Comments on: Fan mail from some flounder?

By: pcwrede

pcwrede — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:36:07 +0000

Lisa – It depends. Most authors love getting undemanding, sincere letters of praise or thanks – who wouldn’t? Not all authors have time to answer such letters, though, especially those of us who write YA and who get rafts of mail from readers who only write because it’s an assignment. It’s not that the letters are any less sincere; it’s the time problem. You’re most likely to get an acknowledgement from a) new authors who have only written one or two books, because they’re desperate for feedback and haven’t had a chance to get jaded yet, b) adult midlist authors, because nobody assigns adults to write fan mail, so adult authors don’t get tons of it unless they are mega bestsellers, and c) authors who may have had a big hit ten years or so ago, but who haven’t written much since, because they, too, are probably past any huge, time-consuming bulge of fan mail. It’s a lot easier to answer two or three letters a month than 50 letters in the same week.

By: Lisa in Maine (Mary's mom)

Lisa in Maine (Mary's mom) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:40:00 +0000

I’m glad to know that you do indeed enjoy receiving mail. A few years ago I read “The Endless Steppe” by Esther Hautzig and was mesmerized by how she described her tween/teen years in exile in Siberia. Even though she wrote it as an adult, she so vividly captured her adolescence (hunger, passion for learning, crush on a boy — all during WWII). I was so moved, I wanted to write to her. And I thought I found her in NYC (though she’d be quite an old woman by now) via Google. But I never did. Do you think most authors do want to hear from readers/fans?

By: filkferengi

filkferengi — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:32:27 +0000

Your comment inspired me to look on youtube.com, where there is a 3-part video of a visit with Lloyd Alexander in his home, showing many of the objects he used in his books.

Thanks!

By: LRK

LRK — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:13:55 +0000

I’m thankful none of my teachers came up with that idea – I would have been terrified witless, writing to An Author, and one whose book/s I loved? I would have been far too much in awe – plus add in the “why would any writer care about YOU?”-aspect. I still scarcely dare to do it, though I’m obviously somewhat less timid – as here I am.

The closest I ever came A Beloved Author was when Lloyd Alexander visited the school next to ours. (In Sweden, would you credit it?) So close, and yet so far! Still, we got to see a video-recording of it – I was spellbound.

By: Jessica Inman

Jessica Inman — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:12:26 +0000

I’m sure it was probably a distributor’s address. This was probably about 15 years ago. I was pretty young and did not know where to find the right address.

By: pcwrede

pcwrede — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:48:10 +0000

Jessica – Which address? Because all my U.S. publishers are supposed to forward fan mail, and they do…eventually. If it was a distributor or a foreign publisher, though, I can see that happening.

By: Jessica Inman

Jessica Inman — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:19:32 +0000

I was never required to write an author. I did write a fan letter one time on my own initiative. I wrote to you, about your Enchanted Forest Series. I can’t even remember exactly what I was talking about; it might have been about the grouchy magic mirror.

It never got to you though, because I sent it to the address on the back of the book. The letter just came back to me, so I gave up. Now you know.

By: pcwrede

pcwrede — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:52:41 +0000

Cheryl – I didn’t think of it all at once. Killer just developed, one element at a time. The minute he ate something inappropriate for the second time and had changes happen, I knew that it would keep happening, but I had no idea what he’d eat or what effect it would have until the opportunities came up and I had to think of something else it would do to him.

Gwendolyn – I’ll check out PageFour. And I don’t currently have plans for a third Mairelon book, I’m afraid. I keep getting sidetracked by shiney new ideas.

Jessica – Thanks. I wasn’t whinging, really…OK, maybe I was, but sometimes you have to, and this is an especially busy time of year. Sometimes steam needs to be blown off. (There are times when passive voice is just the thing…)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:56:22 +0000

Since reading your blog I have found that most authors are a lot like me: short on time. You answer emails, blog comments and snail mail from your fans, and that doesn’t even include your publisher emailing you or your own personal life.

I’m glad I’m not alone in the world of “I never have enough time to do…” Sorry us fans take some of your time, but we do appreciate it when you do give us time. Make sure you take time for yourself, that is important!

By: Gwendolyn McIntyre

Gwendolyn McIntyre — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:19:51 +0000

I’ve got a better one for you.

My granddaughter wants to know if you’re ever going to revisit Mairelon the Magician. She really wants to know what happens to Kim.

And since I’ve been re-reading the stories with her, I find myself rather curious as well.

Gwen