Cinderella

For all of the talk about how the publishing world is in a tailspin, there are still victories.

Book publishing could be the most complex and difficult businesses to break into. The process from getting a book off your computer, desk, journal and in Borders is about as difficult as getting in to the NBA. But luckily, the world of books still operates in a very unique way when it comes to the awards it gives out. The film and music industry have both gone to the dogs, politicizing every award in order to lift a young performer's career or give it a nice cap (Jeff Bridges, I love you), or even cap a young performer's career (Cuba, you have a place in my heart).

But, no, not in the world of books. We still award great art and see the written word as virtuous and novel and creative. We still recognize the word as art, dangit!

I say all of this because of how pleased I was that I had not heard of the Pulitzer Prize winner until I checked the Pulitzer Prize winners. Tinkers by Paul Harding has an amazing story of publication, and of course it is told best by NPR. Take four minutes and thirty seconds to listen to or read the story of its publication and road to literature's highest honor. No one has heard of this book, it was published by a tiny publishing house, and simply by word of mouth the manuscript traveled to the highest desk, and received great affirmation.

Now all I have to do is find a copy of it...