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Daniel Handler (also known as Lemony Snicket) will host the National Book Awards

According to the National Book Foundation, the writer will be the first master of ceremonies to have published books in both the children's and adult fiction categories.

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Stephen Chernin/AP
Daniel Handler will host the National Book Awards this fall.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Author Daniel Handler, often known by the pen name Lemony Snicket, has been selected to host the National Book Awards in November.

According to the National Book Foundation, Handler is the first master of ceremonies to have released books in both the adult and children’s categories. 

The writer has been involved with the National Book Awards before. In 2008, Handler served as the chair for the panel that decided who would receive the National Book Award for best young people’s literature.

“Daniel Handler is witty, charming, and one of the best writers in America,” Foundation Executive Director Harold Augenbraum said in a statement. “We are looking forward to a wonderful National Book Awards evening this year with him as host.”

According to the Associated Press, Handler said that he believed he was receiving a National Book Award when Augenbraum got in touch with him.

“Um, guess again,” Augenbraum said.

The ceremony will be held on Nov. 19.

Handler will release a new book for adults, titled “We Are Pirates,” this February. Under the name Lemony Snicket, he published the “Series of Unfortunate Events” books, the “All the Wrong Questions” series, and other titles such as “The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming.” As Handler, he’s released books such as “Adverbs” and “Why We Broke Up.” 

As to whether Snicket has any upcoming projects, when the Monitor spoke with Handler after the publication of the first book in the "All the Wrong Questions" series, he took a rather dire view of the situation.

"I prefer not to make commitments too far in advance,” he says. “One of us could get hit by a train tomorrow and it could all be over."

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