Reviews and Updates

December is, as always, a complete rush, from beginning to end, so I'm a little late posting.Two fantastic reviews of Clearwater were released this month.The first is a one-two punch from Devin Pacholik - a review on his website, then a review on Global Regina. (It's the second book reviewed, right after a book on Canada's pensions, which I think would be a perfect book for my dad.)My grandma was pretty excited to see my book on TV. She said it took a minute to register that it was my book. It was nice, though, for her to see it, as she doesn't have access to the internet.Devin is one of the first to mention the crossover potential of Clearwater from adult lit fiction to YA, which I was happy about. I intended it as adult, but many of my students are reading it and seem to like it.Devin is a great supporter of Saskatchewan writers - spend some time clicking through the reviews on his site. There are some great reads!Penny from Literary Hoarders also posted a review of Clearwater. She really seemed to connect with the characters, and really got what I was trying to do with the novel. Literary Hoarders is a review site that tells it like it is. When I'm looking for a book to read, Literary Hoarders is one of my go-to sites. Their reviews are honest and sometimes blunt, and I really enjoy the diversity of the books they review. They cross genres and borders to share the good ones, and I'm honoured to have received such positive attention from them.A quick update - More news is forthcoming, but I want to mention that my next reading is in Winnipeg on January 9 at McNally Robinson. The event page hasn't been updated yet, but I'm excited to announce that I will be reading with my "UBC camp bestie" Katherena Vermette, this year's Governor General winner for poetry. Kate's going to read some of her amazing new fiction. Also, my cousin, Ashley MacLennan, who has written a number of successful series under the pseudonym Sierra Dean, will be reading as well, from her literary fiction. (I'm lucky to have read both women's works-in-progress and even luckier that such talented writers have agreed to share a mic with me!)Grateful for all this goodness.More to come...