And the Winner Is….
I’m delighted to announce the dedicatee of this year’s book, drawn from my ratty old hat without favour or prejudice. Ernest Pig was nominated by his Humans and he seems a particularly appropriate winner because The Grand Duchess of Nowhere already contains a couple of Ernests: Grand Duke Ernie of Hesse and Ernst, Prince of Hohenlohe. E.Pig (if you’re interested in a pig’s perspective you can follow him on Twitter @ErnestPig) will now complete the triumvirate. Okay, a pig doesn’t count as a vir. You know perfectly well what I mean.
My husband, who is allergic to anything containing a trace of whimsy, will argue that no animal’s name should have been included in the list of candidates. ‘What’s the point?’ he’ll say. ‘Can a pig read a novel?’ Obviously not, though a pig might appreciate the quality of the paper on which it’s printed. And as I explained in an earlier post, dedications aren’t always received with gratitude. Sometimes they pass completely unnoticed, even by humans.
Anyway, the pig has it! Good. I appreciate pigs. I enjoy observing them and eating them and it is now with great pleasure I shall dedicate a book to one. Commiserations to those who weren’t chosen this time. But I’m already at work on next year’s book so you can try again next March.
Congratulations to Ernest Pig!
I have such a soft spot for piggies… though they are better in theory than practice. A while ago I had a terrifying neighbor pig who I’m sure would have eaten me, if he’d had the chance…