Chatting with Hemingway in your study..?
Something has changed profoundly in my reading habits. I am beginning to choose books and the authors that write them for a whole new reason. I look for authors who engage in conversation with their readers. A few years ago authors never would have dreamed of interacting with readers outside of book tours, signings and readings. Now authors and readers are communicating via many formats. Personally, when I choose my next read I look online to see if the author is connected. Are they engaged in conversation already?
So would Hemingway have been willing to communicate with his readers? I hope so. With the way publishing is going today, authors need to engage and build communities involving their readers. (For more information on getting published today see my friend Jon’s blog post) They win both financially and relationally.
Here is a short list of authors and organizations that are doing this well and willing to risk engagement. Their risk is paying off.
Mary Russell (The Bee Keepers Apprentice), Tony Hsieh, Seth Godin, Steve Garfield, Gary Vaynerchuk, Chris Brogan, Andy Andrews, Dr. Tim Erwin, Ransomed Heart, Dr. Emerson Eggerich, Jane Kirkpatrick, Rick Warren
To find your own authors, search Facebook for their name or title. On twitter search for the book name or author. Many readers create a search term if the author has not (you can do this by simply posting on twitter about your book with a #hashtag in front of the term).
Please list add any you have found engaging.
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Hey John, thanks for the link love! Great post, I completely agree that its much more fun to read an author who is open to conversing around their topic.
Hey John, thanks for the link love! Great post, I completely agree that its much more fun to read an author who is open to conversing around their topic.
Love this. Funny how the world has changed. I bet all the money in my pocket that the great writers would have taken advantage of the new economy of engagement. Great post!
Hi John, I engage with my readers because I know once the book leaves my hands, a reader will create with the story; I like to see what they do with it, to know if/how it affected them. I learn something for my next book. Facebook (a reader page and a fan page) newsletters, accessible via website, Twitter and I “attend” book group discussions by speaker phone. Madeliene L'Engle says when we create we co-create: we create with spirit and with our audience. I like that.
Thanks AJ, Speaking of the money in your pocket, I think it greatly increases the value for purchase, when reading experiences take on a whole new life with author and other reader connections. It even amps up more with great tools like Vook.
Jane, Beautifully put. Thanks so much for taking my invitation to speak on this subject. What a great tool to ward off writers block, having your readers co-create with you. You are way ahead of the game. It is an honor to have you here.
Check out Jane's great books here: http://www.jkbooks.com/ and on twitter here: @JaneKirkpatrick
Good stuff John, I've found that Laurie R. King is highly interactive with her readers as well. I need to learn that trick with the #hastag thing…There is much I need to learn from you Obi-john. I'll be in touch.
Thanks for the tip on Laurie King Andy. (http://twitter.com/mary_russell). She is one of my favorite authors. I've read her whole Sherlock series. In fact I found this post all about her engagement with readers. Check it out! http://www.jeffwidmer.com/crossroads/index.php/...
I wonder if this is a new trend, or simply the desire of the reader to be included in community with an author. Definitely something to ponder and consider. I make it a point to deeply connect with my readers. I try to be very accessible. It's not a quick way to garner sales, but it is satisfying.