Cover Girl!

Big fat congrats must go out to author Ami McKay for not only being on the cover of Quill & Quire's December issue, but also for Ami's break-out book, The Birth House being chosen as one of Q&Q's Books of the Year. No surprise really, because Ami's debut novel is an engaging read from beginning to end (and trust me, I had no interest in midwifery before reading her book! So that's a sign of an exceptional story-teller, I must say).

Do try and get a copy of December's Q&Q if you can; Susan Catto has written a wonderful article detailing Ami's amazing success, and "how Ami McKay's The Birth House became the hottest debut novel of the year." One really interesting fact from the piece:

"It's gone through 11 printings, which is very unusual, especially in harcover," says McKay's editor, Angelika Glover. Foreign rights have been sold to publishers in the U.S., the U.K., Holland, and Germany.

I just love success stories like this, and it's all the more delightful because I know how warm and down-to-earth Ami is, having had the great fortune of getting to meet her earlier this year. And guess what!  She's working on a new book, slated to come out for fall 2008!

And if you haven't read The Birth House yet, well good heavens – what are you waiting for?