Have you ever emailed an author?

MarkEsq · Jun 15, 2008

I just did and I'm feeling like a dork because I haven't done it before.

Am I a stalker now?!

Thing is, I just was so blown away by a couple of passages in the novel I am reading I thought I would let the guy know. I mean, if you're a published author would you think it cool or "stalky" if someone emailed you out of the blue saying how awesome a couple of sections were?

And no, I didn't tell I was a writer or ask him to help me get pub'd.

So, ever do that? What was the response?

Mark

P.S. The author, by the way, is Alan Furst and the passages are in Night Soldiers, the first a description of Paris and the second a description about a woman the MC meets and how their relationship started.

WendyNYC · Jun 15, 2008

Yes, to let her know that hearing her speak at a luncheon inspired me to start writing again. I guess it was too daunting until I heard the success story of a normal, funny woman without an MFA or serious writing credentials.

She responded and was flattered.

alleycat · Jun 15, 2008

Yes, I have, and the response has generally been positive.

I don't know that I'd want to e-mail Stephen King or J.K. Rowling however. Maybe. I can see Stephen King maybe writing back.

There was a story told when I was in school about a guy getting a "D" on a book report because he has misinterpreted what the writer had meant. So the guy gets in touch with the famous writer and asks his opinion. The writers writes back that the guy was absolutely right. The teacher still refused to change his grade on the theory that the writer should have meant something else. ;-)

Marian Perera · Jun 15, 2008

I've emailed Matthew Woodring Stover and Lawrence Watt-Evans, and written to Lorraine Heath after reading their books (she probably has an email address too, but I'm old-fashioned in some ways and like writing letters).

They were very nice in their responses.

Kalyke · Jun 15, 2008

Sure I have. I read a non fiction article written by a well known author in a field I was interested in. The author wrote back, and put me on a mailing list for his little monthly newsletter. Many really big writers are much too busy to sit down and answer every email they get, but they actually do like to know if the audience appreciates their work. I think being a stalker is a whole different animal than sending a nicely worded email a writer you like.

bethany · Jun 15, 2008

I wrote to an author I was friends with on myspace and let her know my high school was doing her book for book club. She ended up doing an online book chat for them, it was AWESOME.

Andre_Laurent · Jun 15, 2008

I have written to several. Every one of them responded, and no I didn't say I write, just that I like their work. I have since struck up an email friendship with one of them who now knows I write and has offered to read my latest ms.

Appalachian Writer · Jun 15, 2008

I e-mailed an author once. I was asking for a reference about the agent who claimed to be handling her work. She never responded. Either she subscribed to the theory that if you can't say something good about someone then you shouldn't say anything, or she didn't chose to deign to answer the question. I've spoken with authors who traveled through at local readings but seldom more than a hello. A part of me wanted to scream out, "I'm a writer, too. Please look at my work." But, of course, I didn't. Damn. Sometimes I wish I had!

williemeikle · Jun 15, 2008

I've emailed several, usually to tell them how much I enjoyed something they've done.

And I get emails from people saying nice things about my work too.

I think it's very common.

steveg144 · Jun 15, 2008

Email? No. But back in my High School days, when we wrote these things call "letters" on these rectangular bits of material called "paper," :tongue

I wrote a letter to a guy named Walter Kaufmann, a Princeton prof best remembered (if he's remembered at all) as the guy whose translations of Nietzsche helped rehabilitate Nietzsche's reputation after WWWII. His reply letter was curt, self-important, and dismissive. It stung, a lot. Still does, now that I think of it. Jerk.

jennontheisland · Jun 15, 2008

I've emailed authors before. Mostly of ebooks. They always replied and were very friendly.

Here, I've given rep points when I realized who a poster was.

a_sharp · Jun 15, 2008

Yes, twice before, that I can recall. In both cases the response was very positive.

Look, if your writing touches someone enough to cause them to write to you, that's the ultimate gratification. If a published author makes his/her email address available in some fashion, it means they want feedback. If it's positive and constructive, all the better, and they will appreciate your extra effort among all the satisfied readers who said nothing.

Write4U2 · Jun 15, 2008

Yes, a couple of times with very positive responses.

KTC · Jun 15, 2008

I emailed RayRay. He's my hero.

Angela_785 · Jun 15, 2008

I think what you did was fine! What seems to tick pubbed authors off are people who contact for information on their agent/editor (especially info easily found through the internet/other resources) or to ask for a recommendation. Telling someone that you really connected with their writing is something I'm sure authors like to see!

Gillhoughly · Jun 15, 2008

That's called "fan mail," and I love getting such letters!

It goes stalky when the fan suddenly thinks we're best friends forever after I've written back a nice thank you. He wants to engage in a lengthy penpal thing, and I don't have the time or inclination for that--it distracts from my writing!

I've had only one of those (snail mail), thankfully.

If things get spooky or awkward I simply stop replying.

If your fav author stops replying or doesn't reply at all, it usually means he just too freakin' busy to fit it in. He won't think you're a stalker.

Not unless you stake out his house and shoot pics of him taking out the garbage or playing with his kids, then send them to him as "fun candids!"

That happened to an actor I know of and he was NOT amused. The stalker could have only gotten those shots by lying in a wet ditch in the middle of a Canadian winter. Scary!

Steveg144--I'm sorry that guy was such a wanker with you. Not all writers are like that, but it's a world like any others. Life's too short to waste on the jerks. If I should see you at some event, I'll buy you a beer to make up for it!

rugcat · Jun 15, 2008

I did, once, to a writer whose book I thought was astonishingly good. I was surprised to get a pleasant reply --I assumed he'd be too busy.

Now that I'm published and have a website I sometimes get emails from fans. I always reply. What I hadn't realized is that it's very nice to hear from an appreciative fan.

If only I were so successful I couldn't possibly keep up with the massive flow of email

SPMiller · Jun 15, 2008

Have you ever emailed an author?

No. I always assumed I'd come off as a stalkery/obsessed fan, and so I haven't bothered. I don't involve myself in fandom for a similar reason.

But having read this thread, I've changed my mind.

Gillhoughly · Jun 15, 2008

Angela_785 said:
What seems to tick pubbed authors off are people who contact for information on their agent/editor (especially info easily found through the internet/other resources)

I'm not ticked off at all, but that's just me. I have contact information for my literary agent up on my website so aspiring writers don't have to ask me directly for that info.

But you are SO right about the asking for recommendations or even cover quotes. Those can be annoying.

I usually get them from writers who sought print through non-professional venues and want a published pro's validation for their literary genius.

(Translation: the ones who went to AuthorHouse, PubliSHAMerica or some similar house of ill repute.)

I've gotten a few requests along those lines; some have even sent me books. Theirs is a sad lot. So is mine as I have to keep thinking up new ways to politely say "no" without cutting loose on their bad choice of publisher.

The fact is, I don't have time to do many quotes for even my nearest and dearest pro friends, much less a stranger!

So don't take it amiss if you get no reply!

Mythica · Jun 15, 2008

I haven't but I'm chicken. I just blog/MySpace stalk. lol

tehuti88 · Jun 15, 2008

I snail-mailed Ojibwa author Basil Johnston to tell him how influential his works on the stories of his people had been to me, but never got a reply. *sigh*

I would have e-mailed but I haven't an address at which to do so.

Write4U2 · Jun 15, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
I'm not ticked off at all, but that's just me. I have contact information for my literary agent up on my website so aspiring writers don't have to ask me directly for that info.

But you are SO right about the asking for recommendations or even cover quotes. Those can be annoying.

I usually get them from writers who sought print through non-professional venues and want a published pro's validation for their literary genius.

(Translation: the ones who went to AuthorHouse, PubliSHAMerica or some similar house of ill repute.)

I've gotten a few requests along those lines; some have even sent me books. Theirs is a sad lot. So is mine as I have to keep thinking up new ways to politely say "no" without cutting loose on their bad choice of publisher.

The fact is, I don't have time to do many quotes for even my nearest and dearest pro friends, much less a stranger!

So don't take it amiss if you get no reply!

I'm in Arizona, but I found a wonderful writer's conference in Harrogate, UK. My girlfriend and I decided to go to it. In my first novel, I use Oxfordshire and Oxford University as one of the locations, and have been there several times. I've enjoyed Veronica Stallwood's series about Oxford University and had looked at her website many times.

She seemed approachable, so I wrote to her. We enjoyed chatting, and I told her about the conference. She said she'd have loved to go, but was pushing to finish the next manuscript.

That conference was so much fun and inspiring. There were tons of authors, they signed books, gave lectures, sat with participants at dinners, and mingled during breaks when they weren't signing.

The next conference I went to was on Maui. That was equally as fullfilling, and the tone and organization was totally different. I really learned so much from the sessions with editors and agents. The US authors didn't mingle as much as the Brits.

Most of the authors were interesting people to talk to. I didn't push anyone to "do" anything for me. I just enjoyed their conversation, and whatever they wanted to tell me about themselves, I was happy to hear.

job · Jun 15, 2008

Appalachian Writer said:
I e-mailed an author once. I was asking for a reference about the agent who claimed to be handling her work. She never responded. Either she subscribed to the theory that if you can't say something good about someone then you shouldn't say anything, or she didn't chose to deign to answer the question.

If you look at this from the author's standpoint, however,
this is someone asking her for a public statement about her relationship with her agent.

The public doesn't have any 'right to know' what the author thinks of her professional colleagues -- good or bad.

Carmy · Jun 15, 2008

I once wrote to Lawrence Block with a question. I didn't expect an answer but he wrote back, in his own handwriting (not typed), with some excellent advice.

I also emailed Rhys Bowen to tell her how much I enjoyed her Evan Evans series and she replied.

Authors like to hear from fans, I think. A friend with three published novels moans that she's had only one fan letter.

maestrowork · Jun 15, 2008

As a writer, I know I appreciate it when people write me to tell me how much they enjoy my book. I don't think it's "stalking" (unless you start to write me every day and tell me what I'm doing right now...). I think we all want to know our work makes a difference.

I've exchanged email with a few well-known authors. I even got a letter from Michael Chabon. That's really cool.

Have you ever emailed an author?

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