It's day 2 of Armchair BEA.. for all of us who are stuck at home while everyone else is at BEA in NY. Today we are chatting about Author Interaction and different mediums of books.
Author Interaction:
Let’s talk interacting with authors IRL (in real life) or online. This is your opportunity to talk about your favorite author readings that you have attended. Or, you can feature your favorite author fan moment (i.e., an author sent you a tweet or commented on your blog). Maybe you even want to share how your interactions have changed since becoming a blogger or share your own tips that you have learned along the way when interacting with authors as a blogger.
I love love meeting authors. Seriously for me it's like meeting a rock star. I am always looking for new author events to go to. There are a few I've missed in the past year... Joe Hill because I was out of town and Sibley because I didn't know about it till the day of. Boo! I have been to see though my top three authors. Charline Harris, George RR Martin, and Stephen King. I took some fun pictures at these events so be sure to check them out.
I used to always have authors do Q&As with my Young Adult Book Club on goodreads. Unfortunately I feel like a lot of participation has dropped off though so I don't really ask them to stop by the group anymore. I have had Max Brooks , Rainbow Rowell, Sarah J Maas, and many more stop by. It has been so fun to get them to get the group members included. Most of the authors I asked would always answer me even if they weren't able to participate. I love that about authors!
More Then Just Words:
There are so many mediums that feature more than just words and enhance a story in a multitude of ways. Examples may include graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, or even multimedia novels. On this day, we will be talking about those books and formats that move beyond just the words and use other ways to experience a story. Which books stand out to you in these different formats?
Comics. I already mentioned them in yesterday's post. I didn't actually realize that they were going to be a topic for today. If you don't follow my blog then you probably don't know that twice a month I have a feature called Comic Adventures where I discuss and talk about the comics I have read lately. If I happen to read a graphic novel that will probably get a post of it's own.
As far as audio book goes.. I have tried to like and love them. I have actually talked about my attempts at trying to enjoy them on the blog before now. I don't know what it is about them... but I just get bored I guess. I love multimedia books though. Pop-up books, picture books.... really I just love when books are presented to me with a new look.
What about you today?? Hope you are having fun during Armchair BEA.
I love Max Brooks! It's awesome that he stopped by.
ReplyDeleteSarah J. Maas!! OMG! I did a happy dance this morning when I saw Heir of Fire on NetGalley this morning--one of my most anticipated books for the year ;) I'll be sure to check out your Q&A with her.
ReplyDeleteJessica @ Rabid Reads
Totally flipped out when I read your comment btw! And then I immediately logged in to Netgalley to request - thank you for mentioning it! :)
ReplyDeleteI am too shy to even "tweet" authors - it must be amazing meeting them!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool that you got to meet your top three authors! Charlaine Harris is one author I would still like to meet - I don't know when she'll come to LA for an event! I think of authors as celebrities too btw - it's so unreal when they tweet people back and are so super cool in person! Just makes me want to buy multiple copies of their books to sign. LOL
ReplyDeleteI am quite surprised at the number of bloggers who have commented about not being able to get into audio books and I am one of them. I always felt like I was the minority but its goog to know I'm not
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about pop-up books when thinking of multi-media! I haven't broken out the ipad/ereaders too often with the kiddos but I'm sure there are all sorts of interactive books available now. Honestly I prefer the board books...they'll have PLENTY of time for electronics later. ;)
ReplyDeleteYup, I think now when I think of comics I definitely think of you! Definitely a good thing!
I love meeting authors and going to signings, too. One highlight was taking my daughter to a signing by Laurie R. King, when The Language of Bees came out. We both got books signed. And the first author I ever saw in person was Anne McCaffrey. I was over the moon! When I was an assistant manager in a bookstore, Martha Grimes did a signing at out store, and I invited her to tea at my mom's house later that month. Sadly, it ended up feelng a bit awkward; I think she expected more people -- an event, really, but I had extended the invitation to her as a person, not a famous author. Oh, well.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had some awesome interactions. I just met Charlaine Harris a couple of weeks ago. Authors are our rock stars. Writing a book is more impressive to me than any other fame talent.
ReplyDeleteCharlaine Harris visited Iowa a couple years ago. It was really fun to hear to speak. The narrator of the audiobooks was part of the event as well.
ReplyDeleteI have started to be more active at tweeting authors when I post a book review. I love seeing them retweet my review. I've had one author pull quotes from my review when she retweeted. Quite a thrill!
Author events are great. I met Martin on his Feast for crows tour in Ann Arbor, that was a fun event. I've been to a few others and they've all been interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd comics are always a great topic! I'm going to try to do more comic reviews, they're fun to write up. I'm not a huge fan of audio, I guess I need to read the story to get into it- most of the time anyway.
So, I had to add you to my feedly after you said you do a weekly comic feature. Love it! I love meeting authors and comics as well, although I don't read much of the superhero stuff (although I've been meaning to check out some Batman). I can't believe you met such big name authors! I'm sure the crowds were massive.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was awesome too! I thought I would get more of a response from my goodreads group members too... but there really wasn't that many people putting in questions for him.
ReplyDeleteI saw someone post about Heir of Fire today on instagram. It is also on edelweiss if you don't get approved by netgalley.
ReplyDeleteYou should tweet authors!! I love to do it. Not all of them respond but most are very nice. I was so nervous at my first book signing. I had no one to go with and went all by myself. I did it though and am so happy I did.
ReplyDeleteCharlaine Harris was a really fun author. She spoke for like 30 minutes and then we got out books signed. So it was really fun to hear her talk about her characters and how she writes. Of course everyone asked about the True Blood show too. Just great.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I don't tweet authors is when I don't really like a book. I feel bad telling them that ... I just don't think that's right. Otherwise it is super fun!
ReplyDeleteUghhh... audio books just put me to sleep. I did recently listen to one on my road trip. I made it through but it is still boring to me but the 10th hour or so. I just ... maybe I just pick ones that are way too long. I have never listened to a short one.
ReplyDeletePop-up books are really one of my favorite books to read. I have always been fascinated by them. There are of course cheap ones that aren't fun.. but lately I have been seeing some amazing ones. I agree... electronic books for later!
ReplyDeleteI think that is so great you took your daughter to a book signing. Anne McCaffrey would be sooo fun to see!! I wonder if Martha Grimes thought it was like a book club meeting or something? It was very nice of her though to go to your house and be so personal. I have never heard of that before.
ReplyDeleteI think writing a book is pretty damn impressive too. I mean... it is funny. Whenever I met people and tell them I read a lot they always assume that I also write. I try to tell them there is a huge difference between the two but it's like they just don't hear me!!
ReplyDeleteThe Martin event was kind of a bummer for me. The book store told me he would not be speaking only signing books, and that since I was number 600 something that I didn't need to show up till about an hour after the event started. Sooooo that is what I did. Sure enough I walk in and I can hear him talking over the loud speaker. I missed his whole speech. Still furious about that.
ReplyDeleteThe Gorge RR Martin crowd was HUGE. But he did make sure everyone got a signed book. No one went home without one and there was no limit on the crowds. So great that there is another comic reader. I have been discovering a lot of them today.
ReplyDeleteStephen King! How fun! I have really tried with audio books as well, just can't seem to do them. Maybe it is because reading is actually my relaxation. When I listen to audios, I usually try to multi-task. Oh well, I guess I just need to keep reading the old-fashioned way!
ReplyDeleteI went to check on Edelweiss now but didn't see it! Is it possible that not everyone sees what's available? Maybe I'm too new to it?
ReplyDeleteLove graphic novels and when books are presented in a different fashion. Makes it a bit more fun and exciting!!
ReplyDeleteI like going to author signings and events too, though I don't get to many because I either work those nights...or you know, I don't know the authors coming. haha
Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
I think it's really wonderful that you've been able to go to events with your favourite 3 authors, and the author intervieews you've done sound so wonderful! I'm a particular fan of Sarah J. Maas, so I'm really excited by that prospect! I'll have to go and read it!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter is as much of a Laurie R. King fan as I am. (Well, to be strictly accurate, we're both big fans of her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series; I haven't read her contemporary mysteries yet.) And yes, that's probably exactly what Ms. Grimes thought. I didn't realize it at the time.
ReplyDeleteOK... I just went and re-checked that person's instagram picture and it was on Netgalley. Sorry Charlene!!! I totally saw it wrong.
ReplyDeleteI feel like... I am concentrating too hard when I am listening to an audio. Then if my mind wonders I never bother to rewind it since I am driving so I will miss a part too. Just not for me. Stephen King was super fun... Loved it so much.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to an author signing for a while now. I just haven't seen any coming that is someone I would love love to see. But there is an author coming up that my husband loves so I am going to go and get some books signed for him.
ReplyDeleteI wish there was a way to get my blog Q&A with authors and with my blog readers, instead of my goodreads readers. I should probably get back into the Q&A with the authors again I just feel like that goodreads group is falling off. Sometimes I feel like the group members only complain when they don't even participate in the monthly reads ( I am ranting).
ReplyDeleteIt was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! !!
ReplyDeleteOh that's ok! I am glad that it is not hidden from newbies! :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't made it to any author events, but I have had a few tweet me or stop by and comment on my features and it makes me all giggly. I could just imagine what a fan-girl I would be at getting to meet them :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with you there, Angela!
ReplyDeleteHmm... maybe you could have a sidepage and list them all, at least to start with? I started reading through the Sarah J. Maas one and it was so good! I bookmarked it to read more later, but it was really a wonderful Q&A.
ReplyDeleteI keep looking for new author book signing coming up to go to but haven't found any that I am dying to go to. Maybe Deborah Harkness in August? We'll see.
ReplyDelete