Quill Award Winners Honored in Glitzy Ceremony
The Quill Awards were handed out in New York City this week during a ceremony its producers hope will eventually be to books what the Oscars telecast is to motion pictures.
A star-studded roster of authors were on-hand Tuesday night to scoop up their prizes at the event, held at the American Museum of Natural History. The awards were taped for a one-hour broadcast that will run on NBC on Oct. 28.
Tyler Perry’s “Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life” was honored with the night’s top prize as the Quill Book of the Year. Author James Patterson presented the award to Perry.
The 95 nominees, in 19 different categories, were selected by a nominating board of 6,000 invited booksellers and librarians across the United States. Consumers had the opportunity, from late August through September, to vote for their favorites.
Well-known personalities presented the awards to the authors throughout the night. Celebrity presenters included Anderson Cooper, Liz Smith, Donald Trump, Stanley Tucci, Harry Connick, Jr., Dominick Dunne, Sue Monk Kidd, James Patterson, Judy Blume, Janet Evanovich, Mary Matalin, Suzanne Somers, Rhea Perlman, S. Epatha Merkerson, Judd Hirsch, Ann Brashares, Marianne Williamson, Dana Delany and Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket).
Quill Awards Chairman Gerry Byrne said he looked forward to growing the awards in the years to come.
“We are pleased that we have again engaged the American reader and brought greater recognition to books and literacy,” said Gerry Byrne.
- Places:
- New York City
- United States