American author Seanan McGuire has received a record-breaking five nominations for the prestigious Hugo Awards.

American author Seanan McGuire "cried a lot" when she heard the news of her receiving a record-breaking five nominations for the Hugo Awards. This award is known to be America's most prestigious Science Fiction prize.

Mira Grant is the pen name McGuire writes under. Her novel "Blackout" has been shortlisted for the Best Novel. "San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoat" has also won her a spot in the shortlist for the best novella prize. As McGuire, she was shortlisted - twice - for the best novelette award, for the self-published "In Sea-Salt Tears" and "Rat-Catcher". She was also shortlisted for the best Fancast prize.

"Those of you with keen eyes may have noticed my name a time or two," McGuire wrote on her blog. "So here are my firsts for this year: First woman to appear on the ballot four times in fiction categories alone. First person to appear on the ballot five times in a single year. First person to appear on the ballot with a purely self-published work."

The author revealed that she had "cried a lot" and eaten nothing but ice-cream on hearing the news about her nominations. "I am grateful and honored and terrified and fragile and amazed, because this ballot represents the best of 2012 in a very concrete way. I see so many works there that blew my mind, and I look forward to experiencing the rest. Thank you so much. I will try very hard not to let you down," said the excited author.

Others who will also be competing for this year's best novel prize include Kim Stanley Robinson for "2312", Lois McMaster Bujold for "Captain Vorpatril's Alliance", John Scalzi for "Redshirts" and Saladin Ahmed for "Throne of the Crescent Moon."