Some time last year, Cat Sparks (catsparx) introduced me to the concept of awards not being for writers, but editors. She was trying to convince me to let 'The Souls of Dead Soldiers are for Blackbirds, Not Little Boys' be eligible for the Aurealis Awards, perhaps suspecting that it would do more good there than I would writing reviews. Her argument was that awards were not just for authors, but for editors, artists, and publishers: when a story wins, all of them win. She told me editors were fascists. I love that last line and plan to use it always, now and forever. But in truth, I didn't quite get what she meant until 26Lies came out, and there was Anna, Andy, and Deb, all producing their part, too. You never quite realise how much of a group effort the final part of a book is until you're holding it.

Still, and lets be fair, me personally having anything to do with any Australian Award at the moment is hypocritical, but I guess I'll have to walk that line a bit. I am, however, not interested in getting any kind of award recognition for myself.

However:



Andrew MaCrae (andrewmacrae) provided the cover for 26Lies, and it's been nothing short of brilliant for the book. It looks cool, it got us recognition, and it captured the whole theme of the book so well. There are very few things I can give to show my appreciation--I have no children and he has more women and money than I-- but there's an audience here, reading this blog, and if you guys and girls and cross-gender and post and pre operation gender changes find a moment to go to the Ditmar nomination page, and vote for Andy and his cover in the pro art division, I'd be most appreciative.

I'm asking for nothing else from you, and if it makes you feel better, I'm sure even asking for this is pissing off some people in a seriously fine way. Imagine what doing it will do.

Yes, I am the gift that keeps on giving.