Neil Gaiman wins fourth Hugo Award

The Twin Cities author was honored for "The Graveyard Book," which earlier won the Newbery.

By LAURIE HERTZEL, Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2009 - 8:58 PM

Twin Cities-area writer Neil Gaiman added to his steadily growing collection of awards, picking up a Hugo Award for best novel for "The Graveyard Book" Sunday night in Montreal. This is Gaiman's fourth Hugo, and the second major award for "The Graveyard Book," which won the Newbery Medal in January.

It is the first time a book has won both the Hugo, awarded for science fiction and fantasy, and the Newbery, which is the highest honor for children's literature.

"It's wonderful seeing two such different worlds embracing the same book," said his publicist, Elyse Marshall of HarperCollins.

Gaiman, at left, had confessed on his blog last winter that when he won the Newbery he had to tell himself not to swear like he did when he got the Hugo. Marshall said he did not swear at the podium Sunday, "although he did swear on Twitter." (His Twitter message from Montreal is just three words. The second and third words are, "It won!")

Gaiman, who started out writing comic books and fantasy, is a prolific author who lately has concentrated on children's books. He has three books out in 2009 -- "Blueberry Girl," published in March; "Crazy Hair," in May, illustrated by Dave McKean, who also worked with Gaiman on "Coraline" and "The Graveyard Book"; and "Odd and the Frost Giants," due in September and already nominated for a World Fantasy Award. (It was published last year in Great Britain.)

"Coraline" was made into a hit movie this year, and "The Graveyard Book" is being made into a movie to be written and directed by Neil Jordan. It is the story of a little boy named Nobody Owens, whose entire family is murdered. Nobody escapes as a baby and makes it to the graveyard, where he is raised by ghosts.

Laurie Hertzel is the Star Tribune books editor. She is at 612-673-7302.

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.