Young adult author Lauren Myracle has withdrawn from consideration for the 2011 National Book Awards. On Twitter, writers and readers have rallied to support Myracle at the #isupportshine hashtag.
The author (pictured, with young fans) was named during the National Book Award announcement last week. According to the AP, a communication problem put Myracle’s Shine on the finalist list instead of Franny Billingsley‘s Chime.
Here’s more from the AP: “Her decision, announced Monday by Amulet Books, follows a miscommunication last week between judges and the award’s sponsors … Myracle said in a statement that she was asked by the foundation to withdraw to ‘preserve the integrity’ of the awards process.”
The Huffington Post had a short statement from the National Book Foundation (NBF): “”We have no comment at this time. We only just saw it ourselves.”
Publishers Weekly had more on Twitter: “Myracle says ‘something positive’ to come of the NBF’s error: NBF to donate $5000 to Matthew Shepard Foundation.”