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huzzahhhhhhh :)

Way to go, BPo!!!

woww ... This is the real picture? ..
I imagine being in it ..


Greetings from far away Indonesia.
asked permission to follow you ...
If you have time, please visit my blog and follow course .. .. thank you.

Hooray for you, B2!!!!!!!!!

Way to go, Ms. Slither!

Still have NO idea how that nickname applies. She's the flat-out kindest person I've met on the e-webs.)

Smart women rock.

Sounds like my type of series-- Mystery- driven. I like it! And although you can't see me, I'm dancing. :D

Nice dip!

Yep, real good review. Right up my alley as well.
Going to order for my Kindle. Now!

Cheers Hank

I'm dancing, because I enjoyed these books and thought they were well written as well as interesting and fresh. I gnashed my teeth at the end of the 3rd volume but saw no other way for the story to end.

The reviewer is just telling me something I already knew . . . that sharks can dance. (WTG Patrick, I love your books)

Terri

I read these last year - a friend of mine recommended them so I downloaded them onto the Kindle. Loved all three of them. Great storytelling, I could see everything in my head as if I was watching a movie (and they would make GREAT movies). k

I wish I had something more to say than...wow. Thank you for sharing that, Janet.

This is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing.

WOW, always loved TED, hadn't seen this one, thanks.

On a side note, another thing I got out of this was...a great example of voice.

Even with his limited knowledge of english, how he conveyed such a difficult concept as breaking down barriers with the most basic, paced, and eloquent examples of everyones commonality was inspiring.

Thank god he didn't use runonsentences like me.

Wow. Thanks.

Amen to that!

Love the caption - Reacher Meets His Maker. I hope He was pleased with what he saw.

I'm being stubborn. I refuse to watch a 5 foot how-ever-many-inches Jack Reacher. I'd rather keep my own image of Jack.

I didn't see the movie, but I always appreciate a good cameo. One of my favorites is John Irving in "Garp."

What?! I didn't notice at the theater...can't wait to tell Husband. Thanks for sharing this fun fact!

What a great movie! I heard Lee Child speak at Bouchercon in Baltimore a few years back, and he seemed like such a cool guy. I'm not a thriller reader, but seeing the movie totally made me want to read the books.

Yeah, I can imagine Tom Cruise pulling off 6'4", 250, ex MP?
Why, cose we know King Kong was 3 feet tall. Christ on a bike!

Writers just want to know that someone is actually reading the queries. Even if the agent states up front that no response means no, you can't be 100% sure the e-mail got through, or didn't get stuck in a spam filter. I pretty much give up on everything over 3 months old, but it would be nice to really know.

I'm glad it hasn't gotten too big for its bucket and hope it never does. And I'm glad we haven't had any cases of 'man bites shark.' My guess is most of the people who are taking the time to find this site and work at reading it aren't going to be the sort that get all pissy about rejects. At least not publicly.

Merry Christmas, happy New Year!

If only you wanted my drug of choice, urban fantasy. :-<

But enough of my whining. As a writer, I appreciate your cool service to writers. CPs are great but hearing an agent's opinion is icing on the cake. Thank you.

Wonderful. Thanks for doing this, Ms. Shark. I know you've helped a lot of aspiring authors. Wish I'd known this was still going on before I emailed you last night, but the eggnog slooshing around in my tummy filled me with boldness.

I hope Chum Bucket continues :)

I still think it's incredible that you're doing this. I wasn't able to think up a response when I queried you, but I always meant to say thank you for reading, for responding, for showing that our words don't fall on deaf ears even if those queries don't make it past that point :)

I will raise a cup to Ashley! The chum bucket has made me extremely happy this year - and I haven't even been a participant. It's just the fact when I was querying three years ago, you sent me back a critique. It meant the world to me and helped me tremendously. That letter from you changed my life. It gave me hope, direction, and a map as to how to get there. An absolutely incredible gift.

Chum Bucket was a highlight of my year too. You gave me the courage to keep trying. Thanks so much!

I want to add my thanks for Chum Bucket and the fact that you are continuing. It really means so much.

Hooray for Ashley, is right. I follow your blog because not only do you make me laugh, I learn stuff. So, I'm also in.

Hey,

I'm sure Chum Bucket will one day be "outed" to the mainstream, but in the meantime, it's great to hear *you're* stoked!

Janet, thank you for this, on behalf of all the authors you have helped and are helping.

Since you won't see me in the bucket, I thought I'd comment here to say thanks for all the help you've given me (silently). I've read your blog and Query Shark for several years now, and acted on the advice you give.

In October 2011 I signed with my agent. In January 2012 my ninja detective mystery series sold (to Minotaur) in a three book deal. In July 2013 I'll be on shelves - and your help and advice is no small part of that, even though you wouldn't know my name.

You've touched many, many more lives than you know, and there are many authors who share my gratitude. On my own behalf, and for all the other lurkers who learn silently from your generously shared (if toothy) wisdom: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Just one of the many, many reasons you are awesome.

And it's wonderful that queriers have responded so well!

A sincere thanks for the Chum Bucket! I think we've all benefited from it. It might have restored your faith in the query process, but it restored a lot of writers' faith in it, too. Any personalized response from an agent is worth its weight in gold. Thank you.

I loved the CB! I really appreciated the good old fashioned humanity of the exchange. Thank you for your continued efforts on this front!

Chum Bucket is pretty high on my list as well this year. Thank you again. Truly.

There will be a lot of writers who will look back at chum bucket as an oasis in the desert that got them through the desert of form rejections. We ask "How? Why? What?" all the time. Your answers, however direct and to the point, are what we seek. Thank you for doing that, Janet!

I have never heard of Chum Bucket.

Courtesy goes both ways. I have sent close to 100 queries with only two TOTAL responses. Not just negative responsses--that's total. I responded to those two with thanks. I will never query the others again, because I don't want to work with someone who thinks discourtesy is a legitimate business choice.

It's encouraging to find that there are courteous agents out there. I may continue querying after all.

See? You're wonderful and gracious and full of awesome. Do you get tired of hearing it, because I'll never get tired of saying it. And I put it in my book because I really, really mean it.

Hi Ms. Reid,
Thank-you for not only Chum Bucket, but for the smile on my face every time I see your name in my inbox. It's like an old friend has remembered me again. I have not participated in Chum Bucket, but as an insecure, undisciplined writer with a dream of publishing that won't leave me alone, I take your honesty and in some ways pretend that it is directed at me to somehow practice the rejections that will come my way in 2013 because I am committed to be disciplined and write in 2013 and take what I have learned from the most generous agent on earth. Thank-you for your humour, honesty, reliability and evidence that you love your job. May you be blessed with finding more talented authors to represent.
Gina

Ya know Janet, if you were some bottom feeder eel of an agent, we writers wouldn’t give a krill for chum bucket but you’re the best, the most generous with information, and above all else, you are honest in an instructional way.
I cannot express adequately how important your comments were regarding my query. Like most writers with finished work I have a list of dream-agents. You’re the one on the surface dear swimmer. I have to resist the temptation to write what you sell, just to swim in your tank. (I’m an essayist and columnist, not your meat).
I have said it before and I will say it again, I like you and respect you, you make me laugh but frankly you scare the shit out of me.
Happy New Year Janet; I mean really, Happy New Year.

I admire your directness. It comes across in everything you do. Also your heart. Don't bite me. Okay, you can ;) In any industry that deals with people's hopes and dreams, it's important not to be too polished that we're not available to the people who make our careers. When you tweet back to me, I do a little puppy wee. Keep up the good work. Love the bucket! Coffee in NY in 2013. Happy New Year everyone.

Just read this blog post, and I desperately needed the pick-me-up, as I'm back in the query game right now with a new book. Thanks for the thanks, Janet, but most importantly, thank YOU! :)))

Here's hoping there's a Conway Sax roadtrip novel in the near future! Love Steve's stuff, and a couple of days before Christmas, I heard a customer in B&N complaining about the dearth of Steve Ulfelder books--apparently sold out--here in Utah! So he's got more fans that just me and mine out here! Go Steve! Go Conway!

Dammit, even Lori Roy (Edgar winner!) is taller than me.

"Dresses like a cowboy and eats like a Viking!" Ha! There's a reason to read it. :)

Steve, it's not how high your head is but how lofty your pursuits that make you a winner. Congrats again on the nomination!

I absolutely love the Conway Sax novels, and now that I've made my husband read them, he loves them, too. So we are both grateful that there are more to come (and soon!).

Since Shotgun Lullaby comes out in May, I will be able to stalk Steve for an autograph at Bouchercon!

New tiny friends, new offices - what a way to start 2013.

From the first picture, I can see that the police seem to be ready for you.

(Yes, it's Christmas morning. Just taking advantage of a lull before the kids wake up and all h3ll breaks loose here!)

It's boxing day here in QLD, Australia. Merry Christmas, Janet. Love & blessings for 2013. I'll stroll by the new location in 2013. Thanks for being you. :) Holly has an awesome smile.

I am so going to steal that phrase Pain in the asterix.

She is adorable. And I love the name Charlotte. Thank you for sharing!

Gorgeous!

Also, my toddler's favorite word is "again"...just teach her that.

As the Italians say (I live in Rome) "Tanti Auguri" to lovely Charlotte!

And Have a Happy Boomer Holiday!

I say boomer (not only because I am one but because I wrote a baby boomer novel or BB novel). Yes, BB lit is a new genre, a pendant to YA, only it's on the other side of "maturity"...and I'm betting it'll catch on in 2013 like wildfire (there are 78 million boomers out there)! It has already started with a dedicated group on Goodreads.

So there you are: have a Merry Boomer Christmas and get a BB novel for the boomer in your life!

Remember: always buy presents that are really loud and require a lot of batteries.

Congratulations. I love the schedule, including planning in advance for the gap year. Good move there. Charlotte is a great name. My poor son got named after Captain Kirk--I just have to hope he doesn't hate me for it. He's 18 months old now, bi-lingual, and my favorite picture of him so far is a shot of him trying to pick up one of my dumbbells (only 15 pounds, but still.) He looks just like one of the normal dudes trying to pick up Thor's hammer. Do I have any advice? Hmmm. Decide early if you want her anywhere near iPads and iPhones and such. My son spends way too much time watching Youtube videos and videos of himself. No idea what this will mean, developmentally. Well, we hope for the best! Happy holidays, happy new year, and best of everything to Charlotte.

Live in Texas, and you dream of places like NYC where there are great restaurants on every corner.

Live in NYC, and you dream of places where the corners are deep fried and dripping syrup. (which is why every other corner will have a Walgreens pharmacy so you can buy antacids.)

:-P

Waffle House is the bomb! Make apologies to no one, Janet! I live in the south and have a Waffle House down the street, so no longing here.
My friends and family know they had better stop at White Castle for a Crave pack when they visit. Things get ugly if someone forgets.

I LOVE WAFFLE HOUSE! On my road trip home from Florida after I picked up my car, I hit as many as I could and was also crushed when I couldn't keep my mug. I highly recommend the one in Grenada Mississippi.

Here's to a scattered, covered, chunked, and cheesed 2013!

Terri

I would make a road trip to find a Waffle House.

Waffle House is a guilty pleasure for sure. Living in Florida, I've had many a WH meal. I don't go very often, but sometimes you just need one of those artery-clogging waffles or omelets :)

Terri do not forget the sausage gravy to dip it all in!

I love Waffle House too, but I think I forget they exist sometimes. We have them around here, but I never seem to think about going in. I will remedy that lapse this week, I believe. Pecan waffles, look out. Mama's coming to get you.

Sausage gravy FTW!

Here in Kansas, there's a Waffle House in most towns. After moving here from Boston, I dreamed about Dunkin' Donuts. Now DD has a couple of places here in Lawrence, so I'm thrilled. I'll see if I can talk someone into a Manhattan Waffle House as a NE/MW trade. "Yo, you'z want cwahffee with that?"

That was one of our standard hangouts in college--one of the few all-night places cheap enough for a bunch of students (several of us underage) to hang out in.

I love the Waffle House! Sadly, there are none in Minnesota, either. We used to go all the time when we were down south for horse shows. :)

Waffle House is the official restaurant of our church youth group. They even know the "Raisin Toast Song" by heart (and sing it whenever they get the chance).

Janet, I loved our trip to the Waffle House--I've seen lots of cops in WHs, but never was I so sure we'd be the ones getting arrested! Hope your Christmas was Merry and your new year comes scattered, smothered and covered!

Then, I must confess Janet. I've not yet found the courage to stop at a Waffle House on my last road trip through the South, though my partner keeps threatening, I did however let him convince me into eating deep fried pickles and promptly gained twenty pounds.

I'll have to take the final plunge next time! I hope you have a startling, fantastic, and fun New Year!

Oh yeah, I do remember that particular query. Gives me shivers just reading it. Awesome that they used it for the back cover blurb.

Glad to hear you're a happy shark today, ma'am. :)

Congratulations to Josin. Amazing cover on what is sure to be an amazing book.

Merry Christmas, Janet.

That query was awesome. Should be a good one!

Fantastic cover and pitch perfect...well...pitch ;) I'm not usually a big YA fan, so I'm always doubly impressed when someone entices me to read their YA novel.

Congrats, Josin. When will it be released?

Wow. I'm blinded by the flash of brilliance.

I remember when Josin was playing around with that query on AW and it was so mindblowing to stumble across it. A fantastic example of how you can establish so much of the character, conflict, and setting with only a few words.

Awe :-)

Thanks, Janet. Didn't the book turn out wonderfully? I love the way they did the back copy.

(@Lanette -- it comes out Oct '13)

That sounds fantastic! Any release date info yet?

Congrats to Josin. I have crossed Josin's path it writers forums and each time has been wonderful. The writing drew me in, kudos.

That's great news - congrats, Josin!

Ah, this is awesome, I remember that query! Congrats all.

I remember it well! And I remember thinking, HOLY CATS THAT IS AMAZING.

That IS a great query. You (Janet) were spot-on in your comment about the pacing.

I follow and enjoy Josin's blog. I'm glad her big day is imminent.

GAH! ::thud:: I must read this book.

Um, *scuffs dirt* there hasn't been a flash fiction contest in a while.

Just sayin' *halo*

(Congrats Josin, this is made of win)

Terri

I remember that query! Awesome!

I believe this is the most memorable letter to ever appear on QueryShark, despite breaking all the rules, and most likely because it broke all the rules.

Oddly, I've recently seen this cover somewhere, and I remember thinking it looks pretty cool. Now that I know of its connection to that legendary QL, I too must own this book.

YESYESYESYESYESYES!

My cousin and I were hooked the first time we read the query.

Two copies mentally sold already.

When your query letter makes it onto the cover of the book, you know you're doing something right!

I was just thinking of this query letter and wondering what happened to the author. Premeditated is now on my to-read list!

Thank you so much for this info.

Fingers crossed!

LOVE!

You had me at "revolving door of death"

"You had me at "revolving door of death""

So... the end?

LOL. What a great review!!

I am off-topic, as I often am, but I had to share this just in case you hadn't see it yet.
Chumbuddy Sleeping Bag

The link is not working, can you repost it?

I think it's supposed to be this: http://www.elizabethawhite.com/2012/06/06/no-one-best-way-by-jason-s-ridler/

Sorry chums! Yes! Sarah is correct.
The link is fixed now.

Blogger has a "test this link" feature--and I still got it wrong!

ARGH!!!

Thank, Janet -- for always sharing things like that, articles that reassure and educate. It means a lot.

Fear. Anger. Aggression.

Oh, you said "writer". Thought you said what qualifies me to become a Sith Lord.

Although I guess these things make good writers too.

It was explained to me this way: you are a writer if you write. "Published Author" is a designation that's separate from "writer." Sometimes, they're applied together to the same person...sometimes not.

Great link, although just seeing the words "There is no one best way to become a writer. Find your own way, and then bust your ass." kind of lit a fire under me. I'm torn between two projects at the moment, so this was pretty much just what I needed to hear :-) (well, not hear, but ...)

Exactly! I'll admit my first reaction to the title of the post alone was, "I DO. Because I write. I don't have to justify it to anyone beyond that."

Like Phil Hall above me, I was distinguishing between "writer" and "published author". The latter takes a lot more: skill, talent, determination, and a published book.

But anyone can be a writer if they want to be, no matter their background, skill level, or anything else. Maybe not a great one, but a writer nonetheless.

*vigorously humps this post*

Ohhhhh! And here I thought you had to enter a Janet Reid writing contest to be considered a real writer! ;)

Seriously, though--there's much in that article that resonates with me. Thanks for sharing, Janet. :)

Great article. Thank you for sharing.

"Just do it" is not just a slogan for sports.

What qualifies ME to be a writer?
Paper.
Pencil.
Keyboard.
Screen.
Ass...having been busted.
Yup, I'm qualified.

Thanks Janet

Thanks, Janet, for re-posting my article! And thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed it. Much appreciated and continued success with your own pounding of 'da keys!

Cheers,

Jay Ridler

I really, REALLY don't like the world as it is. So, I write the world as I would like it to be. With car chases!

@David Kazzie, a Star Wars reference, @ 8:00 am? My man, you are obviously a PEN/Faulkner candidate and aces in my book.

That is an excellent quote. One for printing out and reading every day.

I always respect your opinions, but something in the back of my mind keeps saying it really is this, that, or the other thing. I notice lots of writers have this and that, but the other thing? No, that is where they just don't cut it. The other thing will get them every time.

Or we'll bite you...

That is adorable! Happy Valentine's Day

So, so cute. Happy Valentine's Day, Janet. :-) I hope you have a wonderful day.

What's cuter than a couple o' pugs wearing heart-shaped antennae? Not much.

Happy Valentine's Day as well Janet. Cute pups

Who could resist? Happy Valentine's Day, Janet. I hope you got more than a piece of heart shaped toast this morning. Well, s'pose it was quite sweet!

Love that! My dogs would never allow it :-)

Woof! Definitely.

Happy Valentines Day! <3

This looks like the kind of book my daughter will love!

Ruthless and evil? Eh…maybe. But DASTARDLY? Now we’re talking! Bring on the blueprints, people!

And speaking of dastardly, I seem to recall a recent post in which you were accusing Chuck Sambuchino of working with the devil. Which leads me to think you might enjoy this silly interview he just did. http://mchristineweber.com/a-silly-interview-with-chuck-sambuchino/

I love the cover - checking it out for my nieces. :)

Well, dang. Where were these books back in the days? All I got to do was watch Dick run and Spot bark.

And that website. How FUN!

I wanna be a kid again. Do they have any gizmos that can help me with that?

Allan Woodrow's "How I got my agent" is now up on the GLA blog. He's offering a free copy to a random commenter.
~Good times

That's got to be a great feeling!

Congrats to Patrick.

Hooray!

Can't say that I'm surprised, though: I'm not even halfway through, but holy cow, I'm hooked. Mr. Lee owes me about two hours sleep.

Woot!

One would think you are excited or something. LOL congrats to Patrick and to you.

Congradulations to Patrick!!. Congradulations to everyone who had a hand in the book's success.

Wow, Clive Cussler has a new book out?

The only thing nicer than seeing one of your books on the shelf is seeing one your books on the shelf face out.

Thanks everyone!!! Definitely a fun way to start the week!

Yay! Congratulations to Steve and Janet.

And I'm sure you're not biased in the least ;-)

Cool! Congrats to both of you!

Mazeltov, Janet!

Congratulations. This sounds like a good one!

Cool!

But, sorry to be dense, but what is a "fixer for AA"? Is this some sort of creature that makes it right with God (or with family and friends or AA mockers) when a twelve-stepper falls off the program?

If that's not what this is, then I claim dibs!

YES! Congrats to both you and Steve!

Congratulations to you both! Robert B. Parker? This book must really rock! Can't wait to read it!

GREAT news!!

My blushes, Watson!

I'll have to check that out, but I have to wonder: does somebody have to take up Robert Parker's mantle? There's really only one Parker, one Hammett, one Chandler.

We have to wait until May 2011 to read it! Arrrgh. You are a cruel, cruel woman, Janet Reid.

I am loving the name Purgatory Chasm, best one I've heard in a long time.

If there is another Robert Parker out there, my money would be on Janet Reid to find him and sign him. Here are my best wishes that both of you get rich.

Don't you love it when your pitches hit the mitt! Congrats!

Congratulations!

While we're talking about deals, I have a question about that common PW clause, in a nice deal. Since it's hard to understand why anyone would make a deal that isn't nice, I have wonder: it this some kind of industry code?

I can't wait to read Steve's book.

Boston often gets things wrong. The Big Dig, for example. And the weather.

And didn't Boston give you a cool welcome a while back? I seem to remember a "Barbara's Books" greeting you at the train station.

Congratulations to both of you!!! So cool!!!

Oh, happy day. :)

A bit off topic, but that situation reminds me of signing off on my mortgage a few years ago. I kept looking at my realtor, asking "Where do I sign? Is this one a signature or initial?" I was just terrified to screw it up and lose the deal.

Interesting that you seem to be embracing that description. How... endearing?

:)

I tried to make you the madam of a brothel, but I couldn't find a way to mangle your name into credible Attic Greek.

LOL! Hey, that just means your smokin' hot.

JANETREID vs Godzilla, I'm telling you.

(Godzilla ain't got a chance.)

I wish a cloud of brimstone and smoke swireld around ME perpetually. That would be cool. And I could scare the heck out of rude people!

I hope my stepmother doesn't realize the character in my latest book with reddish hair pinned in elaborate swirls to hide a bald spot was based on her.

It keeps me up at night.

Brimstone's good for the complexion, right?

At least I now know to show up at my agent's (when I get one) office with one of those little battery powered fans and an assortment of different colored pens. I'd have to pass on the whiskey though, since puking into said agent's trash can might get me turned into a frog or something.

That's one of the funniest things I've read in a LONG time! (Sorry about the keyboard!) Re: Agent Bubble - that writer is fearless. Thanks for being the kind of agent that can listen openly and "get it" from a writer's perspective.

What a great find, thank you! :D

I adore Lynn Viehl's blog.

Thanks Janet, I completely enjoyed that! I minored in art. I still think it's so uncool of me to get breathless over a little paint on canvas. When I visited the Getty I felt like I was seeing rock stars!

Wow - that is really cool. And I agree; great camera work! Thanks for sharing.

I recall many of those paintings from the pictures my daughter took on her school trip to New York.

It only costs $2 for a subway trip? Damn.

I liked the clean walls and empty station, myself.

That was fabulous, thanks a million!

Oh, they just do that to screw with the minds of the millions of college students (in the US AND in Canada) who are forced to follow these rules or risk a failing mark.

Hmm. The Canadian Press Stylebook obviously doesn't think this is important enough to include. I don't have my copy of Editing Canadian English yet, so I can't comment on them.

Yes, editing is an obsession.

Oh, wow. I had no idea that site was there. Thank you from the bottom of my grammarian heart for providing the link.

"Time yet again for a rousing battle against our formidably orange opponent, The Chicago Manual of Style."

Is that what the fan clib T-shirts will say? If so, I want one.

Fan *club*. I meant 'fan *club*'.

Sigh.

The Chicago Style of Writing is fine providing you're an American. I have to change my writing and spelling to suit agents, editors and publishers if I hope to publish my work.

I don't think that's necessary, Ms. Martin. I was told they won't reject you for that. I'm not sure if you'd have to edit for that afterwards, though.

Ms. Reid, could you shed some light on this? Thanks for any help!

Myself, I use Canadian spelling and style, for the most part. I know the CP Stylebook very well (I'm also a technical writer), though I've read the AP stylebook just for fun. Yes, I know I'm strange. Haven't been able to afford Chicago yet though, but it's on my Amazon wish list.

Janet - Thank you again for the kind praise, our ears are burning! We'll talk to the publisher about getting those T-shirts printed...

- The Abbeville Team

P.S. You pray to Helvetica too?

Me like! :)

I'll have to add a link to this blog on my own blog. It looks like -- I mean, as if it will be a very useful site.

Thanks, Janet!

From kindergarten through twelfth grade, I was never taught grammar. Never. The teachers had too many other worries---kids who didn't speak English at all, kids whose parents would ditch them for a dime, etc. The only reason I can put two words together at all is because I love books...read them like crazy as a youngster (still do!) and learned a little bit of grammar along the way. But missing a grammar education stinks. I barely know a split infinitive from a split end. Do I have to know this stuff in order to get a book published?

Years ago I saw a list of grammar rules some English teacher put together in which the rule was broken in the sentence which stated it. The rule against split infinitives contained a split infinitive. The rule against double negatives contained a double negative. The only rule I remember verbatim was my favorite of the lot:

"A preposition is not something to end a sentence with."

Can't remember the name of the author, but nobody has done it as well since.

Thanks Janet! We're fans of your site too and we really appreciate the mention. We'll have more battles with our archnemesis very soon.

- The Abbeville Manual of Style Team

The Baby Shark is full of awesome. I loaned the first book to a friend with the caveat that she would only get the second book when she returned the first one, and handed over something of value for collateral--like her firstborn child.

Here's a quote from an email she sent after starting book 1:

I don't know Duras, so I will have to take your word for it. This upcoming week is the week of mid-terms. I have 1 10 page exam and another 5-6 page essay due, so I will be awol until the first full week of october. I look forward to reading it. That damn Baby Shark was a mistake. I find myself reading it at every available opportunity, and gazing longingly at it when I can't. Ok, talk to you a little later.

I recommend Baby Shark all the time. Excellent stuff.