J.K. Rowling led the list of writers winning prizes at the first Quill Book Awards on Tuesday, and singer/songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the biography/memoir prize.
The Quills, aiming to become a flashier event than other literary awards, added "Oscar" touches like a red carpet for authors, comedy stars to entertain guests and some well known hosts from the television world. The winners were determined by online consumer voting from a list of nominees put forward by a national panel of 6,000 librarians and booksellers.
Rowling won the prize for book of the year and best children's book for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" while Dylan won best biograpy/memoir for "Chronicles: Volume One," his personal history as a musician and tortured pop icon. Neither author was on hand to accept their award. But Rowling, who said her travel was limited because she needed to look after her young child, gave a video-taped acceptance.