Prize nomination for LONGYEARBYEN

I’ve won a few prizes in my career as a writer - but I’m far better at being nominated. Most notably, I’ve been nominated for the Brage Prize three times. It’s definitely not record-setting in terms of the number of times, but I don’t think many people have been nominated for this particular prize with three books in a row. I’m of course proud of this achievement, but after the third time it felt pretty annoying too - with the prize dangling just beyond my reach! The last time I went to the prize ceremony, I jokingly said that if I didn’t win it this time, I would feel like Leonardo DiCaprio, who famously kept getting Oscar nominations without actually winning. However, this was 2016, the year when DiCaprio WOULD go on to winning - so I can no longer compare myself to him.

Well - this year I’m not a contender for the Brage Prize, but I recently got nominated for a different prize: Ungdommens kritikerpris. This prize has been modeled after the French Prix Goncourt des Lycéens, which works like this: Ten critics select twelve literary works as nominees, and some two thousand lycée students read and discuss the books and ultimately vote on the winner. The Norwegian prize has eight nominees, chosen by three critics. Seven classes from seven schools, with students aged 17 - 19, will be reading the books and selecting a winner.

I’m nominated for my latest book Longyearbyen, along with three novels, two poetry collections and two short story collections. The statement from the critics can be found here - in Norwegian, of course. The highlight is maybe the description of my book as a “slow burn thriller”! I’m also pleased to receive praise for the efforts that went into the historical research.

I will have to wait until March 18 2021 to find out if I win, or if this will be yet another one for the nominations catalogue! My fellow nominees are all excellent, so I won’t prepare an “Oscar speech” - I’m just happy that Longyearbyen has been seen and appreciated in this way.