As a new author, there is nothing more nerve-wracking then receiving your first reviews. Nothing compares to the awefully intense feeling that someone, out there, took the time to read your book, and most of all, felt compelled to share an opinion on it.
As a reviewer myself, I know it's just not possible to love everything you read, and sometimes is difficult to keep those reviews professional and not let your emotions run wild with your writing (something I prefer to do in my stories :p), so to me, being on the other side of the fence, looking out to a world that is just starting to acknowledge me as a writer, it's simply overwhelming.
Every time a new review comes up a part of me prepares itself to the inevitable "bad review", because let's face it, eventually it will come.
So far I have been blessed to receive some incredible comments, both from friends and collegues, but also from complete strangers that took a chance on "Bites" and discovered a new love. How long will it last? The Gods know! But it's funny how easy it is to get overconfident. I hope I never make that error in judgement, and that I'll always be able to keep an open mind, especially towards criticism.
Big breath, big girl panties on.