The other day I was supposed to be working at the local coffee shop, but I instead I was procrastinating. (And as a side note, I’ve got to tell you, free wifi everywhere is killing me. And just try getting away from it here in Austin. Damn wifi is everywhere interfering with my ability to concentrate.) So anyhoo … instead of writing, I went to Amazon to read reviews of the book I’m currently reading. Which totally makes sense right? I’m fifty pages in, completely enjoying it, gonna keep reading it no matter what the reviews say, so why wouldn’t I spend twenty precious minutes reading what other people think?

So what book am I reading? The Princesss and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison.

I’d noticed when I picked up the book that she had a nice cover quote from Orson Scott Card. That’s cool, ’cause–you know–he’s awesome. I didn’t buy the book because of his quote, but it sure didn’t hurt.

Then, the other day, when I was procrastinating, and I went to amazon, I noticed one of the reviews … was from Orson Scott Card.

Um, excuse me?

There I am in the coffee shop, staring around me in wonder thinking, “Orson freakin’ Scott Card reviewed her book on Amazon?” (Or would it be “Orson Scott freakin’ Card?”) Either way, I was flummoxed.

Turned out some other reviewer didn’t like the book and took exception to his quote and he wrote a review to defend his position. Very classy review, by the way, basically said, “Hey, different people like different books. I liked this one and I stand by that, sorry you didn’t.” He also defended the author’s writing and talked about what a fabulous debut novel it was.

Everything inside of me went all gooey. I want Orson Scott Card to defend me against mean Amazon reviewers!

Okay, I never had a big brother, but this is totally what I imagine it would feel like to have your big brother step in to protect you against bullies on the playground. I mean, if your big brother is super cool and someone you’ve admired forever. Now, in all fairness, I know it’s highly unlikely that he’ll review any of my books, since I write romance and not speculative fiction. He’ll probably never even know I exist, let alone give me a cover quote, let alone defend my honor and my talent on-line. But, hey, a girl can dream, right?