Giddy-making news

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Forgive the giddiness. There’s a whole boatload of giddy-making news today.

Let’s start with Alice Munro. You’ve already heard, of course, but she earns top billing, because NOBEL PRIZE! Awarded today to a woman from a small town in Ontario who has spent her career here in Canada quietly writing short stories. She rarely makes public appearances. She is the opposite of someone who seeks the spotlight. And yet the light seeks her out. I’ve seen her read and speak twice, rare occasions that remain vivid in my memory. A year ago, I was asked by the National Post’s books editor to review her last book, Dear Life, and I accepted, in fear and trembling and excitement, because it seemed the opportunity of a lifetime: to write a tribute (hardly a review) to an author whose work I’ve admired, loved, and read and re-read for comfort and pleasure for the better part of my life. (Who Do You Think You Are? whispered to me as I worked on the piece, and whispers to me now as I re-post it, but there it is. I’m a fan. If Alice Munro were a hockey team, I would know all the stats.)

Now, I’m going to share some other news in entirely un-Munrovian fashion (first of all, by sharing it) with a tweet I saw this morning:

“@HouseofAnansi at #fbf13 hit it out of the park w / 3 sales of @carrieasnyder new bk #GirlRunner in Holland, France & Italy on same day. Wow!”

To interpret for you: House of Anansi is my Canadian publisher, currently attending the Frankfurt Book Fair, and, yes, they’ve sold the rights to Girl Runner in three more territories: more translations! Wow, indeed. My family is looking forward to celebratory meals of Italian, Dutch, and French specialities. Suggestions welcome. Spaghetti, gouda, and baguette with stinky cheese? (I said no to Albus’s request for pizza, unless it’s a non-north-Americanized version.) We’re going to start preparing and eating these meals at home, however.

And now, back to work. Revisions, revisions, and prepping for class tonight where I’ll be talking about … revisions!

Catalogue of comfort
Today

14 Comments

  1. Tricia Orchard

    Wow Carrie! The amazing news just keeps coming! You must be over the moon! Congratulations once again! 🙂

    Reply
    • Carrie Snyder

      I’m floating, Tricia! Need to get grounded (in a good way) and get back to work!

      Reply
  2. smartchap

    Since I am Italian and Sonzogno is based in the North of Italy may I suggest Italian risotto? Congrats!

    Reply
    • Carrie Snyder

      Yes! I love risotto and haven’t made it for ages. Great suggestion.

      Reply
  3. Nath

    My Italian grandmother made home-made gnocchi as a special treat. They’re delicious, and not particularly hard to make. The family can help with the cutting of the dough! And you can put whatever sauce you like on it (though not something too heavy, or you’ll all fall asleep immediately after dinner…) I have recipes, if you like (the one with the tomato broth in the Smitten Kitchen cookbook is a good one). For French, get croissants from Sabletine! Or splurge and make boeuf bourguignon! And chocolate mousse! For Dutch, all I can offer is fries with mayo. Or just sprinkle chocolate sprinkles on buttered bread (no joke! It’s a thing! But you have to get good sprinkles. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!!

    Reply
    • Carrie Snyder

      I need you to come here and make me homemade gnocchi, Nath.

      Reply
    • Nath

      I promise I will, after we get back!!

      Reply
  4. Nath

    And now I’m really hungry! Suppertime!!

    Reply
  5. Nancy Forde

    STOP MAKING ME WEEP, GIRL!!!! But no, actually keep it coming!!!! Everytime I read your words, the joy emanating from them, the sheer exhilaration, the WONDER of it turns on the waterworks. Moreso because I know you. I know how hard you work – how much you deserve this, this recognition and I’m talkin’ on a GLOBAL SCALE. FANFECKINTASTIC I GOTTA SCREAM IT OUT. Alice is out there curling her finger as she looks at you, whispering, “Come. Follow me.” And I just know you’ll rocket as she has done. Even to the dizzying heights of such a prize as she’s won today. I shall not doubt it. LOVE YOU! LOVE THIS! SO MUCH AWESOMENESS and much to be thankful for this weekend. xox

    Reply
  6. Karl K.

    I’d like to read it in Hungarian, please. Could you work on that? Maybe by 2017? Or I could read it in French in 2016. I might even be able to learn French by then. Congrats, Carrie!!!

    Reply
    • Carrie Snyder

      My kids would like me to work on Japan. The sushi! Truth is, I work on nothing. I just get phone calls out of the blue. My life is very bizarre these days, and I think to myself: This is exactly what people think writers’ lives are actually like, except it isn’t true. Except it is, for a very brief moment, just now.

      Reply
  7. Anonymous

    Just read Girl Runner as a script-consultant for one of the biggest publishers in Norway. Loved it, recommended it:-) Good luck, and I hope I will get to see what it looks like in Norwegian!

    Reply
    • Carrie Snyder

      Thank you! I’m thrilled you loved Girl Runner. My fingers are crossed for Norwegian food on our menu. 🙂

      Reply

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