We are five days away from the official, international release day of "Call Me Anorexic: The Ballad of a Thin Man," but because it is already available on Amazon.com and callmeanorexic.net, a number of people are already reading the novel. I am getting some feedback via texts and email--so far so good--but I'm ready for all types of reactions. The novel is different and challenging at times. It's also wildly profane in some sections, so I'm not sure if everyone is going to understand the authorial intent behind those passages. And there is an intent. There is meaning to every event, pop culture reference (pay attention to the films, especially), and doctor interaction (I'm not going to give too much away, but read those doctors' names carefully). Some readers may try to put the psychological puzzle together, and others may just enjoy the narrative. That's the way it should be. Some readers may like the book and some may say, "Nah Ken, a bit much for me." As David says midway through the book, "Some people like Pink and some people like Floyd." Interpret that any way you want, but I know it's rare for all patrons of the arts agree on everything. How boring would that world be? Of course, I'm hoping everyone will be invested in the characters and narrative until the last word. I believe in the book--I know this is a story that's never been told before. So I'm looking forward to seeing how readers respond, and I'm encouraging everyone to review it either here, on Amazon, or on social media. I know I didn't write a one or two-star book, and I'm anticipating positive notices, but I'm also a music critic who has given plenty of bad reviews over the last thirty years. Let's just say I'm ready for all reviews and reactions. Here's a story for you. In the '90s, I reviewed a punk/metal band in Boston. They weren't very good--in fact, they were borderline inept. I gave them a negative review, which provoked the band to put a fatwa on me. Yes, they threatened me with death. I kept getting death threats through emails and phone calls at my job at The Boston Tab. At first, I was alarmed, but then I thought "Who is really going to kill a B-level music critic over a lousy review?" These guys must have spent too much time watching the Goth version of "I Spit on Your Grave." After the thirtieth email threatening to kill me if I ever stepped foot in the Middle East Club in Cambridge, I decided to write back, "You can't do anything worse to me than I've already done to myself." The emails and phone calls stopped. A week later, I got a letter at work that said, "The band disagrees with what you wrote, and we really hate your writing, but you don't have to worry about going to the Middle East anymore." True story. I realized beneath all the anger and waves of feedback (and terrible guitar playing), they were just sensitive artists who wanted to be liked--crazy and a bit ridiculous sensitive artists, but still artists. All artists want their work to be appreciated, but we need to be prepared for all types of reactions. And I am. My only fear is people not having any reaction at all. The horror! Reader indifference is the only enemy of the writer (besides himself--relax, yes, yes, I could have written herself).