Well spring is here and conferences and booksignings abound. I love these events, spending time with the authors and readers, chatting about writing and the best books out there. I spend so much time behind a computer that I get a little daffy, sometimes a lot daffy. (I should tell you about my Maypole)
Chatting online is great, of course. Gives me chance to connect to readers and authors around the world…literally! If it wasn’t for emails and chats and loops I’d never get to talk to the Aussie gals and the English readers or the ones in Germany, Ireland, Canada etc.
But, there’s nothing like chatting face to face if possible, least for me. It’s one of the main reasons Lori Foster and I have the Reader/Writer Get-together in June in Cincy and the main reason I go to RT and RWA.
But what about you? Is it important for you to meet the authors? Spend time, have them sign your books, chat? Some readers are fine with simply reading the books and the “who” behind the books doesn’t really matter. Do you want to know about her and her family and what’s going on in her life and how she came to write a certain book or how did she come up with such a horrid villain or wonderful hero.
Does who the author is really matter to you? And just how far are you willing to travel to meet her? There’s a gal coming to our June event who’s traveling all the way from Alaska. Now that’s far.
Hugs, Dianne
On one hand I would love to be able to visit the authors I read. On the other hand, I am extremely shy and had to be prodded by my hubs one time to get an authors autograph. That’s why I love all these online things. I can chat, give an obsevation *g*, and learn a bit about an author, all without leaving my home. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t someday like to meet, in person, some of the authors I read!
Hi Dianne:
I will be coming from Maryland to meet everyone and I can not wait. I love that I get to meet my favorite authors. I think that once you get to know the author their books start to mean a little more to you. I have met some of my favorites before and was not impressed, but I have met some new authors at signings, and read their books because of the person that I met at the signing.
Hey, Brandy.
You are so not alone on the shyness thing. It’s really hard walking into an event where you know no one. Ugh. Not fun. That’s why we have “greeters” at or June event. This year they’re wearing color top hats and all you have to do is go up to them for an instant friend for the entire weekend. Painless way to make new friends. Lori and I are both shy…we really are, I swear…so we want to make everyone feel comfortable.
If you want more info go to my website or Lori’s.
Hope you can make it.
Hugs, Dianne
Patty, I so agree that when you meet the authors you can really see their personality in their stories. I don’t think a really serious person could write a comedy and I know I could never write a serious story.
Dianne
I live in Ireland and it is my dream to get to one of the RWA conferences in the US in a couple of years. Meeting the authors is very important to me, they are the ones who have inspired me to write
Every time there is a book signing in my area with my favorite authors or authors that I read, I will definitely be standing on line to get my book sign. I recently went to a book event and I had a great time.
How far would I travel to a book event? It would depend on where it’s being held if it’s outside my area and if I can get someone to come with me.
This event is so awesome, and Brandy, it’s so comfortable and friendly that you forget your shyness and just have a good time. Dianne & Lori make it fun and painless.
Well, so far the farthest I’ve gone is to Atlanta (from Chicago) last year for RWA. How far would I be willing to go? Well if I could afford Hawaii….
I’ve only been to one signing… not many authors come to my area. I suppose I’d go to more if I had the time or money. And the farthest I’d go? Maybe across the state… it would be an all-day round trip.
If I had the money (and time) to fly I would travel anywhere to be at any author meetings or book events… but now I’d have to settle with the internet~ it’s still feels cool though to be able to chat around with authors and other fellow readers on the net. (Has any one ever thought of holding any related event in asia?
)
You all like signings and get-togethers as much as I do!:grin:
I think it’s because you can only talk about books to others who read what you do. I looove talking about writing and the newest books out. My dh doesn’t get it and neither do my kids so I go online and chat or make it a point to meet readers and writers at conferences.
Dianne, I’m thankful I only have to travel two hours for the Get Together in June. However, I would travel pretty far for an event like that. I once traveled 7 hours, one way, to see a group of authors, then proceeded to travel the 7 hours back once I was done.
I don’t think there’s a distance I wouldn’t travel to see an author I love:wink:
I also think the author would appreciate the face to face meeting with their fans. As a newly pubbed author, I would love if a fan travled just to see me:smile:
Great post, Dianne!
I would love to travel to the get together, or to RT or a big get togethr with authors. I hope to one day make it, and unfortunately there are not that many authors that come here for signings. I did go to a signing once when I knew that a author was going to be at a mall close to here, and it was a thrill to meet her.