(One author thanks a specific book blogger...do you have a story like this?)
Thanks to Carrie from Words-to-Mouth
I’ve been amazed by the generous, thoughtful ways in which many book bloggers shared their reactions to my memoir and helped spread the word. What a cool group of people to get to know! One review was extra special, because it led to an ongoing online dialog and a fun new friendship:
Carrie from Words-to-Mouth first reviewed my book in mid-June. She mentioned a couple of things she wished I’d covered more thoroughly: why I had such a deep sense of insecurity when I was younger, given that my family was (is) loving and intact, and what my dreams and passions were other than finding the right man. Her questions made me think, and inspired me to answer them in two posts on my own blog (and reveal that the strange dream of my college days was owning and running a private prison).
Carrie posted my responses on Word-to-Mouth, which generated quite a bit of reader response…always a fun thing for a blogger! Based on this, she invited me to do a podcast interview with her as a part of her Quick & Wordy series, which gave us a chance to know each other better and talk about relationships, spirituality…all kinds of good stuff.
This has definitely been a highlight of my first-book adventure…Thank you Carrie!
Five copies of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not up for grabs from Hachette! Same Hachette rules apply...US or Canadian address. Leave a comment sharing any experience you've had with an author! Any! Booksigning, blogging, LibraryThing, etc. Open till Friday.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
BBAW Guest: Trish Ryan, Author
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32 comments:
What a great post!
I have been lucky since starting my blog to have met (both online and in person) many fabulous authors. They have all been so kind and supportive.
One of my fave experiences was attending a writers' convention a couple of months ago and actually having authors recognize my blog's name. One even read my nametag and asked me if I had a blog called Jennifer's Random Musings. I was in shock and thinking "You mean the authors actually read what I write?" LOL Luckily she told me she enjoyed the blog and wanted to be a guest sometime.
I love chatting with authors and I love books. Blogging (both my own and visiting other blogs) has definitely helped me to discover more about books and authors and to make some great friends.
Jennifersrandommusings (at) gmail.com
I am just thrilled when an author emails me thanking me for a review I posted. It always takes me by surprise. I recently had Jess Riley stop by as well as David Fuller. Meg Waite Clayton was the first. I always want to say "No, thank you for writing such great books and I am humbled" LOL!!
We have a local author named Paleo Joe. He writes children's mysteries with dinosaur/paleontology themes. My daughter and I met him at a rock & mineral show, bought a book and got it autographed. My son was so excited when he saw the book that I took both of the kids back to the rock show the next day to get the rest of the series and have them signed. I really appreciated him taking the time to talk to the kids. We even got to see him do a presentation on his work.
I'm still fairly new to blogging but I have to say most of the authors I have exchanged emails with are simply fabulous people, who really appreciate what bloggers do to support their work. One author who I really enjoyed having the chance to interact with is Raymond Atkins, who sent me a signed book and thanked me for the review I posted of his book (Front Porch Prophet, which is amazing btw). But no matter what author, it always feels strange accepting thanks from them, because I feel so thankful to them for trusting me to read and review their books.
My first ever booksigning was of Mitch Albom's. I went with my cousin, whom I recommended his books to in the first place. It was totally amazing. He's so real and down to earth. I love his books. And it was amazing to get my copies signed. =)
Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com
I have been amazed also at how willing authors are to correspond with readers. I was reluctant to email at first, feeling sort of like a "stalker." But every author I have emailed has written back. Sometimes I send a "fan" letter saying how much I enjoyed the book, and sometimes I ask for a review copy, and sometimes I share information from other reviews. Never have I been ignored, and I always feel like they care about their readers. It helps compensate for the fact that Paul McCartney never wrote back (acknowledging ME as his one true love)...
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I went and heard Stephanie Pearl McPhee speak but had to leave before the signing. I took a knitting class with Spike Gillespie (local Austin writer).
I met a lot of wonderful authors at RT this year. One of them was Judith Rochelle who also writes as Desiree Holt. We laughed and joked about some of life's experiences that have come our way. At another event, I met Sierra Dafoe who was a blast over margaritas. I love connecting with authors because it makes me feel more invested with their works.
I just me mystery author William Kent Krueger on Monday. He is such a fantastic guy and I was able to have a great conversation with him. He also wrote personal messages in the books I had him sign as gifts for family members that I thought was just wonderful!
Stacie
Staciele@netins.net
Oh I have a story. I met an iranian poet at an iranian festival! It was super intimidating at first since we were the only ones who had no idea what was going on...but the night ended being really special because the author and I chatted and chatted about everything possible. She was way nicer than I ever could have expected :)
I've only been blogging two months, but I have had contact with one author of a book I reviewed. She was very nice, and answered my questions via email right away. Then she visited the my review and left a nice comment.
I have met both Patricia Cornwell (the Kay Scarpetta books) and Bobbie Ann Mason (KY author) at book signings. In addition to signing my books, each author also signed a rock for me. That's right, a rock! I'm a rock collector, and I have several author signed rocks, as well as rocks signed by Rock-n-Roll members (Heart, Jethro Tull, Tom Petty).
I think my biggest surprise has been having authors visit my book blog - Sharon Lovejoy, Colleen Gleason, Ann Gabhart, and Rachel Caine, just to name a few!
Well, my most recent experience with an author was a back-and-forth email conversation with Samara O'Shea who wrote Note to Self. She's great and I loved her book.
Our hometown book store owner is credited with beginning Mitch Albom's writing success. I have been to his book signings here. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Interested in winning free books motivated me to sign up for Michelle Sutton's Edgy Christian Fiction blog after I "met" her on Shelfari. I have NOT ever won anything from her giveaways, but I did win a copy of her book, "It's Not About Me" from another giveaway. So, I read it and reviewed it, and she contacted me. We've sent emails back and forth a bit, and I can report: she's a Real person!
Sadly, not too many experiences meeting people. Seems like no one is ever going where I live! So, one experience was that of Laurell K Hamilton, and waiting till around midnight to get my book signed. Great question session, and totally worth the wait!
Ah, I've been aching for this book! Well, I've been corresponding with Elissa Elliot about her upcoming book Eve (which I'm reading for review), coming out January of next year. She sure is chatty ;), but then...so am I!
All the authors I've worked with on my blog - Shannon Greenland, Jack Ferraiolo, PJ Bracegirdle and J. Scott Savage have been so fun.
Cathy Ostlere, who wrote lost, e-mailed me and thanked me for reading her book and commented that she thought I did a good job covering it.
Candy Havens, who wrote the Charmed and Dangerous series emailed me to thank me for reading her books and regularly sends me new bookmarks and stuff in the mail.
Jayne Pupek and Joshilyn Jackson were both kind enough to sponsor giveaways for autographed books on my blog. I was on Cloud 9!
I havent had any direct experience with an author but since reviewing and blogging and reading more about each author I feel I know them better and connect more to their writing.
sj3girls(at)hotmail(dot)com
recently posted about being an author groupie. I've now seen Michael Koryta at three separate events, and he knows me by site. I'm not sure when he'll take out the restraining order, but it'll probably be soon! :) Another really great experience I've had with an author was with Thomas Holland. I wasn't sure how to contact him, so I sent a letter through the U.S. Mail to his office in Hawaii. He responded via e-mail, did an interview with me, and along the way I've also made friends with his wife. My experiences with authors have just been outstanding!
My experience with a author was Karen Hawkins. I sent her a email after i finished her book, let me back up. Her book was the first book i read when i started reading and i was praying i would love it because i really needed a hobby and my friend suggested i take up reading (I thought that was funny) so i picked out a book I thought i may have enough interest to try and read it and i loved it. I told her about how much i loved her book and why i needed to take up a hobby and we corresponded alot she helped me with some issues i had been going threw by her kind words. She sent me a copy of her new book that was being released and told me that was the sweetest email she had recieved from someone. She is honestly a wonderful person and not because of the book she sent but the help she tried to give me threw emailing and encouagement.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I met Barbara Kingsolver at a garden store in Kentucky about 10 years ago -- around the time she would have been working on PRODIGAL SUMMER. I introduced myself and complimented her on her work, but I didn't want to impose on her, especially since she was with her daughter who looked to be about 6. Since I was only in that part of the country for the summer, when I read the book it became like my own personal momento of that time and place -- and of seeing a famous person just being an ordinary mom out shopping! I love memoirs; thanks for the chance to win Trish Ryan's!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I emailed Phyllis Zimbler Miller after reading MRS. LIEUTENANT. She was the first author I interviewed for my blog, and then she asked me to write a guest post for her blog. She still emails me from time to time, and we share ideas. It's been great. She's very friendly and generous.
--Anna (Diary of an Eccentric)
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com
I recently had the pleasure of working with Phyllis Zimbler Miller, the author Mrs. Lieutenant, and she is one of the most motivated authors I've had the pleasure to meet. She's all about marketing her book through bloggers, facebook, and any other social network she can get her hands on. She's also willing to go that extra mile for bloggers by offering books for contests and even writing guest posts. She is always gracious.
I also met James Patterson at a local book signing, and he was equally as gracious when I told him that his writing got my mom to read books. She had never read books when I was growing up, but thanks to Patterson, she hasn't stopped.
My favorite author experience was meeting Karen Kingsbury at a booksigning. Called the Queen of Christian Fiction, she was so gracious and took time to talk and take pictures with every person who came to see her. She is one special lady!
author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com
Lisa Daily "Fifteen Minutes of Shame", she and I have talked via email quite a bit all due to her main character being named "Darby".
Thanks for the opportunity!!
Darby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com
Does collecting books signed by the authors count. I'm talking about the ones they sent to me with personal notes attached. If this counts please enter me.
ayancey@dishmail.net
I wrote about a memoir once and the author actually stopped by and commented on my review! It was actually one of the coolest things that have happened to me since I started blogging. :)
heather.oroark@comcast.net
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