We weren't expecting a grand slam home run the first time around. We wanted a solid, line-drive single and that's what we got.

It's an opportunity to create something over time that would potentially make a big difference to books, literacy, and reading.

For this caucus to allow a rural infrastructure program to be announced in St. John's is, quite frankly, ridiculous,

The difference between this award and any other is that it's a reader's choice. People holler about other awards because they are committee-selected. This is not committee-selected. There are purists in literary circles who have a different sense of what is going on here, but we think anything you can do to get people reading is a good thing.

For the record, this is a poor decision.

We are pleased that we have engaged the American reader in the voting process for a significant book award. We look forward to growing the Quills in the years to come.