Author Interactions: Top Five (Armchair BEA)

May 27, 2014 Blogging 57

How Goes It, Bookworms?

It’s Day 2 of Armchair BEA, and today we’re talking about author interactions! Before I started blogging, I felt extremely far removed from authors. I wasn’t nearly as into social media as I am now, so to me, authors were like movie stars- totally unaccessible. I’ve been extremely lucky in that all of my author interactions thus far have been positive. Given that I live too far from a major city to make a trip there and back on a weeknight, I haven’t been to an author signing. But! There have been a few occasions where authors have dropped by to check out my reviews and I’ve SQUEALED with delight. Some of my favorite moments:

1. Emma Donoghue commented on my review of Astray and recommended more books (about prostitutes), because that’s a thing that happens here. Check out the evidence:

emmadonoghue2. And then there was that time that I told Rainbow Rowell that I wanted to have her cloned, and she favorited my tweet! (Also, as far as I know, she has not reported me to the authorities, so that’s always good!)

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3. Then there was that time Jamie Ford stopped by to take a peek at my review of Songs of Willow Frost:

jamieford4. This one time, my very cool friend Quirky Chrissy went to see The Bloggess and had a book signed for me. It counts as the author interacting with me, because she totally saw my pathetic “wish I was there” selfie, wrote in my book that I was cute, AND posed for a picture with me… Sort of. You’d fangirl too, don’t lie!

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5. Recently, the lovely and talented Beth Hoffman stopped by to say hello and check out my review of Looking for Me:

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BONUS: TECHNICALLY, this isn’t author interaction, but since this post is reading like a brag-fest anyway, I may as well mention the time my review got BLURBED in the paperback version of Humboldt: Or, the Power of Positive Thinking!

humboldttweet

Seriously, book blogging is so much fun. The community is a blast and the fact that authors actually pay attention to me on occasion is completely insane. It’s nice, because if I met any of these people in person I’d probably just embarrass myself. Digital interactions, FTW!

Have any of you Bookworms been to an author meet and greet or book signing?

*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*

57 Responses to “Author Interactions: Top Five (Armchair BEA)”

  1. Tanya

    You’ve been blurbed! That’s so exciting. You’re practically famous. I love author interactions, though I am usually pretty shy about it. You’ll have to read my post to find out more.

    Reply

  3. alenaslife

    Great post. I feel lucky indeed to have been to a few author readings/signings. Jonathan Tropper was particularly brilliant in an intimate setting.

    And I get really excited by the social media interaction with authors I follow. I really believe these tools have made it possible for authors to be closer to their readers!

    Reply

  4. Ashley Z

    You’re famous! I love the author interaction you’ve had! Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  5. ThatAshGirl

    And apprently I’m supposed to dell Diana Gabaldon that you love her right?

    I’m kinda nervous about meeting her. She’s a bit more intense and a tad snarky (in an awesome way) in interviews. Rainbow Rowell I just wanted to hug and go have a drink with because she was giggly and awesome!!!

    Reply

  6. Jessica

    Great that you have had so many wonderful author interactions! May you have many more great ones to come!

    Rainbow Rowell has favourited my tweet too! She’s so lovely! 🙂

    Reply

  7. Andi (@estellasrevenge)

    LOL! I love this so much. I wish I’d thought of this format myself, though mine would’ve involved a lot more CREEPING from Chris Bohjalian because that man shows up EVERYWHERE when I’m talking about not loving his books.

    Reply

  8. AMB (Koiviolet)

    That’s great! Most of the interactions I’ve had with the subjects of my posts have been non-authors, but the author interactions through social media (particularly Twitter) are fun. I’m kind of shy in person and wouldn’t want to meet any of them in person!

    Reply

  9. Katrina @ Bookish Things

    Love the picture for Jenny Lawson. That is so cute. And ahhhh I would freak if Rainbow Rowell favorited one of my tweets. And getting blurbed totally counts. I bet you were on happy dance level after that.

    Reply

  11. Tiffany

    You make my authorinteractions look like I once drove past them in my car. But I met Mary Roach at a book signing and Henry Winkler (yep, the Fonz). Both were amazing in person and so nice.

    Reply

  12. Sarah @ Sarah's Book Shelves

    So fun – great interactions! I just finished Bloggess’ book (LOVED her stories about growing up and would love to have lunch with her, but didn’t love the adult stories quite as much). I had “dork out” (as my cousin who worked in the movie business calls it) moments when Nelson Demille and Chris Bohjalian replied to me on Twitter and retweeted my reviews. I’ve also had wonderful interaction with Christopher J. Yates (author of Black Chalk) – he couldn’t have been nicer and wrote a fabulous guest post for me (on the possibility of a sequel to BC). Hope you’re enjoying Armchair BEA!

    Reply

    • Words For Worms

      I’m excited for Jenny’s second book- I think she’s still writing it, so I don’t know when it’ll be released. I totally get your dork out moments!

      Reply

  13. Danielle

    I’ve been reading quite a few of these interactions posts today and can’t believe how many people said they felt like readers were as inaccessible celebrities until they started blogging. I guess being a good blogger puts you on par with the rich and famous, haha!

    Reply

  14. Heather

    Oh gosh darn it all to heck. I did the other topic because I couldn’t think of any author interactions. Then I read your post and I’m all, OH, YEAH, I HAVE. Crap. I could have shown off so much! *grumble*

    I am hugely impressed by all of these, but most by Emma Donoghue. I JUST LOVE HER.

    Reply

  16. Karen @ One More Page...

    Aw, your author interactions all sound like so much fun! I’ve never had an author comment on my blog yet, but I have talked to them on twitter which is always so nice! The photo with Jenny Lawson is so cute!!

    Reply

  17. Lori

    Rainbow Rowell has also favorite a couple of my tweets and I was SO EXCITED! Most recently I read Emily Giffin’s “The One and Only”, tweeted about it, and Emily Giffin favorited my tweet and responded saying she was glad I enjoyed it. SO COOL!

    Reply

  18. Juli @ Universe in Words

    I love it when authors reveal themselves as book nerds by gushing about their own favourite books or their inspirations! I aspire to one day being mentioned by an author in their book, so hopefully I get there one day. All of your interactions are just proof that authors are, in general, absolutely amazing people!
    Great answer, hopefully I’ll see you at the Twitter party later!
    Juli @ Universe in Words

    Reply

  19. Jenny @ Reading the End

    Aw, the blurbing is awesome, but I am particularly impressed about Emma Donohue commenting on your review. That’s amazing! Particularly because I think she’s picked out some very excellent prostitution books to recommend there. :p

    Reply

  20. Priscilla

    Very nice! I was thinking most of my interactions were all through Twitter–I completely forgot I had an author comment! I love that Emma Donoghue recommended books for you. I have The Crimson Petal and the White waiting on my Kindle…hmmm…

    Reply

  21. Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf

    The Humboldt blurb was so crazy exciting!! I have GOT to pick up a physical copy of that book just so I have that in hand, you know? 🙂

    LOL I love Rainbow Rowell encouraging your fangirling (not creepy!).

    Reply

  23. Catherine

    I’ve been fortunate to go to quite a few, thanks to living in Portland and Powell’s getting so many author events. Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorites and my squee moment was when he recognized me at BEA last year and stood and talked with me as if we were old friends. I was freaking out inside.

    I’m also thrilled to have met and shaken hands with Pulitzer Prize winner, Paul Harding and to have Emma Straub call me the lovely librarian for my review of Laura Lamont. All thanks to Powell’s!

    Reply

  25. Athira

    Wow! I’m also squealing on your behalf! I would be so thrilled to have all that as evidence! I am with you – I love how blogging has opened up all the communication channels with authors. I wasn’t aware of half of them before.

    Reply

  26. Annabel Smith

    I have to tell you, is is just as exciting for an author to see a tweet or blog review of their book as it is for you to hear from an author. The first time I saw a tweet about Whisky Charlie Foxtrot I almost wet my pants with excitement. My favourite author interaction was when I was in my very early twenties, travelling around Europe with this story collection called The Virago Book of Women Travellers. There were so many amazing stories of intrepid adventurers and I was a nervous traveller and the book gave me so much courage. Afterwards I wrote the editor a letter (this was pre-email days) to say how much the book had meant to me and she wrote me the most wonderful, warm and generous letter in return. I still have it now.

    Reply

  27. NeriS

    Aww, I thought this was going to be about Authors Behaving Badly. I had the popcorn ready, my half-disturbed/half-amused smirk in place, and one hand in position to catch all the facepalms!

    Heh, totally kidding (*hides popcorn*). I love positive author interactions, too 🙂 Your selfie’s photo with Jenny Lawson is totally adorable!

    Reply

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