Shawn L. Bird

You know what I love?  I love getting feedback from readers.  It is so incredibly gratifying to have someone telling me what they’re thinking as they’re immersed in Grace’s world.

At the moment, one of my grade seven students is reading a bound draft copy of Grace Awakening.  Yesterday we finished silent reading and were busily working on socials projects when she looked up at me and blurted out, “Mrs. Bird!  I can’t stop thinking about that phone conversation Grace overheard about Ben!”   Today as silent reading ended, she put the book down slowly and grumbled, “Why do we have to stop?  They’re on the train and the guy just got stabbed!” 

A boy across the aisle from her looked from her to me and said, “Mrs. Bird, your book sounds way more exciting than the one I’m reading!  I want to read your book next!”

Outside our Hallowe’en dance in the afternoon I was chatting with a young man.  He had told me that he was dressed as Ares, the god of war.  I explained that I knew Ares well, because he had a very significant scene in my book.  We discussed the differences between Ares and Mars, and then another boy, who’d been listening remarked, “I’m buying your book when it comes out, Mrs. Bird.  It sounds awesome.”

It is quite crazy to have this amazing opportunity to touch lives and experiences with my words.  I’m not sure that it’s as suited to the boys as they think, but the fact that I can discuss these gods with them is fun.  It’s also wonderful to give them a chance to connect with “a real writer.”  Mothers have come up to me in the hall and asked about my book because their child has told them about it.  It is all rather surreal.

I can’t wait until book launch time!  More than that, I can’t wait until AFTER the launch when there are lots of readers to discuss the book with!

11 months to go…