Most writers ask, and eventually readers deliver, but it's always a good chance that negative reviews will be less than supportive in tone. A few times I've had the great experience of a "negative" review that was respectful, kind and even went beyond the call of duty to carefully walk through strengths and weaknesses.

While I won't single it out, I got one such review this morning on Beautiful Wreck.

I can't - or don't want to - write to this person. There is a shared imaginary wall that allows for candid reviews, and I don't want to break it. But I wish I could.

Like several of the other mixed reviews, this person's thoughtfully pointed out techniques and elements that I know are stronger in my second and third books (underway.) It makes me excited to bring something new to readers.

It's strange. I thought I was really thin-skinned, and that being a first time novelist was going to be emotionally difficult. It turns out that the exchange can be a lot better than I expected. How often does that happen?

p.s. Now, on to work on a new cover for the the book -- a new look that will capture the beauty of Iceland and relate to the plan for Book 2! It's all exciting and frightening.