It's always flattering to get a review but especially so when the review is by someone respected within the literary community as being an avid reader, book lover and a smart and thoughtful critic. And it's undeniably nicer to receive a rave review than one that gets referred to, rather delicately, as "mixed"...
So I was very pleased and honoured when I saw the wholly positive and generous review of Bird Eat Bird by Steph VanderMeulen on her excellent blogsite Bella's Bookshelves. As well reading and reviewing an incredible number of books and blogging regularly about all things literary, Steph works as a copy editor, independent bookseller and writer. She's also been helping to promote 2011 - The Year of the Short Story or YOSS 2011. And she is active on Twitter and should be followed immediately by anyone who has ever read a book as well as anyone who might possibly contemplate reading one in the future.
Side note: Even more heart-and-ego-warming than the review itself was hearing directly from Steph afterwards that reading my book had re-inspired her to start writing fiction again.*
*Side note re: side note: I suspect she was going to start anyway and it just happened coincidentally while reading my book but I'm of course more than happy to take some credit when her award-winning tales are published in the future!...
