The World of Gerald van Oost and Oluara

Passo Fundo is known as the “Literature Capital of Brazil”.  Not only do they host the National Literary Journey every two years, they have one of the highest literary rates in Brazil.  While the national average of books read outside of school is 1.3 per inhabitant per year, in Passo Fundo the average is an amazing 6.5!

This National Literary Journey is HUGE

This year I was one of the authors invited to speak at the event, an immense honor.  I was proud to have “The Fortutious Meeting of Gerard van Oost and Oludara” named as a work “of special merit in the formation of young readers”.  Inspiring young readers is what inspires me.

Over two days, I spoke to eleven groups of junior high and high school aged children.  I never felt like a rock star until I participated in the event.  Each time I walked into one of the circus tents, the master of ceremonies would speak my name and over a thousand children would scream and applaud.  In all, I spoke to around 12.000 students.

Speaking to a captive audience – one of eleven…

I saw children reading books, buying books, and most importantly, discussing books.  For a writer, the event was a spiritual high.  It refueled my faith in the next generation.

Interacting with young readers was the best part

At the end, I was presented with the Vasco Prado Trophy for my participation.  It was a great honor to be able to participate and interact with the real stars of the show: the readers.  They are our future, and they’re doing just fine.

Vasco Prado Trophy

(Photographs by Christopher Kastensmidt and National Literary Journey staff)

I’m pleased to announce that “The Fortuitous Meeting of Gerard van Oost and Oludara” has won the 2010 Realms of Fantasy Readers’ Choice Award for Best Fiction! It tied with Scott Dalrymple’s “Queen of the Kangeullas” for the best story published in Realms of Fantasy during 2010, as voted on by the magazine’s readers.

This is a huge honor for me and for The Elephant and Macaw Banner, and I’d like to thank everyone who voted and everyone at Realms of Fantasy for sponsoring this award and for putting out such an amazing magazine.

Thank you all so much!

Sometimes it’s easier to show than tell, so for my Nebula Weekend wrap-up, here are some of my favorite shots from the event.  Most of these were taken by Fernanda.

Thai food with Douglas Cohen, Rachel Swirsky. and more

Fernanda and I with Valerie and Lawrence Schoen

Who says novelette finalists can't be tough?

Douglas Cohen and I may have downed a few as the night went along... and perhaps even discussed Game of Thrones...

My finalist certificate. Shiny!

Steven H. Silver - fan writer extraordinaire

Realms of Fantasy's Douglas Cohen and Shawna McCarthy, and M.K. Hobson in a spectacular dress she made herself!

Nebula finalists Aliette de Bodard, Caroline M. Yoachim, and J. Kathleen Cheney. I'm back there somewhere behind their glow.

Relaxing at the awards banquet. Send over some more of those crab cakes!

Chatting with Paolo Bacigalupi and Barry Deutsch

"Give...me...that!" Rachel Swirsky protects her Nebula from my thieving hands.

Mary Rodgers and Eric James Stone, still glowing from his Nebula win

Wrapping up the weekend on a panel with Jack McDevitt, Joe Haldeman, N.K. Jemisin and Michael J. Sullivan

Tangent Online announced their 2010 recommended reading list today, with “The Fortuitous Meeting of Gerard van Oost and Oludara” making the list.

It is an immense honor for me to appear on this list among so many magnificent stories and authors.  Thank you, Tangent!

The entire list can be found here.