You know, the last couple of weeks have been pretty darn good :-) And they've recently gotten even better. I've received several emails from readers who've really enjoyed Whispers. As if seeing it on the shelf wasn't excitement enough...someone actually likes it :-)My friends have all told me how wonderful the story is. And while I believe them and their opinions do matter to me...it's sorta like your mom telling you you're beautiful. They have to tell me it's good (besides, they had their chance to tell me it sucked when they critted it :-)). It's a little different when a total stranger takes time from their busy day to write and tell you how wonderful your story is.
All I can say is that it puts a huge smile on my face for the rest of the day. And makes all the hard work and late nights worth it.
You know, I've been a voracious reader since the third grade and I've never sent a fan letter to an author before. There are plenty of authors I admire. Plenty of authors I want to be when I grow up. But I've never bothered to tell them how much their stories move, inspire and transport me. Honestly, it never occurred to me that it would matter to them. Now that I realize it might I think I'm going to sit down and write several :-)
So, if you're a reader please know that your letters do matter (especially if they come on a day we've found a bad review in the vast blackness of cyberspace).
Instigator
P.S. Kate's winner from yesterday is Crystal Lee. Please email Playground Monitor with your snail mail addy and she will pass it along to Kate. Congrats!
17 comments:
Congrats on the success of "Whispers in the Dark." I don't often write authors to let them know that I'm a fan and love their books because I assume that they're too busy to read fan mail. The few times that I have written to an author, I got a nice response telling me that they appreciated my support.
I too say Congrats about your success! :)
I have written authors before when I particularly like a book, but lately, I have not. Maybe it is due to laziness, I am not sure, but I will try and express my appreciation more!
Can I say that I'm hoping someone will like my book enough to write me about it?
I've written authors before, but recently it's just been those I know. That will have to change.
I heart fan mail. It always makes me smile. :-)
And when a book really moves me, I almost always write the author and let her/him know that I enjoyed their work.
Yay for Kira's fan mail!
(and yay for the internet coming back up at work!)
I've never written one either. I really should. I guess in my mind I've always envisioned them as rock stars that don't have time for stuff like that. Even now that I know that isn't true, its still never occurred to me to try.
For any readers reading this comment -- NOTHING makes my day more than hearing from a reader. Truly.
Writing a fan letter is how I ended up as the review coordinator for a website many moons ago. I'd just discovered romance novels and was devouring them as fast as I could. I wrote several fan letters to a couple authors who all happened to be part of an online group of writers. When the husband of one decided to begin a website that, among other things, had a reviews section, his wife recommended me as the review coordinator. When I protested I didn't know how to write a book review, she reminded me of my letter and said I most certainly did.
I've written to lots of authors to tell them I like a particular book. I can only imagine how exciting it must be to receive a fan letter. My short stories don't carry a byline so nobody but me knows I wrote them.
I've only started sending out fan letters, or emails in the last year or so.
Congrats on Whispers in the Dark, Kira! I loved it and even wrote about it on my blog.
Kira, I'm reading WITD as we speak, so I'll be sure to write. Hooray for fan mail!
Not to worry Kim, when your book comes out, I'll be sure to write. In fact, I need to be far better at writing such notes than I have been.
How cool! I would think that receiving a fan letter would make the experience of your book coming out even more real. Not only was it on the shelf and friends liked it, someone you didn't even know picked it up, read it, and enjoyed it. Awesome!
Angel
I've never written letters either. Like SP, I just kind of figured writers were too busy for that kind of stuff. Duh! Obviously, I wasn't thinking much or I'd have realized it isn't the case because I know how much it means to me when someone likes what I wrote. Be it critiquers or the people who've taken the time to email or talk to me about my chapter on the Presents site, I'm always thrilled.
I haven't written a fan letter before but I will from now on.
And to think before I really knew any writers I thought they all had secretarys who did everything for them, wore pink evening dresses and always had a little doggie by their side. Boy was that theory blown out of the water!
Oh, BTW..I love the pics on the side! Ya'll look great!
SQUEEE! I love looking at your book, Instigator!!! Can't wait to see Kim's! :-)
Letters? I've never written them. I did e-mail Julie Garwood once. She wrote me back too. Sitting in front of her at my first National Conference was the highlight of my trip.
I've also spoken to writers to tell them how much I've enjoyed their books. It's great to see their faces light up when you do it that way!
Note to self! Must write.
Congratulations! I've never written a letter/email/note to an author of a book I've enjoyed, simply because I didn't want to come off as some sort of stalker/psycho-weirdo, but from now on, I shall. Write fan mail to an author, that is. The stalker/psycho-weirdo thing just can't be helped.
I am planing to read your WITD and will send you an email. I do send emails letting authors know that I read their publications. I really enjoy a good read and will also let others know when I've read a good book by a given author. You ladies put a lot of heart & soul in your work and as a reader I greatly appreciate it. Keep up the great work!
robertsonreads aka Ginger
Dear PM,
Have you forgotten the letter you wrote to Ogden Nash when you were in high school...and the reply you received from him?
Your Mother
Nope, I haven't forgot. I even blogged about it here.
PM's Mother's Daughter :-)
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