I am glad to have worldwide acclaim,
In the self-published, dog-eat-dog game,
It’s my title, thank god,
That is prize-winning odd,
Not my writing, my looks, or my name.
Candy Crushes Competition, from the BBC Entertainment News
I am proud to announce that Strangers Have the Best Candy has just received the Diagram Award for the Oddest Book Title of the Year. There is no cash award, just a “passable bottle of claret” awaiting me in London. The Bookseller hinted that agents and publishers “are tipping it to be the ‘hot book’ at the forthcoming London Book Fair.” I don’t know whether to be excited (if it’s true) or offended that they are making fun of me. The real benefit is seeing my name and title in the news as far away as India and New Zealand.
My favorite headline so far is “Candy crushes competition,” from the BBC Entertainment Live page.
Congratulations for winning the Diagram Prize. I don’t think people realise how eagerly the competition is followed in the UK especially within the book trade and publishing. And it always gets a lot of attention in the press. Therefore pat yourself on the back. I did in fact vote for your book title and the idea of sharing the ‘candy’ with strangers and seeing what comes from being open to such encounters is terrific and very uplifting. I can assure you that although the competition has its comic moments it is not an meant to offend. You should relish the fame! And I am sure it will help to sell copies.