I just received my first ‘low’ review of Grace Awakening: a 3/5.
I feel so badly!
Not for my ego, because I have no argument with any of the points raised. No. I feel badly because this poor reader felt at the end of Book One: Awakening Dreams that she was left hanging in the air. She was irritated.
Oh dear. When I read her review, I recognised the feeling only too well. After all, I wrote about it here in the blog just yesterday.
She felt I’d given her The Empire Strikes Back.
Darn.
I wrote Grace Awakening as a single story in one six month period. When we decided that it would be better as two books, because of the two settings and character groups, the one thing I kept repeating to my editor was, “I don’t want anyone to have that Empire Strikes Back feeling!” We edited and added to fine tune the story arc with that specific goal in mind.
I feel terrible. I know I’m getting lots of great reviews from readers who are satisfied with the ending. They know there is more to come and some mysteries need to remain to connect the series. I still feel badly to have frustrated someone. I really do know how that feels. I hate it!
So if you’re a reader who felt there wasn’t enough resolution for you at the end of Grace Awakening Dreams, I promise you’ll be happier at the end of Grace Awakening Power. Grace’s loose ends are all tied up there. We’re going somewhere else for books three and four,so I am not going to torture you for years as you wait for books to come out. ;-P
In the meantime, please accept my apology about your frustration.
George Lucas never gave me an apology, and I’m still ticked off about it.
.
PS.
When Lintusen releases the paper version in a few months, we’re going to include both books one and two in an omni-bus. I am wondering what people think about having both e-books combined as one e-book as well, perhaps offered for 50c less than buying them separately? That means you’d be able to buy the first for 99c, as you can now. The second book is being released at $2.99, so both are $3.98. The omnibus of both books would be something like $3.49. It’d be kind of a 50c reward for people who already know they are going to want both because they’ve heard great things. What do you think? If you have an opinion about this idea, leave me a comment!
Shawn L. Bird 
this letter is purple September 14, 2011
Tags: acceptance, BC, education, gender, homosexuality, identity, inclusion, postaday2011, purple letter campaign, Ryan Clayton, schools, trans-gender
Every one of my students is special and unique.
I don’t care if they’re white, black, green or purple.
I don’t care if they are drama kids, jocks, or computer nerds.
I don’t care if they are tattoed, pierced, or sport virgin skin.
I don’t care if they are rich or poor.
I don’t care who they want to have sex with.
I don’t want any of my students to feel hopeless and alone because of gender identity or sexual orientation .
I care that my students feel valued and safe.
I care that they can get information they need to live healthy and happy lives.
I care that they have role models who can show them how to behave respectfully, amid individual differences.
I care that they know their biology is not a crime or a sin.
I care that they know that they are worthy of acceptance and respect.
I care that they leave school and lead productive lives full of love and friendship.
I want each of them to choose life.
I support the purple letter campaign to adopt a provincial policy of inclusion and acceptance in our schools.
Our kids are worth it.
All of them.
.
PS. I’m proud of my former student, Ryan Clayton. He does amazing work to raise issues of sexuality in our province. He makes a difference for students who need the message of acceptance that he brings to them. For some, it is a matter of life and death. Thanks, Ryan!
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