Zen and the art of reading book reviews (when they don't like your book)

Storm Tide just got it's first bad review. I won't go into detail, since I'm not into self flagellation, but let's just say this reader won't be picking up my next book in a hurry.

So what's a gal to do? How does one respond to such a thing? I mean I don't have to respond to him actually, he's somewhere in Florida, thank goodness, a whole continent away, but I mean in my heart, how am I to respond?

My first reaction was to give him the finger (figuratively, of course), but now I'm not sure where to go from there. Maybe he has something valuable to say. Maybe there's something in his dislike for the book that can teach me something. Hmmm... maybe I'm not ready to move on to that reaction yet. Give me a day or two of sticking him the finger.

I guess it was inevitable that someone wouldn't like my book. Maybe many people won't, but that's not going to stop me is it? Surely not. Maybe I'll just ignore it, turn that page and move on to the next project (with a quick review of positive reviews to bolster me first). And while I'm at it I'll practice the art of being zen about bad book reviews. Ommmmmmm.....

Usher and Akon

I went to an Usher concert the other day. Let me set the stage for you. Vancouver and it's pouring rain and my son, our friend and I and, oh about 20 thousand other people stream onto Rogers stadium. We all find our seats ( yes we were sitting apart-who wants embarrassing old mum sitting next to them after all) and the concert started. At first two men and a turntable came on and I thought did we come all the way to Vancouver for this? But then Akon came on and the crowd exploded and all was good. Favourite moments? When Akon put on a Canucks jersey and the crowd exploded. When Usher rode a platform across the arena in a space man's suit and watching my boys have the time of their lives. Worse moment? When Usher dripped sweat all over the girl he brought up on stage. Is Usher sweat worth more than most people's. She seemed to think so, but oh yuck.