Spring Fever
Spring is in the air, and I’m loving every minute of it. We’ve had a warm spell lately and the flowers are blooming everywhere. I think spring is my favorite season since the weather is warm enough for short sleeves but we haven’t hit the sweltering summer of southern Virginia.
Yesterday I felt like I joined the ranks of Sports Moms. You know, the mothers with minivans who tote around bags of sports equipment, running from one sport to the next, while cheering on their kids. It began with my daughter’s swimming lesson. Ever since she learned she wasn’t Jesus and couldn’t walk on water, each lesson has been a Dramatic Crisis filled with screaming and protests. 
She somehow blames her falling in the water on her instructor. Each time she sees him, she cries, which makes for a wonderful lesson. 
Anyway, I bypassed the drama by bribing her. The child will sell her soul for M&Ms, and is quite willing to consider drowning if it means she’ll get a small snack. I suppose this may make me a rotten mother, but hey, at least she’s facing her fear. After these sessions, I’ll probably let her stop until she’s a little older.
After that, we dashed to Mickey D’s to grab some food before my son’s t-ball game. T-ball amuses me. Each time a player throws a ball to another, the catcher looks at him as if to say, “What? You expect me to get hot and tired by chasing that thing? Go get it yourself!” And then there’s batting where the kids bat the ball and then chase after it instead of running to first base. 
My last bit of good news is that I received my first book review from Romantic Times Magazines. They gave me 4 stars! 
Here’s what the reviewer had to say: “Willingham not only delves into medieval culture, she also tells the dark side of being a woman in that era. Abuse, marriages made for gain and the lack of rights for women in that time are prevalent throughout this tale of love. The bright side is that in romantic fiction, a happy ending is expected, and it’s delivered in this excellent, plot-driven, page-turner of a book.” 
I’m so glad to have survived my first book review! So, out of curiosity, do you pay any attention to reviews or do you mostly rely on word of mouth to try a new author? For me it’s word of mouth and if I see the book in many different venues (online promotion, book displays, anything where I see it all the time). That, or if the book has a handsome-looking hunk on the cover!
Michelle posted in Writing @ 6:45 am | Viewed 2455 times
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
Congrats on the great review, Michelle!!!
Melissa Says:
We’ve had some lovely spring days here, too, as well as spring showers! Congrats on the book review!
I watched my little brother play t-ball and my nephew - it always cracked me up, especially when the pitcher “threw” the imaginary ball.
Melissa Mc Says:
Congrats on the review, Michelle!
Nienke Says:
Great news about the review Michelle! Congratulations! What will you do to celebrate?
Heidi Dahlquist Says:
Wow, thats a great review…..I’m soooooo happy for you. You deserve it!
Heidi =)
jeanne s. Says:
Congrats on the good review. I’m afraid I don’t pay a lot of attention to them though. I know of reviewers that do it just to get the books and always say nice things etc. I prefer word of mouth. And then again, no two people like a book the same way so I prefer finding out for myself. Still it has to feel good to get a good one
We finally have spring weather too and lots of rain but I’m not complaining lol.
Tori Lennox Says:
Great review!!!
LauraP Says:
Congrats on the great review! LOL on the t-ball observations. My daughter was an umpire for the local league and says the quickest way to clear to field is say ‘look at the bunny over there.’
mary beth Says:
YAY Michelle! Awesome review.
I don’t pay attention to regular reviews. I buy based on author, word of mouth, cover, back cover copy. If I’m still unsure after all that, I buy based on page 1.
Kelly Says:
Great news on the review - congratulations!
Michelle Styles Says:
Congrats on the great review Michelle.
I saw recent stats on how people buy books Number one is author’s name, 2 friend’s rec. 3. back cover blurb, 4 review and then 5 cover. The Sunday Telegraph reviewer was most put out to be so far down the list. With something of around 20% of respondents even saying that they took reviews into consideration.