At The NBCCs

Next: AWP, table 853

We had a blast at the NBCC Awards last week.

Our finalist, Zito Madu, wore killer jackets both for the finalists reading and the awards ceremony, and he read his snippet beautifully. March was lambing and lioning, giving us one gorgeous night and one unrelenting downpour. Both nights were superbly organized by the all-volunteer book critics board, who properly recognized and honored all the authors. Percival Everett didn’t win for fiction, which perhaps was appropriate, given that the NBCCs fall at the end of the awards cycle, and he has won most of them thus far. Most of the winners gave great speeches, not a Adrien Brody in the bunch. Alexi Navalny won in Zito’s category, Autobiography, as expected, ending what was for us, internally, a few months of very dark humor competition.

Many finalists wore fabulous outfits; none as great as the Belt finalist, of course, but I did make some mental notes on possible wardrobe purchases for myself, and complemented ore finalists on their clothing than their writing I think.

There was, of course, a somber tone to almost all the speeches, and tears while accepting Navalny’s award, but everyone managed to keep top of mind the importance of focusing on the work of the authors, despite the rest.

It’s a herculean effort to put on this event. The board reads books for a year beforehand, and the final deliberation, after many previous ones, takes place over six or so hours on the day of the ceremony. That plus organizing events on two consecutive nights, in Manhattan, for hundreds of people. That plus organizing 40 or so authors who are being recognized. That plus ensuring there is a venue for the events, money to pay for the programs, and food and drink at the reception, and the programs themselves, printed up quickly and passed out by ushers as we entered. Oh and also having copies of the books by all the finalists for sale in the lobby. Not a single person involved was paid for their labor, and those persons are also barely paid for the labor that got them on the board, which is to say book reviewing, a job for which there are only ever fewer positions, freelance or full, for pay that has either held steady or declined over quarter-finished century. Who are these people? Find them all here. They too deserve recognition.

Sometimes I wonder, “would it be so bad if it goes away?” of publications or nonprofits or other often struggling institutions and outlets. Often, my answer is “no, not very.” I do not think all magazines, online publications, presses, writers’ organizations, etc. need to continue indefinitely. I think most things should have a lifecycle, and often shorter than they do have. It sounds harsh, but I think it’s fine to sunset that good idea from ten years ago that can’t seem to find firm financial footing. I think it’s fine for someone who is struggling to keep the lights on to know it’s okay to turn them off, and do something that would better benefit them, personally and financially. No martyrs necessary here. But the NBCC is, for me, one of the few that clearly makes the cut. It would be a true loss were it to go away. The group is unique, as are the awards. The other major national book awards handed out in New York, the NBAs, are much more expensive all around, the judges chosen rather than elected. The NBCC strives to recognize the work of authors often less noticed by major media, and has a slate of awards that captures a wider array of publishing accomplishments. The NBCC Awards retain the imprint of individuals, joined together, working as a group, with a mission. Kudos to those who have enabled it to continue for now fifty years. And thanks.

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Also! I, and Belt, will be at AWP this week in Los Angeles. We’ll be at the bookfair, where you can find me, Zito’s book, and many other fine Belt productions at table 853.