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Author And Reader: The Great Divide Erased
Many moons ago when I was published by William Morrow (now owned by HarperCollins) and later by Penguin/Putnam, I received fan mail. Yay me. These letters would be sent to the publisher and then be forwarded to me. What I always found interesting was comparing the postmark on the original envelopes with the date I actual received the letters. It was usually at least a six month difference.
Now, I have no idea why a publisher would maintain this time buffer, and the frequency with which it happened leads me to believe it was either a very inefficient individual who had monopolized the process, or some weird policy, but whatever the cause/reason, that sort of disconnect is out the window.
Anyone who reads one of my books and wants to contact me can, within seconds. Either through the contact form here at my site, or by tossing an @ message my way on Twitter. Or on Facebook. Or Google+. The world of social media and ubiquitous email have narrowed the divide between author and reader to virtually nil.
Am I glad this divide has been erased? Yes. There are obvious reasons, such as a greater interaction with readers and potential readers, but also there are happy instances that arise which never would have without this ease of connection.
One 'happy instance' in particular I'd like to share. On Twitter not that long ago someone Tweeted me that they had purchased three of my books. I was extremely appreciative, but I also knew that there was a fourth book in that series. So I told them to direct message me their email address and I'd send them the Kindle file of that fourth book so they could have the complete set.
Why did I do this? Well, I did it because I thought it was a nice gesture. But I also did it because I could. The ability to give a book virtually instantaneously at zero cost allows this sort of connection, and this would have been impossible just five years ago. The reader would have never connected so quickly with me, and I would have had no book in digital form to send.
Is this not a wonderful new world for authors and readers? I'm freaking giddy about it.
Now, I have no idea why a publisher would maintain this time buffer, and the frequency with which it happened leads me to believe it was either a very inefficient individual who had monopolized the process, or some weird policy, but whatever the cause/reason, that sort of disconnect is out the window.
Anyone who reads one of my books and wants to contact me can, within seconds. Either through the contact form here at my site, or by tossing an @ message my way on Twitter. Or on Facebook. Or Google+. The world of social media and ubiquitous email have narrowed the divide between author and reader to virtually nil.
Am I glad this divide has been erased? Yes. There are obvious reasons, such as a greater interaction with readers and potential readers, but also there are happy instances that arise which never would have without this ease of connection.
One 'happy instance' in particular I'd like to share. On Twitter not that long ago someone Tweeted me that they had purchased three of my books. I was extremely appreciative, but I also knew that there was a fourth book in that series. So I told them to direct message me their email address and I'd send them the Kindle file of that fourth book so they could have the complete set.
Why did I do this? Well, I did it because I thought it was a nice gesture. But I also did it because I could. The ability to give a book virtually instantaneously at zero cost allows this sort of connection, and this would have been impossible just five years ago. The reader would have never connected so quickly with me, and I would have had no book in digital form to send.
Is this not a wonderful new world for authors and readers? I'm freaking giddy about it.
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