![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Lammies, revisited
Oct. 5th, 2012 09:51 amMy publisher, Steve Berman of Lethe Press, raises a red flag over recent issues with the Lambda Awards in The Advocate - http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2012/10/05/publisher-says-lambda-literary-awards-are-shambles
I have a few words to add, guessing that terms like "shambles" may be a tad inflammatory. But not inaccurate. I, too, have spoken with different Lambda judges about the judging process and it does not inspire confidence - lost books, biased judges, books unread and no accountability are standard reports.
Before cries of "Sour grapes!" are raised, I want to note that Lethe has won several Lammies and finalled numerous times.
Save the sour grapes for me. I've had 4 books nominated for the Lammies in two different categories. Every year that one of my books has been up, it has been in a "combined" category - gay and lesbian titles competing against each other. 3 of those 4 books won other awards; none of them has ever even finalled for a Lammy. In fact, looking at past winners and finalists, it's pretty rare for a lesbian title to final, let alone win, in any combined Lambda category. Are all the lesbian titles consistently of lower quality? Maybe, but I'd contest the point, particularly when good lesbian books are getting passed over for "gay for you" romance in the sf/f/h category.
There's a new administrator of the Awards this year and it would be nice if she would address the Awards credibility problems instead of creating new "combined" categories (any guesses on how Debut Author will swing going forward?). Given their track record, Lethe and I have agreed that while "Silver Moon" will run for
the IPPYS, the Goldies, the Spectrums, the Rainbow Awards and any other award it is eligible for, it will not be
nominated for the Lambdas until the Award judging is overhauled and there's some effort to create a level playing field for what should be professional level awards.
I have a few words to add, guessing that terms like "shambles" may be a tad inflammatory. But not inaccurate. I, too, have spoken with different Lambda judges about the judging process and it does not inspire confidence - lost books, biased judges, books unread and no accountability are standard reports.
Before cries of "Sour grapes!" are raised, I want to note that Lethe has won several Lammies and finalled numerous times.
Save the sour grapes for me. I've had 4 books nominated for the Lammies in two different categories. Every year that one of my books has been up, it has been in a "combined" category - gay and lesbian titles competing against each other. 3 of those 4 books won other awards; none of them has ever even finalled for a Lammy. In fact, looking at past winners and finalists, it's pretty rare for a lesbian title to final, let alone win, in any combined Lambda category. Are all the lesbian titles consistently of lower quality? Maybe, but I'd contest the point, particularly when good lesbian books are getting passed over for "gay for you" romance in the sf/f/h category.
There's a new administrator of the Awards this year and it would be nice if she would address the Awards credibility problems instead of creating new "combined" categories (any guesses on how Debut Author will swing going forward?). Given their track record, Lethe and I have agreed that while "Silver Moon" will run for
the IPPYS, the Goldies, the Spectrums, the Rainbow Awards and any other award it is eligible for, it will not be
nominated for the Lambdas until the Award judging is overhauled and there's some effort to create a level playing field for what should be professional level awards.
