Now would be a good time . . .

. . . for some kind person to remind me that "taste" is not subject to debate. Just read the _Locus_ review for THE WINTER OAK, and that's the second to suggest that I have turned soft by letting my characters get a Happy Ending. "Somewhat cloying" was the phrase that _Publishers Weekly_ used. "Love-conquers-all sentimentality" also came into play.

Neither review turned out really negative, but I've got to develop a tougher hide if I'm going to read these things.

Oh, well, "second-book syndrome" is well known. Now to go off and wait in vain for anybody to want a signed book at Borders.

Survived

Well, thanks to a full hour of handholding swapped off between Rolanni and Kinzel, with special guest appearance by Kristen Britain, I managed to make it through that Borders signing alive. The bleeping distribution people had _not_ arranged for any copies of the mass-market SUMMER COUNTRY, and the store had already sold out their regular stock. But the combined effort managed to sell five whole copies of WINTER OAK. Which is three more than I feared. And the hour ended just _before_ the sun ducked under the canopy and started smacking me straight in the eyes at the table of honor. So it could have been worse.

Not sure I'll bother with this game a second time, though.

Thank you, Steve and Sharon.