Author Fanmail / Feedback... what's your experience with it?

Hi Janet - I'm backing up Michelle here 100%. I love it when I hear from someone who loved a book I wrote. I guess its even more special as generally speaking (I think) most people would only really be moved to write a fan letter  if the book was particularly spectacular or touched them in a certain way.

Writing is such a lonely business and it's a tough one too. Too often we have fragile egos and are terribly insecure. An email or a letter forwarded from Harlequin is like gold.

If an author has a website with a cntact me button then absolutely that's the most appropriate way to contact them.

Amy

I'm with Janet on this one.  It is sometimes really hard to write to an author and know when to stop!  I've done it a couple of times and possibly been a bit understated as I have been desperate not to sound too gushy or sound creepy. 

I think as a reader authors are a bit like our own "soap stars" - they might be people we aspire to be like or simply whose writing we really admire.  I would be so frightened to ever meet an author as I would be too nervous to speak properly. 

I love that authors come on this forum and share their experiences.  I bet there are some funny stories to share.

I read a lot of triolgies because I like the format.  I like to read the three books one after the other. As a result I often end up with nit-picking issues where an author has failed in the continuity of the story. I once emailed an author telling her how much I liked her books but there were these nit-picking issues that kept me from loving her books. Almost a year later I heard back from that author telling me how glad she was that I liked her books and explaining how she had been under personal pressures at the time she wrote her last book of the 3. Her father was dying and she had to arrange for her mother's care. I felt so awful. I tell authors here how much I like their books but I have been reluctant to send any personal emails since then. So that author who hasn't got back to you may still do so.

I'm going to agree with all the other authors and say how much I appreciate and enjoy receiving positive feedback from readers.  As Donna says, sometimes you can feel that you write your book, it's published and then it disappears into a big black hole. Obviously, there are sales - which are great - there's little to beat  a friendly, personal 'I  really enjoyed what I read' note.

So it's a lovely thought to send a quick note - and I've little doubt that it would brighten any author's day to receive it.

And I don't see anything wrong with a little gushing too! The only thing I would ask  is that readers remember there is only one of the author and although most of us - like me - like to respomd to readers' emails,  doing so can eat into our writing days, specially when there  is a dreadline looming. So we can't chat as much as or as often as we might like.

 As to funny stories - well, in a funny meaning 'peculiar' way - I used to have the opposite of a fan, someone who regularly wrote to me just after each book was published, telling me to "write better books or stop writing at all"! Her emails were always all in capital letters. I could never understand why she ever bought or read any of my books if she disliked them so much. I wouldn't have minded if she'd not done so. I'm well aware of the fact that not I can't please everyone! But every time I had a new title out, she would send me a compaining email. In the end I just blocked her emails because she never said anything different.

So when compared with that, a friendly note saying how much you've enjoyed a book is a welcome thing to receive, either through email or a note sent to Harlequin or the Mills & Boon offices.

Thanks for thinking of it

Kate

Hi,

I'm a relatively new author and I can tell you I was floored and deeply touched to receive email from readers. I truly never expected it and I treasure every one.

I also learned a very interesting piece of information from feedback on my first book. I'd been reluctant to write sex scenes and really dreaded it. After the book came out, I got a number of letters specifically about the sex scenes. People liked them. It was an eye-opening moment for me and helpful to me as a writer.

In my most recent book I included an element that I was a little worried might generate some less happy feedback. Instead I got two letters from readers thanking me for including it. Again, I had been totally wrong in my expectations. The letters eased my worries.

Writing is a career in which you don't get a lot of specific feedback. It's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what I've done right or wrong. I'm always eager to hear specifics from readers about practically anything.

One of the cool things about all of our new "social" technologies is that there are so many options for ways to interact. An email may be more involved, a Myspace comment slightly less. I feel I've developed friendships with people here on eHQ that are less about an author/reader relationship and more about people hanging out together.

I figure if an author posts an email address or maintains a Myspace, they're asking for us to use those avenues for contact. I sent my first fan letter this year and I'm quite certain it won't be my last.

Cheers,

Ellen

I just realized how negative my comment sounded but it was a postitive email with a small negative element.  Janet, I was trying to make the point that authors are human and sometimes for reasons beyond their control they cannot answer your email right away. The author in question and I shared a few more emails and she thanked me as she had felt she hadn't done her best in the last book as well. I did not just slam her book as Kate's fan did. If I don't like a book I still give an author a second chance or even a third but I would never slam a book. On the other hand after reading this post, I should probably send more fan mail to those authors whose books I really like.

I'm with the other authors here. I welcome fan mail and feedback on stories.  And, except for the creepy ones and most of the prison mail, I do answer everyone.  I will admit, I'm not as prompt about answering letters as I used to be, but I will get them answered.    And just because my life gets busy and I can't get to them right away doesn't mean I don't appreciate them.

Writing is tough on the ego--and I think creative minds often second guess themselves because we're always striving for that creative perfection.  I find it reassuring to hear when I've hit the right notes with a reader, and have been touched dearly by some of the extra special messages I've received.  A few readers have developed a regular correspondence (they're patient with me ) and write after each book, or have me on their Christmas card list.  I have an email link on my website, and respond more promptly online.  I even have a page I call the "Line-Up Room" where I've quoted some of the lovely comments and constructive discussion about my books that I've received.  Also, I answer questions that readers have asked me there.

Before I was published, I worried about being a gusher when I wrote a couple of talented authors whose books were exactly what I'd been seeking in my reading.  I've toned things down since then, but I still will drop a polite note or email to say when I've especially enjoyed another book.

I don't respond to the letters that are pure criticism or even hateful.  But I do appreciate constructive criticism from readers.  (That's the teacher in me, I suppose ).  And I did stop corresponding with one reader who seemed to think that my characters were real people.  I especially appreciate hearing from young readers--one teen wrote about being shy like one of my characters, for example.  I think correspondence verges into the creepy zone when things get personal, but when it's about the books and the writing, fan mail and email is totally cool!

Great discussion!

Julie Miller 

Kaelee, as far as that author responding about what was going on...I can almost guarantee that wasn't an attempt to make you feel guilty.

Recently Vince reviewed one of mine and said it sounded like I needed the vacation that I'd planned for my heroine.  He was right.  I responded that due to personal circumstances at the time, maybe the book wasn't as "hopeful" as my normal self.  That wasn't to make him feel guilty...just to acknowledge that there might have been some truth in his assessment. 

BTW, I don't mind that sort of feedback as it is illuminating...it's the kind like Kate said that is in all caps saying to write better.  Maybe I'm just used to critiques, and I do love the gushing kinds of remarks, but sometimes the negatives help so I know what's resonating with readers and what isn't and I can see if I'm doing something that I can tweak, you know?

*waves at Kate and Sandra and Ellen*

Donna

Hey, Janet, thanks for the nice comments. It's great to know you read me.

On the sjubect of fan mail... maybe we should say that there's a difference between fan mail and critical mail. I'm perfectly willing to hear that a reader has found some sort of fault with a book of mine but I have to be honest and say that I don't really see  that as 'fan mail.' Gushing isn't necessary--but as someone (Kate?) said, it's nice.  It's just that I see fan mail as something sent by a reader to an author to let that author know she has, somehow, touched that reader's heart.

Trust me, Janet--the reader who thinks my characters are real people is in a different category from what you're suggesting.  Believable characters is a good thing.  Asking me for a character's address so she can write to him is something different altogether.    I worry about her.

When I'm stuck, sometimes I'll interview my characters--and answer questions as the character.  It helps create deeper, more real characters.  But I know they're still fiction.  

Julie Miller 

There have been times that I have let authors know that I have enjoyed their books. I've usually done that by email from their website. I don't expect a reply but I have received them. It is very nice when that happens so I expect they also feel that way when they get mine. I love that I can also find an author on this site and post a comment to them about how much I enjoy their books. There are some authors that I love and I have not emailed them. That is something I will have to do.

I love to talk about characters as if they are real. It is fun to get caught up with a series of characters and want to "see" them again in the other books. I like to know how they are doing. . . have they started a family. . . but I'm not crazy!

Margie :)

Hello to All: 

I have never thought of sending fanmail to authors, and only recently that I've started writing some reviews because of the book challenge.  So this is all new to me. 

Maybe in the future, when I gather enough courage, I might send a fanmail to my favourite author(s).

Orchid

Terri - They just dedicated a statute of the Fonz in our town yesterday and Henry Winkler and a lot of the cast of HD was here.  Pretty neat, I thought.

Cady

Cady,

That is right! I forgot about that. I loved watching Laverne and Shirley too.

Thanks,
Margie :)

Janet, I bet you made those authors smile, so don't worry about gushing!

When I receive fanmail, I smile for the rest of the day. It's a lovely part of this job.

Claire