It no longer seems possible, but before the invention of the internet I read books without wondering about the personal lives of the authors of those books. In fact, except for the random magazine article on The Biggies like Stephen King and Nora Roberts, what I knew about authors extended only to whatever the bio on the book jacket said. In general, I didn’t know about the spouses, kids and pets of writers. I didn’t know about future releases or, well, anything. Somehow, I managed to read books anyway.
That’s the past. In the present, I could procrastinate my day away (and have) jumping from website to website reading about my favorite authors and as well as new-to-me authors. Google is an amazing creation. But, is it all too much? There’s so much information out there that I now expect it to be out there and available all the time. I actually get miffed when I go to an author’s blog and there hasn’t been a new post in weeks. Heaven help us if the author’s website hasn’t been updated since the last book release.
I’ve heard about some readers getting turned off of an author due to the personal information included on the author’s blog or website. That’s never happened to me. Probably means I’m missing the really good blogs and websites.
The bottom line: suddenly the books aren’t enough. I want more information. I want a glimpse into the author’s real life. I want all the information. Really, I want someone to tell me I am not alone in this nosiness… Any other readers out there have a fascination with reading about authors? Do we know too much? Has the knowing ever backfired and turned you against buying an author’s work?
I think there is a fine line. I enjoy learning more about the authors’ lives – family, travels, hobbies, etc – but not the everyday, ordinary details (though Jill Shalvis can make the most mundane events fun and amusing in just a few words. Love her blog).
I love hearing about research. Dianne Castell recently talked about going to Savannah, and I want more Dianne!
So yes, share your experiences, but I really don’t want to know about washing dishes, feeding the dog, making dinner. I do those things LOL. Not very exciting. The exception would be if the microwave blew up or something interesting like that.
I love to learn more about my favorite authors. Things like Lucy’s trip to Vancouver, or hobbies etc.
though Jill Shalvis can make the most mundane events fun and amusing in just a few words. Love her blog
Oooh, I just love Jill’s blog, too! It’s my morning smile every morning.
This is pretty much the only blog that I read apart from occasionally checking on Running With Quills when Lori Foster posts (well, then I end up reading Susan Andersen too). You’re right, there is so much info. on the net that it takes up a lot of time but I don’t use that time delving into authors’ lives. But, I do get impatient when their websites aren’t updated since the last book that was a year ago. What’s up with that?
I can only think of one author (who shall remain nameless!) whose blog really turned me off. I thought this person came off a little full of themselves and a trifle condescending. But it did not stop me from buying and reading their books. It just gave me an insight as to how this person perceived themself.
It didn’t make their writing any less enjoyable.
For the most part, I enjoy getting that personal glimpse into the everyday lives of my favorite authors.
I have my faves that I visit several times a week and a few new ones I just discovered. Sometimes I comment, sometimes I just lurk and take it all in.
I love Jill’s blog, too. And a new favorite is Donna Kauffman.
I am a just a nosy person in general. I love to hear about everyone’s life. I go to Donna Kauffman’s blog every morning to catch her MAC of my favorite shows. I also got the Plotmonkeys blog everyday. I think that being nosy is what makes the world go round. We want to know that there are people out there just like us, and we want to know that people have more exciting lives than we lead. I work as a legal secretary and get to the hear the ups and downs of peoples lives all day, it makes me appreciate the wonderful life that I have, and can be a wonderful use of entertainment.
Sometimes I think authors can reveal too much. There is one author that I cannot bring myself to read because of something she revealed in an essay. And another author who is very upfront about her sexual life that just kind of turns me off.
I have also discovered that sometimes an author’s blog is much more intriguing and better written than her book.
There are only a few author blogs I check daily and a few others I drop in on every few weeks.
I really don’t know how an author has time to keep up with a blog and write. Not to mention work, raise kids or whatever else.
And on another note… you really need to make sure I am not in your spam folder.
it is ok by me with there information they want to release. i like reading about them and the time they have wow. great job ladies
I’ve been slowly withdrawing from online commitments over the last year. Eventually, I’d like to have just my website (which I update almost daily) and a couple group blogs.
I think there’s a fine line. Sometimes an author is just such an interesting person that I do visit their blog regularly. And that personality comes out in their books and so I buy them.
Other times I’ve been turned off by authors because of their aggressiveness on their blog or website. I like a “well stocked” website with plenty of information and pictures. It gives me something to read at any point, not just when a new book is out. And then I like an occasional update. Maybe once or twice between books, just to let me know what they’re working on.
I don’t personally have time to read everything about every author, but I’m not every reader. What I miss, other readers read and vice versa. I think the bigger picture is to enjoy whatever you do and do it with passion. Be passionate about your website and blog and I’ll come read it… even if it’s NOT controversial.
I love learning more about my favorite authors. I have never been turned off by what I have read.
I enjoy a glimpse into the personal lives of my favorite authors.
Kathleen’s first book, The Giant King, proceeds go to cdrlhien’s charities. She supports an orphanage in Africa which helps cdrlhien with aids. The Giant King is my favorite of all of her books, but one of her books is on th 100 books that librarians should read. She is an excellent author. Check out her books at Barnes and Nobles.
I like reading about upcoming books and some info on the authors.
I do however agree with you – I WANT the blogs/websites kept current. I have seen websites that had the upcoming book as a book that was over a year old already. Give me a break. I know authors are busy, but if you are not going to keep it more current, why bother?
I like reading about the personal lives of authors. It makes them more real and not so much up on a pedistal so to speak. I also look for things we have in common as it makes me relate better to them and see them as more like me if you will.
I have had one bad experience with an author and no I will never buy a new book by this person again. Now I still think the person is a pretty good author and I have baught the one book she has had out since the encounter at the UBS but ther person will never make another dime off of me. Perhaps it is shallow of me….maybe she was just having a bad day the day of the encounter but the experience was so unpleasent that I have these feelings and they will not change.
As to online encounters via blogs and web sites and such I have never read anything that has turned me off an author that I like. Everyone has their own opinion about things and they are entitled to feel and think however they do so I am not sure I would ever be turned off by an author I otherwise like by a blog or whatever….for me it was a personal encounter where I feel the author was rude directly to me that was the turn off.
I also like for an author’s web site to be kept up to date. Those I have encounterd that don’t find this a priority I don’t visit again or at least for a very long time. Interesting topic.
Kind of along the same vein… what do you think/feel about authors who don’t have a webpage at all? With all the information available on many authors, I find it disappointing when an author has ZERO web presence. Am I the only one?
Sandy L – An author posted about her sex life? That’s interesting…or could be
Not something I really want to know about. There kind of needs to be a line somewhere. For me, that’s it. A few weeks back, a blogger – Sybil, maybe – was talking about a website or yahoo list she checking out where two people commenting were talking about the affair they were carrying on. That is waaaaay off limits for me. I absolutely do not want this information.
Like you guys, I think it’s a balance. I want to know stuff, be entertained, and hear about upcoming releases. Knowing someone’s house cleaning schedule and reading about it day after day will make me weep. I’m still hold out for the existence of cleaning fairies.
Madison – I’m with you. It’s odd not to see a website for an author. Linda Howard falls into this category. I’ve been looking for a website for her for years. But, having a website and not updating it is almost worse to me. I want to get excited about upcoming releases. That’s hard to do if the authors don’t even promote them, and their website continues to promote a book that came out last year.
I like to visit Author’s websites, and when you can find nothing on them it is frustrating. Especially if you have enjoyed a book and want to know if there are more to come, or about back books, etc. Websites that are over a year old just show to me that the authors are really not that interested in keeping readers up to date with their work.
I do go to some blogs everyday, others I go to but may or may not comment on because there are so many blogs out there. Sometimes I think you can get TMI on a blog, but that would not stop me from buying the books that are written by that author.
I’ve never been turned off from an author because of their webpage or blog. There are a select few blogs that I visit on a regular basis (there is only so much time in the day). I much prefer when the blogs are about the books, writing process, etc… not so much everyday life. I do visit Donna Kauffman’s blog and I know to expect that she’ll be chatting about TV and life… and since I know that I don’t mind.
I want an author’s webpage (or blog) to be current and let the readers know what books they are already have out there and when new works are coming out. I get frustrated when I visit a site and it’s been neglected for months (or even years).
I agree with Madison… I get very disappointed when I find a new-to-me author and then find out they don’t have a webpage. It makes it less likely that I’ll buy future books from them.
Oh my, color my face red.
I’m one of those authors whose webpage doesn’t get the attention it should. I always mean to get to it–I do, I do–but damn, what with writing books, battling with tweener twin girls, and maintaining the food supply line to my dysfunctional family unit
, I never do manage to do anything grand with my site. I know–lousy excuses each and every one. (Although, I do have some pretty pictures on my site-all taken from my office.)
Maybe the above is why, even though my roots are in slugdom, I’m so mightily grateful for this website; I like being part of such a creative and dynamic group of writers; I just hope some of that dynamic spirit rubs off.
EC Sheedy (who just made another note to herself to get some action going on her website . . .)
It is a surprise when you start searching for an author’s website and there is nothing! I can understand if they had just 1 book and it fell flat, but come on, isn’t it pretty much the thing to do—-have your own website so all of us fans can show our adoration?:grin:
I enjoy reading about diff. authors…and especially finding out when new books are going to be released.
I also find it disappointing when an author doesn’t have a website. It’s great when they do! I like learning more about the author and upcoming books.
I always read the blurbs in books about the authors. In fact that’s what got me starting to go to author’s sites and chats. Basically I’m a nebbie person
I like learning more about my favorite authors and I’m disappointed also, when an author doesn’t even have a web-site.
[...] I just read this post over on the Brava Authors blog. How much is too much information about authors? Why do you visit one authors website/blog and not another authors? Do you prefer daily updates? Or well thought out weekly essays? [...]