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  The 2016 Harvey nominations have just been announced, and as in past years, Valiant was the overwhelming favorite of the voting block with some 50 nominations out of some 142 total, including all but one nominees in five categories. Despite appearances, nominees are not voted on by Valiant fans, but rather industry professionals via an […]

Calling all miscreants!  All slackers and gamers!  All those who would banish terrible cafeteria food to the secret tenth circle of hell (located in a specific unmentionable location on Satan’s person).  Archie’s Jughead is back with a new ongoing series written by none other than Sex Criminals’ Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl‘s artist Erica Henderson. […]

Welcome to the pageantry and passion of the Harveys! We’re here finishing up our crab cakes at the Banquet and awards administrator Paul McSpadden is welcoming attendees and thanking the sponsors. Soon we’ll have all the winners and moving moments as Vivek J. Tiwary hosts for the first time! Vivek is up and he’s thankful […]

After his heartfelt speech a few years ago when winning a Harvey Award, having Vivek J. Tiwary host the Harveys this year seems like a great idea. Tiwary, the author of The Fifth Beatle, and a Tony award winning Broadway veteran producer, will host the gala on September 26th during the annual Baltimore Comicon. Harvey […]

The nominees for this year’s Harvey Awards, as voted on by industry professionals, have just been announced and as usual they are a a surprising mix of books. Every year, one company seems to have distributed their ballots a little more aggressively among creators and this year is no exception, with Boom/Archaia and Valiant getting the most nominations, including a few unexpected ones. I think it’s safe to say no one saw JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW by Roger Langridge getting a Best Original Graphic Album nominees, and beating out Roz Chast but…hey, Roger Langridge is one of the great cartoonists so let’s not argue too much. Giving the list a quick survey it seems like everything is worthy in its own way so let’s just celebrate the diversity and wonder of comics in this golden age.

The Harvey Awards will be presented at a  banquet for Saturday night, September 26th, during the Baltimore Comicon. This marks the 10th year the Harveys have been held at Baltimore.

BEST LETTERER

____ Aubrey Aiese, LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)

____ Deron Bennett, HACKTIVIST, Archaia Black Label (BOOM! Studios)

____ Ed Dukeshire, THE WOODS, BOOM! Studios

____ Jack Morelli, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications

____ Josh Reed, DAMSELS IN EXCESS, Aspen

BEST COLORIST

____ Elizabeth Breitweiser, VELVET, Image Comics

____ Jordie Bellaire, MOON KNIGHT, Marvel Comics

____ Laura Martin, ARMOR HUNTERS, Valiant Entertainment

____ Dave Stewart, HELLBOY IN HELL, Dark Horse Comics

____ Matthew Wilson, THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, Image Comics

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL

____ DICK TRACY, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services

____ DILBERT, Scott Adams, Universal Uclick

____ FOX TROT, Bill Amend, Universal Uclick

____ GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, Universal Uclick

____ MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK

____ ALBERT THE ALIEN, Trevor Mueller and Gabriel Bautista, albertthealien.com

____ BATTLEPUG, Mike Norton, battlepug.com

____ GIRLS WITH SLINGSHOTS, Danielle Corsetto, girlswithslingshots.com

____ SPACE MULLET, Daniel Warren Johnson, space-mullet.com

____ THE PRIVATE EYE, Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente,panelsyndicate.com

BEST AMERICAN EDITION of FOREIGN MATERIAL

____ BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, Drawn & Quarterly

____ BLACKSAD: AMARILLO, Dark Horse

____ CORTO MALTESE: UNDER THE SIGN OF CAPRICORN, EuroComics/IDW

____ THE COLLECTOR, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ THE KILLER OMNIBUS VOL. 2, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

BEST INKER

____ Roger Langridge, JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ Danny Miki, BATMAN, DC Comics

____ Mark Pennington, ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT, Valiant Entertainment

____ Joe Rivera, THE VALIANT, Valiant Entertainment

____ Wade Von Grawbadger, ALL NEW X-MEN, Marvel Comics

BEST NEW SERIES

____ BITCH PLANET, Image Comics

____ LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)

____ MS. MARVEL, Marvel Comics

____ SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics

____ THE WICKED + THE DIVINE, Image Comics

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT

____ Steve Bryant, ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics

____ Daniel Warren Johnson, GHOST FLEET, Dark Horse Comics

____ Chad Lambert, “KILL ME” FROM DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics

____ Babs Tarr, BATGIRL, DC Comics

____ Jen Van Meter, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS

____ James Asmus, QUANTUM AND WOODY, Valiant Entertainment

____ James Asmus & Fred Van Lente, THE DELINQUENTS, Valiant Entertainment

____ Ryan Browne, GOD HATES ASTRONAUTS, Image Comics

____ Fred Van Lente, ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG, Valiant Entertainment

____ Chip Zdarsky, SEX CRIMINALS, Image Comics

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS

____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ LUMBERJANES, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)

____ SISTERS, Scholastic-Graphix

____ SPONGEBOB COMICS, United Plankton Pictures

____ THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

____ HIT: 1955 TP, BOOM! Studios

____ MOUSE GUARD: BALDWIN THE BRAVE AND OTHER TALES HC, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ RAI VOL. 1: WELCOME TO NEW JAPAN TP, Valiant Entertainment

____ SIX-GUN GORILLA TP, BOOM! Studios

____ THE LOVE BUNGLERS, Fantagraphics

BEST ANTHOLOGY

____ DARK HORSE PRESENTS, Dark Horse Comics

____ IN THE DARK: A HORROR ANTHOLOGY, IDW

____ LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM, Locust Moon Press

____ MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, Simon & Schuster

____ WILD OCEAN, Fulcrum Publishing

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

____ HARVEY KURTZMAN’S JUNGLE BOOK: ESSENTIAL KURTZMAN VOLUME 1, Kitchen Sink Books/Dark Horse Books

____ STERANKO NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. ARTIST’S EDITION, IDW

____ THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS, Valiant Entertainment

____ VALIANT MASTERS: H.A.R.D. CORPS VOL. 1 – SEARCH & DESTROY, Valiant Entertainment

____ WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK AND UNCLE SCROOGE: THE SON OF THE SUN (DON ROSA LIBRARY VOL. 1), Fantagraphics

BEST COVER ARTIST

____ Mike Del Mundo, ELEKTRA, Marvel Comics

____ Francesco Francavilla, AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications

____ Jenny Frison, REVIVAL, Image Comics

____ Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

____ Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

____ BACK ISSUES, Comic Pop

____ COMIC BOOK CREATOR, TwoMorrows Publications

____ HEROES OF THE COMICS: PORTRAITS OF THE LEGENDS OF COMIC BOOKS, Drew Friedman, Fantagraphics

____ MASTERFUL MARKS: CARTOONISTS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD, Monte Beauchamp, Simon & Schuster

____ TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY, Andrew Farago, Insight Editions

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

____ ARMOR HUNTERS, Josh Johns and Warren Simons, Valiant Entertainment

____ HARVEY KURTZMAN’S JUNGLE BOOK: ESSENTIAL KURTZMAN VOLUME 1, John Lind and Philip R. Simon, Kitchen Sink Books/Dark Horse Books

____ LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM, Andrew Carl, Josh O’Neill, and Chris Stevens, Locust Moon Press

____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Scott Newman, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ THE VALIANT, Kyle Andrukiewicz and Warren Simons, Valiant Entertainment

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM ORIGINAL

____ ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics

____ JIM HENSON’S THE MUSICAL MONSTERS OF TURKEY HOLLOW, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ SECONDS, Ballantine Books

____ THE WRENCHIES, First Second Books

____ THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

____ AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, Archie Comic Publications

____ DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

____ SAGA, Image Comics

____ SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics

____ THE VALIANT, Valiant Entertainment

BEST WRITER

____ Jason Aaron, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Image Comics

____ Jen Van Meter, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment

____ Brian K. Vaughan, SAGA, Image Comics

____ Mark Waid, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

____ G. Willow Wilson, MS. MARVEL, Marvel Comics

BEST ARTIST

____ Clayton Crain, RAI, Valiant Entertainment

____ Roberto de la Torre, THE DEATH-DEFYING DOCTOR MIRAGE, Valiant Entertainment

____ Chris Samnee, DAREDEVIL, Marvel Comics

____ Fiona Staples, SAGA, Image Comics

____ Jillian Tamaki, THIS ONE SUMMER, First Second Books

BEST CARTOONIST

____ Steve Bryant, ATHENA VOLTAIRE COMPENDIUM, Dark Horse Comics

____ Howard Chaykin, BLOODSHOT #25, Valiant Entertainment

____ Farel Dalrymple, THE WRENCHIES, First Second Books

____ Terry Moore, RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studios

____ Dan Parent, KEVIN KELLER, Archie Comic Publications

____ Andy Runton, X-O MANOWAR #25, Valiant Entertainment

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY

____ ARMOR HUNTERS #1, Valiant Entertainment

____ “Breaking Out”, DARK HORSE PRESENTS #35, Dark Horse Comics

____ JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER: WITCHES #4, Archaia/BOOM! Studios

____ MULTIVERSITY: PAX AMERICANA, DC Comics

____ RAI #1, Valiant Entertainment

Awards seasons continues to barrel along, with the announcement that Harvey Awards nomination ballet is online and available. Nominations are for work published in the 2014 calendar year (cough cough This One Summer, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant, cough cough) and the winners will be presented Saturday, September 26th, 2015 as part of the Baltimore Comic-Con.
 
Voting is open to comics professionals; the deadline is Monday, May 11th, 2014.
 
Sponsors for the last year’s 2014 Harvey Awards included Presenting Sponsors Cards, Comics & Collectibles and the Baltimore Comic-Con; Gold Sponsors BOOM! Studios and Comic WOW!, Silver Sponsors Akuna Entertainment, ComicMix, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, Insight Studios Group; Painted Visions Comics, Top Shelf Productions, and Valiant; and Gift Bag Sponsors Abrams ComicArts, Archie Comic Publications, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC Entertainment, Del Rey Publishing, Dynamite Entertainment, First Second, Popfun Collectibles, and Valiant Entertainment. Companies interested in sponsoring this year’s awards can email harveys @ baltimorecomiccon.com.

Over the year’s there has been much controversy about voting blocks getting in various comics deemed “unworthy.” The best way to counter that is to up the number of votes by participating. If you can’t think of what to vote for there will soon be a number of online suggestions from publishers. Or if I might suggest this list of best graphic novels of 2014 just to jog your memory. IF you know of other best of lists as memory aids, post links in the comments.

2014 was an amazing and incredible year of comics with depth and width and everything else. The Harveys can reflect that but it depends on YOU!

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We’re here at the Baltimore Hyatt for the 2013 Harvey Award ceremony! Sponsored by Guinness Beer! Despite that dangerous sounding circumstance, things are this far under control. Bill Willingham is tonight’s MC and keynote speaker. To start out he notes that he’ll only be telling embarrassing anecdotes about people he knows; people he only knows a bit will have an embarrassing anecdote from his own past.

Willingham: We were looked on as the realm of idiots and imbeciles, but it’s changed and now we’re in libraries. and our circulation figures have made us the darlings of libraries. It’s been a long road to acceptance. Willingham’s speech covered the istory of the world and the history of comics, via such things as the Altamira and Lascaux cave paintings. “They were and are the first writings of man, dating back 40,000 years.” He noted that the cave paintings may be religious in nature but perhaps were stories. Another theory is that they were calendars. “I suspect that something this widepsread and popualr that covered the entire globe and civilization had to have a single father. No matter why and what they are they are graphic images placed in a sequence to convey a story. What are they? Comic books. the first recorded language of man was comic books. Comic books started everything and led to all civilizations.”

He welcomed novelists the newcomer medium “to the table of writers,” Willingham went on. “You’ve written some ripping yarns in your time, You show promise and deserve many accolades, but comic books were the language of humans for 40,000 years.”

AFter a round of heart applause, for the pep talk. Joe Staton is the first presenter for best coloring and lettering. Best letterer is …in a huge upset…TODD KLEIN! “When I saw the proposal for Fables i knew we had a winner and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”

Best Colorist: Fiona Staples! Upset! Fiona is not present so Image’s Ron Richards accepts.

Up next: Roger Langridge to present. Best Comic strip: DICK TRACY! by Joe Staton and Mick Curtis! Seriously a bit of a Surprise, he brought up his police consultant for Dick Tracy. Very special to see an industry veteran and all-star nice guy Staton win an award. Curtis thanks the brilliant creator of the strip Chester Gould, and the keepers of hte flame Al Collins, Dick Locher, Mike Killian. “This is the first time a HArvey has been awarded to an adventure strip and one of this venerableness,” he noted.

Best Webcomic: Battlepug by Mike Norton, Carolyn Belefski gets up to accept. Wilingham calls out Fables editor Shelly Bond in the house—it’s definitely a Fable kinda night.

Next up, Fables collaborator Mark Buckingham who was expecting Willingham to jibe him but instead he was praised. Best American edition of foriegn material winner is…BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL. Another win for this international treat. Diana Schutz is up to present in a stunning tunic ensemble. “Muchas Gracias,” she starts. “Please continue to support international comics, there’s a lot more out there and with your support we can bring you more.”

Buckingham tributes Fables, noting it’s always a thrill to get a script even after a decade.

Best Inker is up next: Klaus Janson wins for Captain America. Mark Waid is Marvel’s designated acceptor tonight.

Ron Frenz is up for the first special award of the night, the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award. “What is a Sal Buscema?” he begins. Yay!. “he is an incredible talent, part of the foundation of what became the Marvel Style and universe and built on what Stan and Jack built.” he runs down Buscema’s life starting in Booklyn and learning paste-up and interning in general. He volunteered to get drafted early because he wanted to get it out of the way. ONCe in the army be came an illustrator.” After leaving the army got work in many commercial arts studios in the 50s. He also once punched a bear in the throat. Maybe. Buscema and his wife have been married sicne the 60s. He once told Stan Lee to turn it down a little. He regrets to this day he did pencilling samples because he had wanted to be an inker, a dream job he finally got upon his retirement, saving pencils everywhere,
including me,” Frenz joked. “I can’t think of anybody who deserves a lifetime achievemnt awards as much as this gentleman who has done this body of work. he believes in comics as a craft, as many of us do. If the audience sees art, that’s great, but I think he looks back on it as a wonderful way of feeding his family for all these years and is very grateful for that opportunity.”

I’m pretty thrilled by this, always having loved Buscema’s gorgeous craftsmanship. Buscema comes up and is genuinely moved. “He forgot to mention I did those cave paintings. I’m overwhelmed by this, I really am. I never expected anything as wonderful as this. It was Mark Twain who said do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. I haven’t done damn thing for 45 years.”

Buscema recalled his first meeting with Stan Lee, who jumped around the room showing how the comics should be made, jumping on is desk. “I was absolutely terrified I was in the rom with a madman, but he got his point across.” He mentions the simplicity of Herb Trimpe, and thanks Stan for giving him his career, and the dozen of talented people he’s worked with. “It’s been mind boggling to me.” He became very choked up remembering the time that he told his wife he wanted to change careers and get into comics and she said “Go for it.” A very touching moment. Anyway a great salute to a wonderful artist.

Valiants Dinesh Shamdasani is up next for best new series. “It’s hard to believe these great books didn’t exist a year ago,” he notes. True! Saga is the Winner! I predict many appearances for Ron Richards.

Most Promising New Talent: Shamdasani notes they play money ball at Valiant by picking under recognized talent. The winner is…Dennis Ho[eless for Avengers Arena. Mark Waid is back!

Bob Chapman is up and gives the rub to books for younger readers and humor, which expand the sustainability of the industry. Funny winner is Ryan North for Adventure Time. Danielle Corsetto is up to accept.

Best comic for kids: Adventure Time! Shocker there. Corsetto comes up and talks about how much she loves the show and her own work on the OGN.

Tonights new line is punching a bear in the throat and whether you have done it or not. Adams claims to have punched a bear in the FACE.

Best Previously published Grahpic Album: is ALIEN by Walt Simonson and Archie Goodwin. SImonson is on hand and gets a tremendous reception. HE thanks John Workman for getting him the gig and Archie Goodwin.

Best Anthology : Dark Horse Presents

Ramona Fradon is the best presenter! I was just wondering if any women were going to present! Best Domestic Reprint Project is David Mazzuchelli’s Daredevil Born Again. Scott Dunbier built an awards mint the day he came up with this idea. The dulcet tone of Dirk Wood is here to accept and he notes the efforts of people to put together Ikea shelves to fit these editions.

Best Cover Artist is David Aja in a tough category, but a well deserved win.

Bill Willingham come back with a pint of sponsor Guinness and praises presentation.

Mark Waid is up to present — people urge him to frink the GUinness but he resists somehow. Best Journalistic presnetation is…Robot 6! COngrats to my Robot 6 buddies…a very well deserved for a hardworking and insightful crew.

Best Presentation winner is of course Building Stories. Denis Kitchen takes his chance to get up and accept graciously.

The Harveys are moving along briskly save for the bear throating punching and some hooting and hollering from what sounds like a wedding in the next room and occasional ominous thunder-like rumblings from an unknown source. And now…Diamond owner Steve Geppi is up to present the Hero Initiative Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award to …Paul Levitz!

Willingham recalls calling Levitz over the years just to see if he’d take his call. WIllingham also recalls a long ago SPX softball game where the creators beat the Diamond team.

Geppi is up. “I met this young fella in 1973ish at a NY Comic Art show where I was on the second floor. A young Paul Levitz came up to my table_and keep in mind I was clueless—Paul was 17 or so. I had just bought a bunch of Spirit setions, and Paul had his checklist and went through the box and found the ones he needed. He pulled out a checkbook and I said “I don’t take checks.” And he siad but I’m Paul Levitz. I said I don’t care, I don’t take checks!”

Ah the golden days.

Geppi goes on to remember Dick Giordano for whom this award is named. HE would be proud to know that Paul would be getting this award.” Geppi praises his work on Earth 2, but his humanitarian efforts as well. “Paul in his executive position, worked on a lot of things that were outside the industry that were beneficial to a great many people in need. PAul, as a friend, friend, there has never been a better friend to the direct market than Paul Levitz. This industry went through a lot, and in the mid 90s when there was crack, there was this guy who had so much love for the industry. He took the time to analyze everything and study it—course I’m prejudiced I think he made a wise choice — but it became very clear to me, this guy who cerated HUntress was every bit as passionate about the industry as any one I had ever met. I had no clue I would get into distribution. Paul showed me there was business here and showed me there was a futrue. And this year we’ve been blessed. everyone shoudl be very proud they’ve stayed the course. Chapman, Buscema, KItchen. This man stood up for what was right and stood up for the retailer.”

A nice standing ovation for Paul, who says it is an honor to get an award named for Giordano. “He was a dear friend. HE was abig kid who jsut loved comics. He would talk about life and taught me important things like how to lie to my mother. Dick has in his humanitarian way had decided to tell his mother that her investments were doing better than she thought and put more money in her account. More important he taught me in the halls of DC the debt we had to the people before us. ANd that the artists in this business live much more precarious lives than the execs in this business.

“Everything Steve mentioned in terms of my love for comics is true. i was a fan and am thrilled to see what has happened. But it has all happened because of the creative people.not just today’s winners but the ones who cerated thigns that the winners read as kids that made them wnat to be in this business.”

Levitz points out what a good thing the Hero Initiative is to help out creators in their moment of need and “Thanks you for your roles in this crazy business of ours. This exists because we’re all lunatics.” He goes on to talk about the history and people coming into the industry. “We have had a great year and I see the books coming out and so many wonderful things we couldn’t’ do 20 years ago. I thank you all for creating the future but remembering the past. I’m glad you’re all crazy enough to be here rowing in the boat with me.”

Very true. The Hero Initiative is doing vita work and deserves all of our support.

Joe Hill is up and does some giggle inducing schtik about not wanting to present “Most graphic” album. INnformed it’s Best he presents it to Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score. Scott Dunbier and Darwyn Cooke win again!

Dean Haspiel is our next presenter. He threatens shirt removal, but so far its on! Haspiel recalls buying a copy of Shazam as a lad, and remembers buying Manhunter, and later helping Walt Simonson. Best continuing series is Saga. A big night for the crew. Ron Richards is up and also acknowledges the strong year.

Terry Moore is up to present Best Writer, This is a tough category! But of course it’s BKV — Ron Richards is getting a workout tonight.

Neal Adams, father of an earlier presenter comes up to present Best Artist. Willingham recalls sitting for two hours with Adams telling him the secrets of the industry and not remembering anything he said because the whole time he was thinking “I’m sitting here with Neal Adams.” And the best artist….will it be Staples or Aja? Adams wonders why he is being asked to present best artist, “Biggest Pain in the Ass.” The lesson he learned today “If you dont’ charge for you autograph you will never be the next Stan Lee.”

The wedding next door has moved into the Latin music portion of the dance.

FIONA STAPLES WON. If I had seen Neal Adams give the best artist award to Fiona Staples it would have been my childhood dream come true. Alas she is not here, but Ron Richard gets his last workout.

Best Cartoonist is…Jaime Hernandez, who else. Frank Stack accepts and is a little bemused.

The final award is presented by Stan Sakai who gets a very warm standing o. Stan is one of the great people in the industry and has had a hard year. Best Single Issue or Story….is SAGA #1! Wow a clean sweep that’s five awards for Saga. A nice evening with classy hosting by Willingham.

And I got to sit next to my writing comrade and better Michael Cavna.