Spinning with Kudos

Its been a while since I have posted. Somehow life keeps going too fast. Beginning today with my very first blog review at Crash Course Widow, there will be a series of reviews of my book. You can see the list at TLC Book Tours. They will be running through the end of December. I am looking forward to these reviews as they will be written by people who are either widows, single mothers or by people who simply enjoy reading which in my mind will make them a little more real than the journalistic type of reviews that I have received so far. My first review has proved to be just that -- honest and straightforward, not gushing, but appreciative. For me, the reward of writing the book is in how it resonates with others, and in how it may help them through a tiny piece of their grief, no matter how small. This is what makes the "blog tour" so meaningful for me. I have also received a couple of other kudos in the past couple of weeks. Alchemy of Loss has been "longlisted" for the BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction, the biggest non-fiction literary prize in Canada. The shortlist will be announced this month. It feels a little like the Oscars and I can't resist the temptation to utter the cliché "I am just thrilled to be nominated," although that is truly my sentiment. As if that wasn't enough, yesterday Alchemy was listed in the Globe and Mail under the Best 100 of 2008. My head is spinning.