Amy Takes A First (Well, Two, Actually)
In last night's LA Press Club Awards, I got a first place for my column in the high circ (100,000-plus circ) "signed commentary" category, beating the LA TImes' entrant. (If they're going to ban me from the Calendar section, the least I can do is eat their lunch). I won a first place for headlines, too, for "With this ka-ching! I thee wed," and an honorable mention for "Wokking Tall" in the under 100,000 circ (alt weeklies and small dailies category), and a second place for a collection of my columns in that category, too. Here's the column that won:
B5. SIGNED COMMENTARY*Amy Alkon, Creators Syndicate, “Social Stigma Against Cross-Dressers”
*Bennett Ramberg, Los Angeles Times/freelance, “Pyongyang will not sacrifice its political isolation to give up the bomb”
Here's where I took second:
C6. COLUMNIST*Amy Alkon, syndicated columnist
*Tom Hennessy, Long Beach Press-Telegram
*Amy Klein, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angels
*Gene Maddaus, Pasadena Star-News
*Natalie Nichols, Los Angeles CityBeat
Here's my first and honorable mention:
C13. HEADLINE*Amy Alkon, The Advice Goddess, “With This Ka-ching I Thee Wed”
*Amy Alkon, The Advice Goddess, “Wokking Tall”
*Todd Cunningham, Los Angeles Business Journal, “Arched Rivals”
*Pasadena Star-News, “Origami conference folds art into science”
*San Gabriel Valley Tribune, “Cal Poly is breeding success”
Here I am with Emmanuelle Richard.
After she drank enough Yahoo-tini to recover from a glimpse at The Twins.
Here are Matt Welch and Emmanuelle Richard with the mayor.
And here's Maia Lazar, who was there for the terrific photo tribute (largely put together by Emmanuelle, I think) and spoken tribute by Sandra Tsing Loh for our friend and Maia's mom, Cathy Seipp.
Sandra quoted from Cathy on "cool," and remarked to me later about what was evident during her tribute: Cathy's writing for Buzz, from over a decade ago, is sharp as ever, and timeless. I'm hoping Cathy's work will become a book.
On a gossip-ier note, Sandra bought a Picasso at the silent auction, becoming, I suspect, the first Van Nuys resident to own one. The best one was going for $19,000 (but appraised at $35K). A bit out of my price range, but my agent will soon be taking my book out to publishers...so who knows!
Congratulations!
deja pseu at June 17, 2007 8:59 AM
Congratulations.
Crid at June 17, 2007 8:59 AM
Thank you!
Amy Alkon at June 17, 2007 9:09 AM
Congratulations, Amy! Enjooooooy eating their lunch!!
Debra at June 17, 2007 9:43 AM
There's nothing like winning awards to help you feel good! Bask in it! Wallow! Drink it down! Well done!
Norman at June 17, 2007 10:06 AM
Congrats!
jerry at June 17, 2007 10:22 AM
Congrats. I would have given you my vote too. I'm a frequent reader and occasional commenter. Your blog and advice column are both fabulous and educational.
Jaylyn at June 17, 2007 10:48 AM
Thank you so much! I write my ass off every week, and it's so great to hear when people appreciate it. It's especially exciting when I get letters about how I've really made a difference in somebody's life.
Amy Alkon at June 17, 2007 11:00 AM
Congratulations, Amy-love. You certainly deserve it. As an advice columnist, you simply have no competition. You're THE only advice columnist.
And you've got the best blog I've ever played on...which I say with my tongue firmly in cheek. The only other blog I've ever posted on belongs to a former friend of mine, whose only claim to fame is having had a one-night stand with Clay Aiken, and the subsequent publicity, including an interview with Howard Stern and a porn flick, that came with such notoriety.
Patrick at June 17, 2007 11:59 AM
A real Picasso for sale?! Wow I didn't see that! Thanks so much for the wonderful post!
Maia Lazar at June 17, 2007 12:54 PM
I was disappointed the Hustler piece didn't win, but otherwise you swept 'em as usual!
Now, everybody, take a good look at that picture of Maia, because she told me she didn't think she looked as good as everyone else. I think all evidence is to the contrary, don't you?
LYT at June 17, 2007 2:11 PM
Congrats on the awards, but more importantly, nice outfit! You look stunning.
Mary at June 17, 2007 2:12 PM
Thanks, and I thought Maia looked beautiful, and I sent her the photo with that in the subject line, I believe!
Amy Alkon at June 17, 2007 2:24 PM
“It's especially exciting when I get letters about how I've really made a difference in somebody's life.”
Congratulations!!! For me, the column is titled, “Chump Change”. Thanks again for making a difference in my life.
Chang at June 17, 2007 6:04 PM
Congratulations.
Say -- The Times won't let me write for them, either. Does that mean I can claim to be "banned" by them?
Or is it just that they find, say, Joel Stein more to their taste?TE at June 17, 2007 7:23 PM
Well done, Amy! I'm so happy for you!
Maia, you look gorgeous. Shorter hair really suits you!
Jackie Danicki at June 17, 2007 8:17 PM
Congratulations, Amy!
Doobie at June 17, 2007 8:52 PM
Well, I guess that kicks my Dali's ass.
Paul Hrissikopoulos at June 17, 2007 9:31 PM
Say -- The Times won't let me write for them, either. Does that mean I can claim to be "banned" by them?
Todd, they actually sent me a letter saying, best as I can recall (but Cathy did a piece on it for Mediaweek), "Never send us anything again. We're content with the writers we have. We're not seeking new writers."
And thanks, Chang...again...means a lot.
And Paul, you bought the Dali? (It was probably a great deal.)
Amy Alkon at June 18, 2007 12:13 AM
Kudos to Amy.
Roger at June 18, 2007 5:54 AM
Congrats, Amy, well done! :)
Flynne at June 18, 2007 6:05 AM
"Cong...ons" is probably the ugliest word in the English language in contrast to its usage. I think it really means, "May your success grate on the nerves of your professional relations".
I'll prefer a "nicely done!" here, and note that although winning this sort of contest is sweet, the impact you have on your audience is more important.
But you know that already. The way you write coerces people to think. That's rare.
Radwaste at June 18, 2007 7:26 AM
I took one on a few years back. I'm not really into collecting but Fate twisted my arm.
Paul Hrissikopoulos at June 18, 2007 9:12 AM
Todd, they actually sent me a letter saying, best as I can recall (but Cathy did a piece on it for Mediaweek), "Never send us anything again. We're content with the writers we have. We're not seeking new writers."
Wow. I suppose that's why they (temporarily) fired Al Martinez -- they think they don't even need their old writers!
I'm used to the music business, where artists who don't get airplay claim to have been "banned." But most of them don't get incriminating letters. (The Dixie Chicks, on the other hand, were banned, by at least one chain of stations).
TE at June 18, 2007 10:37 AM
A propos hashing a glimpse of the twins, that reminded me of this famous vintage photo. http://atmosfera.blogs.sapo.pt/arquivo/Sophia%20Loren%20Jayne%20Mansfield.jpg
Congratulations on your awards, Amy.
Marie at June 19, 2007 11:24 PM
Leave a comment