Let's connect

There was an article recently stating that authors don't want to connect with their readers (link below). I don't know what planet that guy is from, but all the authors I know (and that is quite a lot) do want to connect with their readers.

It is a slippery slope to find ways to connect with readers and especially with potential readers. For years, mostly before the Internet age, there was no good way to connect readers and authors. Sure, a really determined reader-turned-fan could write to the publisher and hope the letter would get forwarded to the author. Sometimes there would be a personal response, sometimes only a signed, glossy photo would be the reply.

By-in-large it was a passive relationship. Books would get published and fans would buy them when they noticed the book on the bookstore shelf. And that was the extent of the interaction. I don't know, maybe some people like it that way.

I'm horribly shy and a semi-recluse, so I have no idea why I am so driven to interact with readers, some I know and some strangers. We share a common ground in the character of Kathryn and she brings us together in an interesting way that I can't explain.

If you ever feel the desire to connect, my email address is NadineLaman and @aol.com. Please don't hesitate to write or post a note on my wall on filedby.com, or leave a note here, the comment section is totally open to posts. I don't even have that squiggly letter thing you have to enter ... which I have trouble seeing when I have to enter them.

So what's all this huggy, keep in touch stuff? With the new release of my books, I know lots of new people are reading them for the first time. I want to make sure everyone feels welcome to contact me. Plus, I'm writing ACT LIKE YOU MEAN IT and I sort of get caught up in that -- but I'll always take a break and chat with my readers. I love you guys!

The link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/07/literary-book-festivals-authors

Filedby.com page: http://filedby.com/author/nadine_laman/2238025