Those of you who remember "Ren and Stimpy" may know what I'm talking about when I say that I've been singing the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song to myself for a few days now. This is because I've been shortlisted for the Orange Prize for New Writers over in the UK, which is a prize for first books written by a woman and published in English.

http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/show/feature/home/orange-obanw-2008-shortli...

This was unexpected for a couple of reasons--first that I was even nominated, and second that I believed that if I were to be up for a prize, it would be for next year. The UK edition of Monsters just came out a few weeks ago, so I had no idea it'd be up for a prize so early. While I write in the mornings, I have to take one-minute dance party breaks to get out the energy. Imagine one woman in a book-lined room, rocking out to Kanye West. Sad, but true.

Even if I don't get it (Lauren Liebenberg, another woman on the shortlist, is up for the main Orange prize, too; and Joanna Kavenna is a really stellar writer), it's an honor. Plus, I get to go to London, which is always a treat.

So, yes: Happy, happy. Joy, joy.