Stephanie Gayle

This weekend I discovered that two reviews of MY SUMMER OF SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT were out, so I hied myself posthaste to said reviews and read as fast as I can.

The first, from Publisher's Weekly, refers to me "as short story writer Gayle" which I found odd, since I consider myself a novelist. Then I remembered that all the reviewer would have seen for publication credits would be short stories (stories I wrote after MSOSD). It's a good review. They take issues with some of my sentences (and then go on to cite an example which contains the phrase 'pubic hair'. Thanks PW! That won't make reading it to my parents awkward. At all.)

The PW review concludes, "Don't be fooled by the ditzy jacket art." Hahahahahahaha. Good one.

Today I found my Booklist review. Someday, sometime I must have done something wonderful, karma-wise, because here's how that review ends: "In this finely crafted debut novel, Gayle evinces a superb mastery of character development, rendering Natalie's various crises of faith with empathetic authenticity, endearing humor, and enviable grace."

I have to lie down now. That made my head spin. Wow.

I read that last line to Tracey and we both started laughing, because "enviable grace" is generally not a virtue I possess. You've never known anyone more likely to spontaneously injure themselves than me.

Now, if you'll excuse me I believe I have a cake to bake. Yes, yes, I was supposed to do it yesterday but I got bogged down with roommate interviews and editing stories and other mundane things. If ever, however, there was a reason for cake, that Booklist review is the reason.

Off to bake with enviable grace!