Do you all read Ms. Snark? I have her blog on Kinja so I scan it as I scroll through what is happening in blogdom and frequently the blurbs are intriguing enough for me to click through. Well, today, she had what I thought was a hoot of a letter. I think ALL authors have met this letter-writer, truly.
Anyway, this person writes in and wants to know the best way to approach an author at a signing, and basically to turn the conversation to him/herself and her POD book–that he/she sincerely believes the author will enjoy. Here is Ms. Snark’s reply…
Oddly enough the author is not at the reading to help you. He’s there to sell books. All communication with him will be improved if you are holding a copy of his novel, paid for, and you tell him you’ve read it and liked it. And you actually have.
Read the whole blog here.
Something you learn early on once you sell a book–many people all of a sudden look at you with this predatory gaze. They may hate romance, they may think you personally write drivel, but they believe with all their hearts that you know some secret to getting published, and by golly you are REQUIRED by some unwritten law to share it with them.
First, there ain’t no secret. Second, if there was why would I share it with someone I have never met, who doesn’t write in my genre, and who didn’t even bother to say hi in person, much less buy one of my books? (Okay, I am thinking back on a particular instance.) Nope, just sends me a strange (pushy) email asking for me to divulge said nonexistent secret.
These emails, by the way, are why the delete button exists. And why everyone should forget ever feeling guilty or the need to be polite at all costs. There is a secret to remember once you are published. ;-)
Lori
