Courtesy of the Boston Bibliophile, here’s this week’s Tuesday Thingers … Today’s topic: LibraryThing authors. Who are your LibraryThing authors? What books of theirs do you have? Do you ever comment on an author’s LT page? Have you received any comments from an author on your LT account?
There are only two LT authors that I’ve read: Phyllis Zimbler Miller (Mrs. Lieutenant) and Emmett James (Admit One). Both of these were for blog tours, and we e-mailed and commented on blogs and LT accounts as part of the communication process before and after reviewing.
I’ll be doing an author tour with David Ebershoff (The 19th Wife) in November for TLC Book Tours, so he’ll be added. I’d love to say I have Meg Waite Clayton (The Wednesday Sisters), but her novel is still on my wish list, not yet in my library!
I have heard from several (non-LT) authors after my review of their books have posted on my blog. So many of them use “Google Alerts” or other notification services that they know right away when their name is mentioned in the blogosphere! Since I usually e-mail a copy of my review (or a short note with a link to the review) to the author/publicist/publisher, I’m always surprised when an author “beats me to it” by contacting me shortly after my review has posted.
I’ve suggested LT Authors to someone whose work I recently reviewed. I like the features available, such as author chat, and think it would make the author more accessible and more connected with his readers. Here’s an idea for a new LT feature – a button/form/link that we could use to invite an author to join (does this already exist?).
I’m glad I’m not the only one with just a few authors on LT.
I’m jealous! I’ve not gotten a whole lot of comments left from authors
Nam Le emailed me thanking me for my review and put both the review and interview on The Boat’s web page. With the emails back and forth I can say he’s a pretty cool guy and I’d RL friends with him otherwise.
Adrienne Bashista commented on the review and interview and posted links on her blog.
I’ve also had comments from authors I’ve not reviewed,
Janeology’s author (whose name escapes me at the moment) has commented.
I like the idea of having a formal invite to use for bringing authors to LT. I’m in contact with a few authors whose books I’ve reviewed (Chris Meeks and Joshua Henkin), and I’ve mentioned LT to both of them, but neither has joined yet. Maybe a formal invite would help.
I noticed an author who didn’t make my list but I do have a copy of his book and read it to! When I get home from work tonight, I’ll have to remedy that. I wonder how I missed him?
I haven’t had authors contact me directly on LT, but they have through my blog or e-mail. Like you, I’ve had interaction with authors who are not a part of LT as well.
Maybe authors don’t want to be too accessible. I supposed some people would try to abuse it.
I agree that a button or form would be a good idea! If an author had lots of formal requests, perhaps they’d join a little more readily than with only one person asking.
I’m all for a button like that. I’d love to see more LT authors
I’ve also had an author get to me ahead of their pubisher. On a recent review, I sent my usual email to the publisher and got his out of office reply. A few hours later, I had an email from the author, saying he had added my review to his website. It was another 2 days before I got something from the publicist. Gotta look out for yourself, I guess.
bermudaonion – I’m going to go thru the LT Author list and add to my wish list!
koolaidmom- I love the back and forth, to know that authors are “real people” too. (I think we all know that, from the discussion over on the LT boards about hearing from an author after a negative review)
Rebecca – I mentioned it to Chris Meeks, too. My note was very stream-of-consciousness, I was in a hurry. I’m glad you told him about it too (hopefully more coherently!)
Literary Feline – I didn’t realize the LT Authors had a column on the side of my profile … when I discovered that, it made compiling my (very short!) list a lot easier!
Bluestocking – that’s a good point; although so many authors have their own websites with a “contact me” button. Like anything else … good in moderation!
Meghan and kegsoccer – I’ll post the idea on the official LT suggestion thread (it may already be there, from someone else!)
LisaLynne – I may change the way I post/circulate reviews … sending links to all who are involved. The recipient can always delete it if they’re not interested … Those Google alerts are something, aren’t they?!?