when a book reviewer gets your story, it’s magic

Being an author is such a subjective business, forcing you to put your deepest creative hopes on display for all the world to see—and often judge—in your books. No complaints here: This is the game we novelists signed up to play, and I am thankful to have a career in the writing world. All that being said, when a book reviewer truly gets what you were trying to do with your work, and writes something so utterly eloquent about it, it’s immensely gratifying, a massive relief, a joy—but more than that, it’s magic.

Novelist and book reviewer Jane Ward did all the above in her recent review in Story Circle of my forthcoming historical novel, The Miniaturist’s Assistant. On a completely honest note, it’s been a bit of slog in my world lately (car wreck, kid stuff, all is okay but life and parenting have been tricky and exhausting lately)… and Ward’s review, and her deeply nuanced, smart, and layered assessment of The Miniaturist’s Assistant made my month. And, frankly, made my eyes water with happy tears.

In The Miniaturist’s Assistant, I tried my best to write in as layered a way about Charleston, South Carolina and the American South, our history with the land, with slavery, with race and relationships, and what it means for a woman to wield power over her own body—in any century. All while trying to take my readers on a rollicking ride of a story. Ward made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I did that. Huzzah and thank goodness!

To read Jane Ward’s gorgeous and generous review of The Miniaturist’s Assistant in Story Circle, click here.