Today’s suggested topic for Armchair BEA is about nurturing and maintaining book blogging relationships. This was a tough topic for me to come up with something to talk about since I took a hiatus from blogging and am just getting back into the swing of things. What I do know, is that I love socializing with other book bloggers/book enthusiasts/authors/publishers/etc. on Twitter, Facebook, and blogs.
One blogger I absolutely adore talking with is Rachel from Fiktshun. She comes up with the best ideas for new and innovative posts. I can’t believe that she has only been blogging for 6 months! Fiktshun has the feel of being around for a much longer time period than that. I love how she replies to every comment on her blog and encourages conversations with her readers. To me, it’s those kinds of things that put her blog on another level. The kind of person she is and the type of blog she has is something I aspire to be/have.
I’ve only met a handful of authors in real life. I met Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, and Charlaine Harris at ComicCon in San Diego in 2009. Kami and Margaret signed an ARC of Beautiful Creatures for me. They even stamped the book with a Gatlin County Library stamp. I was completely in shock that I was meeting two authors and they were handing me an advanced copy of their book. I feel as if when I was walking through the line, I just stared at them with my mouth agape. When I got home, I promptly emailed them to tell them how thankful I was for their kindness and to apologize if I seemed rude (like they would remember me--the line was fairly long, but I still felt horrible). To my delight, Kami emailed me back and was so kind. I’ll never forget it! I posted my review of Beautiful Creatures originally on the website for my internship. It was one of the first book reviews I ever wrote. I still get a thrill anytime Kami or Margaret tweets back to me. I totally credit them for getting me involved in the book blogging world. If it wasn’t for ComicCon and that ARC of Beautiful Creatures, I’m not so sure I would have ever considered book blogging.
What Rachel from Fiktshun and Kami and Margaret have in common, is the interaction with their readers. If we all remember that social networking is just that--social--I think we can all enjoy each others company.
This is my thank you to Rachel, Kami, and Margaret for being the types of people that I can only hope to be. You all rock something serious!
Okay, first I can't believe I'm mentioned in the same post as Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. How cool is that! I absolutely love it!
ReplyDeleteAnd they are such amazing authors. I was fortunate enough to see them both at the RT signing in Los Angeles and they were both so nice!
I think I met them with that very same mouth agape look. If we took snaps of every fan of these amazing authors I bet many pictures would have fans with jaws dropping and a glazed look in their eyes.
I think I added in a stutter and a shaky hand as I reached out for my signed book.
But to get an email response! I have never emailed an author. That's like reaching out to a superstar.
And I agree with your take on social networking. It is social. Just doing a follow/follow thing and expecting people to love you just because isn't my thing. I love interacting with people who visit my site. They have thousands of blogs to choose from and they stop by mine (like you do) and I love it.
(I'm much more shy on Twitter. As you can see 140 characters is a serious problem for me. LOL)
Great post and not just because I'm in it!
I've only been to one book signing. I've met authors but usually not in a bookish context.
ReplyDeleteRather than talk about bookstores, publishers or bloggers, I'm talking about volunteering. Come see what I mean.
That's an amazing story! :D I love that Kami and Margret inspired you to begin blogging and I completely agree that meeting authors is somewhat of an awing experience. After all, they're the superstars of the book world! ;) Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love those authors. They are sweet and very kind to their readers.
ReplyDeleteI haven't met many authors in real life, but the ones I have have been awesome. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe Saturday Review of Books each Saturday at Semicolon http://www.semicolonblog.com/ is another good way to connect with other bloggers and with books, which is what we're all about, right?
ReplyDelete@Fiktshun
ReplyDelete:)
They were super nice in person! and online. and in their videos.
Haha so true! It's just so overwhelming.. it's like meeting a movie star!
Yeah, I don't like the whole follow for a follow thing either. I only want people to follow me if they actually like what I'm saying and vice versa.
Thank you very much!
@pussreboots
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you have met authors at a non-book event!
@Kristin @ Beneath Shining Stars
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and thanks for visiting :)
@Monica
ReplyDeleteThey are amazing!
What a great post!
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet Kami and Margaret. Love their books so much!
Great post! Glad that you shared it on my blog, Kaitlyn, otherwise I might have missed it. I agree with you about bloggers who take the time to respond to comments and the community presents. (Maybe because I try to do the same?)
ReplyDeleteIf you thank the shaky hands and mouth agaped look is bad, you should check out a post I wrote for Armchair BEA last year. It was the first book signing I went to, and David Sedaris (a humorous writer of autobiographical essays in case anyone doesn't know).
@Chrisbookarama
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've gotten the chance to meet some great authors!
@Sherry
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check it out--thanks!
@Michelle
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Their books are excellent and they're so nice!
@Melissa
ReplyDeleteI know, there are so many ArmchairBEA posts to keep track of, but I love it! I'm definitely going to check out your book signing story :) Thanks for stopping by!
I'm still learning so I know what you mean about this topic. It's hard to keep up with everything sometimes. I have really enjoyed ArmchairBEA.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting stuckinbooks.com
Grr, I left a comment but Blogger ate it. Anyway, wanted to say that it's great that you got to meet authors in person. There aren't that many author events here but it's always exciting when I get the chance to meet them and have books personally autographed.
ReplyDeleteWow, you're so lucky :). I won my first signed ARC (Bloodspell by Amalie Howard) through Armchair BEA and I won't get it until after it's released but I don't care! Thanks for commenting on my blog! I love the look of yours :). ~ Jen @ A Book and a Latte
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm glad you go the chance to meet them!
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