cuz it's true. They listened to me, they cried with me, they were outraged with me and for me, and, in the end, they helped me figure out how to reach down deep and find the good in the situation. And the humor. What it boils down to is this: Sarah and Emily shared their lady-power with me, and thanks to them, I was ultimately able to channel my own inner lady. I guess some good has come out of all this. It's been good for sales—and getting this important book into the hands of more readers. And, of course, the donation to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Yup. The donation to the Matthew Shepard Foundation has been the one unsullied GOOD THING to come from this, and the NBF's generous gift will be "stretched far," as the spokesperson of the Matthew Shepard Foundation put it. Not only that, but other authors—Tanya Lee Stone, Kathi Appelt, Sarah Darrer Littman, Jo Knowles, Courtney Sheinmel, and many others—have also chosen to donate funds and/or books to the Matthew Shepard Foundation or other GLBTQ support groups. Swear to Bob, a bright shiny sticker would have been fun. But this—this is—absosmuckinglutely awesome. What are you working now that we can all look forward to? Flower Power book 3: Oopsy Daisy—it will be out this spring! This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe. All I will say is that I had 4 copies of "Shine" in my teen section and I have never heard of "Chime." So YAY for Lauren Myracle--she is a winner here! What a class act. My students love your books! They will pick your books over award winners any day of the week. My students won't read a book just because it wins an award, they read it because all the other kids say how awesome it is. I have waiting lists for your books with multiple copies on my next order!!
You rock! Lauren, your books are amazing and I am so proud of the way
you've handled this mess. You make us all proud. Keep your chin
up and know librarians and our students love you! * = Required information
October 20, 2011
It takes one special lady to be put through the wringer and still remain an absolute superstar. But that's exactly what happened to Lauren Myracle, who experienced the highs and lows of being nominated as a 2011 National Book Awards finalist in the Young People's Literature category—only to withdraw her name days later after the award sponsor admitted to making a mistake.
Reader Comments (8)
Posted by Tara on October 20, 2011 05:06:44PM
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