22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards Winners Announced. Larry Kramer and Kate Clinton honored.
Author: Tony Valenzuela
May 28, 2010
The Lambda Literary Foundation at an awards ceremony in New York City’s SVA Theater announced winners for the 22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards last night.
“The Lambda Literary Awards are the most prestigious queer literary prize in the world,” says Lambda Executive Director, Tony Valenzuela. “The Awards are important because they recognize the work of authors chronicling the LGBT experience and creating art out of our lives.”
Awards were presented in 23 categories. Winners were chosen by a jury of 87 judges who come from all walks of literary life: journalists, authors, booksellers, librarians, playwrights, and illustrators.
The judges assessed 462 LGBT-interest titles nominated in 23 categories, selecting 113 finalists from LGBT-specific presses academic publishers and mainstream trade houses.
Of those 113 finalists, 24 winners were announced (including 1 tie). Winners included Ariel Gore, editor of the anthology Portland Queer: Tales of the Rose City; Catherynne M. Valente, author of the fantasy novel Palimpsest; and Vestal McIntyre author of the novel, Lake Overturn.
Two $1,000 cash prizes were given out to debut fiction authors Rakesh Satyal (Blue Boy) and Rhiannon Argo (The Creamsickle). The Betty Berzon Debut Fiction Award is named after long-time LGBT activist and author, Betty Berzon.
2010 Pioneer Awards were also given to Larry Kramer and Kate Clinton.
“Reading powerful stories about ourselves is important, and the foundation’s commitment to supporting LGBT artists and writers is vital,” said 2010 Pioneer Award Recipient, Kate Clinton.
“Queer books save queer lives,” Lambda Board member, Nicola Griffith observes. The Lambda Literary Foundation’s sole purpose is to champion those books, to nurture, celebrate, and preserve queer literature.”
Scott Cranin, Board member: “The Lambda Literary Awards have become the centerpiece of the year for the literary community. They help readers find the gems and recognize the authors for writing them.”
Terry DeCrescenzo, Board member: “The Lambda Literary Awards insure that our literary voices are not only heard, but also celebrated. Without the Lammys, LGBT writing would be marginalized.”
The 22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards were made possible by support from Bella Books/Spinsters Ink, Harper Perennial, Kensington Publishing Corp., TLA Gay, Gay City News, Bold Strokes Books, Alyson Books, Monette-Horowitz Trust, American Institute of Bisexuality, Barefoot Wine, American Booksellers Association, Bywater Books, Blind Eye Books, University of Wisconsin Press, Black Lawrence Press, Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management, Beacon Press, and Arsenal Pulp Press.
Lesbian Fiction
A Field Guide to Deception, by Jill Malone (Bywater Books)
Gay Fiction
Lake Overturn, by Vestal McIntyre (HarperCollins)
Lesbian Debut Fiction
The Creamsickle, by Rhiannon Argo (Spinsters Ink)
Gay Debut Fiction
Blue Boy, by Rakesh Satyal (Kensington Books)
LGBT Children’s/Young Adult
Sprout, by Dale Peck (Bloomsbury USA)
Lesbian Mystery
Death of a Dying Man, by J.M. Redmann (Bold Strokes Books)
Gay Mystery
What We Remember, by Michael Thomas Ford (Kensington Books)
Lesbian Erotica
Lesbian Cowboys, edited by Sacchi Green & Rakelle Valencia (Cleis Press)
Gay Erotica
Impossible Princess, by Kevin Killian (City Lights)
Bisexual Fiction – A Tie!
Holy Communion, by Mykola Dementiuk (Synergy Press)
Love You Two, by Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli (Random House Australia)
Bisexual Nonfiction
Leaving India: My Family’s Journey From Five Villages to Five Continents, by Minal Hajratwala (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Transgender
Lynnee Breedlove’s One Freak Show, by Lynn Breedlove (Manic D Press)
LGBT Anthology
Portland Queer: Tales of the Rose City, edited by Ariel Gore (Lit Star Press)
LGBT Drama
The Collected Plays Of Mart Crowley, by Mart Crowley (Alyson Books)
LGBT SF/Fantasy/Horror
Palimpsest, by Catherynne M. Valente (Bantam/Spectra Books)
Lesbian Romance
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin, by Colette Moody (Bold Strokes Books)
Gay Romance
Drama Queers!, by Frank Anthony Polito (Kensington Books)
Lesbian Poetry
Zero at the Bone, by Stacie Cassarino (New Issues Poetry & Prose)
Gay Poetry
Sweet Core Orchard, by Benjamin S. Grossberg (University of Tampa Press)
LGBT Studies
The Straight State: Sexuality and Citizenship in Twentieth Century America, by Margot Canaday (Princeton University Press)
LGBT Nonfiction
The Greeks and Greek Love, by James Davidson (Random House)
Lesbian Memoir/Biography
The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith, by Joan Schenkar (St. Martin’s Press)
Gay Memoir/Biography
Ardent Spirits: Leaving Home, Coming Back, by Reynolds Price (Scribner Books)
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ALL FINALISTS HERE
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/awards-finalists/
ALL FINALISTS’ BIOS HERE
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/finalists-bios/
KATE CLINTON & LARRY KRAMER’S BIOS
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/pioneer-awards/
LIST OF LAMBDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
https://lambdaliterary.org/lambda-literary-foundation/board-llf/
LIST OF BOOKS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/current-submissions/
PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
https://lambdaliterary.org/awards/photos/
© Donna F. Aceto
