Out There

I’m all a-twitter about one of those “only in the Internet age” happenings. It’s so funny, because I never really think all that much about the fact that what I write here is just out there for all the world to see, should they stumble across it. When my first blog got outed at work and I heard that someone’s feelings were hurt because they thought I was writing about them, I felt awful. I never want to write something that would hurt anyone’s feelings. And anyway, I wasn’t actually writing about the person who thought I was writing about them, but that’s not really my point. My point is that while I do try to be careful about that sort of thing here now, I still forget that anyone can find and read this blog.

This time, someone I really did write about found my blog. Back in October I posted about a book I read, Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling. The other day, the author found my post and left a comment explaining why he had included so much detail about one of the character’s Wicca beliefs, which I had complained about in my review. How cool is that?

I had wandered away from the Internet for a few days, so I didn’t get his email right away, but when I did, and realized just exactly who had left me a comment, I just about fell out of my chair. My first thought was “Oh, crap, I hope I didn’t say anything snotty.” Luckily, I didn’t. It was not the most glowing review I’ve ever given a book, but I did like it, and I think that was clear.

I thought what he had to say was interesting. Of course, he would be the expert, seeing as how he is the one who wrote the book. I emailed him back, taking the time to come up with something slightly better than “Oh my God, you’re like, the writer and stuff!” to say (hopefully). Mostly I’m just happy to have made the connection, however minor, to a writer I like.