Author not counting all his oranges until they are picked...

THE real life experiences of a Scotsman and his family buying an orange farm in Majorca and trying to make a go of living off the land on the island are proving a hit in the United States. Snowball Oranges by Peter Kerr has been short listed for the forthcoming American Book of the Year Awards 2003 in the Narrative Travel Category.
Nominated by a jury of booksellers, librarians, reviewers and other industry professionals who selected a short list of finalists in each genre published in the USA in any given year. The books are chosen on originality of narrative, value the book adds to its genre and its ability to entertain. The final awards will be presented at Book Expo America in Los Angeles on May 30.
The American Book of the Year Awards are organised by the USA's leading literary review magazine, Foreword and were established to recognise the literary achievements of authors in a wide range of categories. For Peter Kerr, simply being nominated is a considerable achievement because of the competition's importance in the United States and the publicity it generates. However, landing the $1.500 prize money will be an added bonus. “Having Snowball Oranges short listed for such an important American award as this, comes as a surprise to compare with having its sequel Mañana, Mañana short listed for Britain's WH Smith Book of the Year Awards last year. “We were ultimately pipped at the post for the latter, and I'm not counting any oranges before they're picked this time either,” Peter Kerr said. “But it's a huge thrill to be nominated for the finals nonetheless, and it's great to know that my books about Majorca are receiving such wide recognition,” he added.