MIA

Hi kids!  I know I haven't given you a new update for a few weeks, but, you know, life gets in the way.  I am still reading every review and the Cannonball is going strong over on Pajiba.  We even had our very first winner, the lovely Ms. Jen K, who heroically kicked ass while serving in the military.  (We've got another active duty soldier, the impressive kingsmartarse, who is currently sending us reviews from the deserts of Afghanistan.)  

While we're discussing kingsmartarse, I need to address what happened last week.  One of his reviews was posted and had to be pulled because the comments were degenerating into a flame war.  Some people still think it's okay to attack the Cannonball Readers and their reviews.  News flash:  it's not.  I deeply admire those of you who jumped in to defend the review and the reviewer, mainly because I can't.  As a staffer I need to stay out of the fray, but I've said before and I'll say it again, don't fuck with my Cannonballers.  The fact that a review had to be yanked (although I agree with Dustin's decision to pull the plug before it got even uglier) makes me sad and angry.  You guys are doing an amazing job, and you're a community of book lovers who have banded together in the spirit of fun and charity.  When someone takes it upon themselves to denigrate that, I get fired up, and a fired up Nicole is not a good thing.  

I just want you to know that I'm in your corner, and that any concerns or issues with reviews should be directed to me via email or Facebook message, because I'm the one who picks the reviews.  I welcome feedback, because I want to make this the best competition that it can possibly be.  Feel free to drop me a line or leave a comment.  But don't, don't, don't mess with my Cannonballers.