Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Book Blogger Confessions #4.



Book Blogger Confessions is a meme hosted by Tiger from All Consuming Books and Karen from For What It's Worth Reviews to discuss issues unique to book bloggers.  To find out details, click HERE.

Q. Social networking with authors: Do you interact on Twitter/Facebook/etc with authors? Does it affect how you review their work or do you look at their books differently because you're on friendly terms with them? 

A: The first author that I noticed on a social media site was Douglas Clegg.   I was shocked and thrilled when I found him on Facebook a few years ago.  He has features, such as "Want to know about Writing Wednesday," where he encourages his Facebook friends to ask him about writing and he usually inquires what people are reading from week to week.  I wrote him an e-mail to tell him how much I loved his book, You Come When I Call You and he responded with such a nice note back that I was left agape.  

Did it change how I look at his books?  No, but it changed how I looked at him...as an author who really cares about his readership.  Does it make me want to check out more of his books?  Sure, but it's also because I truly do enjoy them. 

On Twitter, I've only followed a few authors.  When they follow me back it's mostly a positive feeling, but there are a few authors who I'm like, "Uh oh..."  And yes, sometimes when an author follows me, I worry about my review, or rather I worry about how they will react to a less than glowing one.  But ultimately, I won't let it affect how I review their work.

However, what I really enjoy is interacting with authors on a personal level not always on a "bookish" level.  It's very flattering when they think something you tweeted is funny or comment on a tweet that's not about their book, or not about books at all!

Although sometimes there is awkwardness between authors and readers/bloggers due to social media, I feel for the most part the interactions have been positive to the industry as a whole. 


3 comments:

Smash Attack Ash said...

I agree about the personal interaction. When they respond to something you posted that is not book related is a great feeling. :)

Karen said...

I don't follow too many authors on Twitter. If I do it's because they are funny or have something interesting to say. It really doesn't have anything to do with their writing for me. I also don't really consider that a friendship so I don't worry about it. I try not to censor myself too much. As I said in my post though I stopped talking about books until I'm further in. I won't lie but I don't want to intentionally hurt anyone either.

Same goes with any authors I have friended in real life. One friendship started from a fangirl email but has endured because they are a good person but we don't really talk about their books.

Kate @Midnight Book Girl said...

Interacting with an author, especially the first time, is such a high! Although I am a bit fearful some author (like the lady who wrote Tris & Izzie) is going to go off on me for a bad review. Which is why I try to say at least one positive thing about a book. Like, even though the book was a waste of time and dropped my IQ by ten points, it's got a lovely cover! :)

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