Yesterday the shortlists were announced for the British Comic Awards, with each category containing five books from a longlist of eligible works. I'm chuffed and delighted to be able to tell you that The Complete Rainbow Orchid has been selected for the category of the Young People's Comic Award.

I do not envy the job of the BCA committee to whittle down the books to just five - when you look at the longlist then you could quite easily and legitimately replace any of the shortlist books with other titles - Teenytinysaurs, Pirates of Pangea, Corpse Talk, Porcelain, etc. It just makes my own inclusion even more of a (nice) surprise.

I honestly couldn't say who might win - all my fellow nominees bring excellent books to the list, with a refreshing diversity in subject matter and of publishers. I think my own chances are low, but that might just be natural, defensive pessimism! Still, you never know, and it's a lovely thing to have got this far - I'll bask in it while it lasts.

The British Comic Awards is something that is good for all comics in that it raises awareness, gets people talking, and celebrates the medium. My huge thanks to the BCA committee for the vote of confidence, and my thanks to all those who have sent congratulations.