Lets Discuss / Thursdays with Luxa: Reader Author Interactions

Posted 28 November, 2013 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Discussion Posts / 31 Comments

Let's Discuss - (un)Conventional Bookviews

Thursdays with Luxa, formerly known as Let’s Discuss, is a weekly post hosted by Thoughts and Pens. Since she took over, Charlotte has changed the name to Thursdays with Luxa if you want to find it on her blog. The discussion posts are supposed to have something to do with books, but you can pretty much choose your own topic. You can link up to your discussion post at Charlotte’s blog, and also visit other posts and participate in the discussions they are having. When you link up, it should be to a post made in the past seven days, even if Thoughts and Pens post hers every Thursday. You don’t have to post weekly discussion posts, and you can participate when you feel like it.

Thursdays with Luxa: Reader Author Interactions

Interactions between authors and readers keep coming up in my various feeds, and so I have been thinking more about this lately than usual. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about interactions, so I will try to explain my stance on this to show when I think it’s great to have comments from authors and when I think that maybe it’s a little iffy.

I follow several of my favorite authors on Twitter (and on Facebook) and sometimes, I interact with them there – it can be silly things, chatting with Donna Cummings about her first cup of coffee and how drinking wine counts as eating fruit because there are grapes in her wine. Or it can be me sharing my excitement over Rachel Caine’s new release, and planning to have coffee with her in London (though that didn’t happen – we were both too busy and not free at the same time). Or joking with Katie Hayoz about her popcorn addiction and whether we’ll have time to meet at Starbucks before Christmas…

Other times, and only if it’s a four or five star review, I will @ the author to give them some love, and let them know I loved their book. If they then click over to my review and comment on it, I think that’s great! I am the one who made them aware of my review, and so if they have the time and inclination to say something to me about it, that’s nice. And you know, authors are like rock-stars, so when they come and say hello, or answer my tweet, I’m ecstatic about it!

There are times when I don’t even want to imagine an author coming to my blog, though. And I’m sure you can guess when that is, right? If I have read a book I didn’t enjoy, first of all, I spend a lot more time on my review – because I want to be able to explain what I didn’t like about it and why – and I really don’t want to hurt the author’s feelings. And I can totally understand that it could hurt their feelings – but my review is never personal. And I think it’s important to be honest here on my blog, so I am! But I am very uncomfortable if the author of a book I wrote a negative review for leaves me a comment about that anywhere. And I realize they might have a google alert for their name, or the title of their book, but I feel bad enough writing my non-enthusiastic review as it is – I don’t want to have to think about the author visiting just that one post and leave me a comment on that as well.

I can totally understand why an author would want to comment on reviews of their books, though, but I don’t think it’s always a good idea. And even if authors are readers, too, they aren’t exactly readers of their own book, so that one review is not completely for them. I know I’m not making complete sense, since I don’t mind it if an author comes to my positive review (hey, if it’s full of compliments, it’s all good, right?) but I would like them to not come to visit my negative reviews. So I guess my main thing is that if I ‘invite’ authors by tweeting them or otherwise interacting with them, it’s normal if they come by – but of course I understand if they don’t feel like it! – and if I don’t ‘invite’ them, it might be a little weird.

What do you think about interactions between readers and authors? Do you feel like some places should be strictly for readers? Is your blog a place where you would only want other bloggers commenting, or are you open to authors and welcome them to all your posts? Or are you a little indecisive like me?

Thanks for stopping by, remember to sign up for Thursdays with Luxa so I can come visit your discussion post as well.

Lexxie signature (un)Conventional Bookviews

 

 

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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31 responses to “Lets Discuss / Thursdays with Luxa: Reader Author Interactions

  1. Great point on authors not being readers of their own books and I do understand why they may take offense when they get a negative review. I always say it’s like someone telling you your baby is ugly.

    Great points, Lexxie. My feelings about the matter are more or less the same. I on the other hand rarely interact with authors via social media but only because I get bored waiting for them to reply via Twitter or FB and sometimes I’m sooo lazy to check my feeds. To be honest, I’m not a big fangirl and those that I do engage with are the ones whom I’ve developed rapport with and they are so few I can count them on one hand. Overall I’m the type of fan who’ll stay on the sidelines and observe.

    • I agree, Braine, none of us would ever go up to a mother and tell her to her face that her baby was ugly! But at the same time, when I write a review of a book, I don’t exactly walk up to the author and give them a piece of my mind, either. And this is why I will only @ an author with a positive 4 or 5 star review.

      I don’t interact with a lot of authors on social media, but there are some that are really funny, and with whom I have had some hilarious back-and-forth convos with.

      Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts!

  2. I don’t really go out of my way to interact with authors, but I do follow some on social media. I don’t care if they drop by my blog as long as they are respectful of my views. I know it’s hard for an author to get a negative review but they also must realize that their book is not going to please everyone. I also think that readers should never bash a book either. 🙂

    So I guess I don’t care either way on the subject. 🙂

    • I think there’s a big difference between bashing a book and bashing the person who wrote the book, though. And even if I don’t write snarky reviews myself, I enjoy some reviewers who do. And their snark won’t keep me from getting a book if I think I’ll enjoy it even if they didn’t.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Stormi 🙂

  3. I feel the same way! I love it when I give positive reviews (4.5 to 5 stars) but when I give about 3 to 3.5, I’m scared to publish it, but I wanted to be honest. I had one incident where I wrote a 3-star review and I was part of the book tour, but I couldn’t back out and I didn’t know if I shouldn’t publish it anymore. Thankfully the author was super nice (and I don’t make my reviews personal and I loved her other books) so we’re still okay until today.

    But having authors comment on your positive reviews? Omg that would be heaven!

    • Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Goldie. See, I enjoy it if an author comments on my positive review as well, but I am not thinking about the author at all while I am writing my review. I am thinking about the book and what I liked about it, and how it made me feel.

      I don’t enjoy writing reviews for books I didn’t like, but I do it anyway, because I did read that book, and I think I should share both the positive and the negative. I try to find something that might redeem the book, though. Whether that be the writing, one character that I liked, or the setting… Unfortunately, even that isn’t always possible.

      I’m glad there’s another fan-girl like me – who would just squee with joy for an author comment on a positive review 😉

  4. Ah you’re right, I agree with you. Like you I love to interact with the authors I love and it’s nice to email them sometimes or to have some news. But at the same time like you say it’s complicated. You know I think the worst is when you really know an author and don’t like one of her/his book. It happens sometimes for me and last time it broke my heart but well it was my feeling. It’s just when you have to tell the author because he/she is the one you gave you the book for review. For now I never had any problem and I always do what I want but you’re right it’s ok for them to read when it’s good because I want to share the love too but when it’s not that good I prefer to keep it to myself ans my readers to not hurt their feelings. Well I’m complicated too lol

    melliane recently posted: Copperhead by Tina Connolly
    • I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has complicated and sometimes conflicting feelings about interactions with authors, Melliane. It breaks my heart, too, if I don’t like a book by an author whose books I usually enjoy! And I love it when I can share a positive review, but it’s not the same when I have a negative review coming. It is why I always remind authors who send me ARCs directly that I will post a review that is always my complete and honest opinion.

      Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts, Melliane!

      • I don’t often think of that but when it happens I explain the reason, and post a review with a lot of details to make them understand. But well it’s still sad. But like you say as soon as it’s our opinion, it’s the right thing to do.

        melliane recently posted: Copperhead by Tina Connolly
  5. I have heard of some bad experiences from other bloggers with authors over less than positive reviews of their books..for me so far it has been nothing but positive!

    • Luckily, me, too Alisa! I think it’s really sad when drama sprouts from a review. I don’t think that’s anybody’s intentions.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  6. What do you think about interactions between readers and authors?
    Very awkward and at the same time, gratifying. In all my blogging life, there were only two instances that I shamelessly interacted with authors and those were with Katie M. and Veronica Rossi via Twitter. I totally get you being excited about them giving you the time of the day. However, as I’ve said, it’s really awkward. I don’t know though… maybe because I am not really used to interacting with people via twitter. I am no good with impromptu conversations so that’s why when they replied, I only managed to hold my ground for a few minutes and didn’t bother replying because I just don’t know what to say anymore. I always feel bad about it because I am not only doing it with authors but with bloggers as well. *hangs head in shame* It’s like I have this milder version of Rachel Young’s panic attacks. If you meet me in person, I would actually stammer when I’m talking to persons I’ve just met.

    On a more general note, I think I would find it more comfortable if I interacted with an author through the blog commenting system instead of Twitter. That way, I can think about what to reply for a longer period of time.

    I am feeling envious that you’re so at home with authors, Lexxie. It’s like you’ve been friends with them for a long long time…like you know, just talking about things as simple as wine or coffee. I could never strike a conversation like that without feeling awkward. Hahahaha.

    If truth be told, I even feel awkward interacting with you and the rest of the bloggers via twitter. I am more at home when I am just commenting on your blogs.

    I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

    Do you feel like some places should be strictly for readers?

    Well, I am not really a totalitarian kind of person. Take for example Goodreads. While others think that the place should be for readers, I don’t think so. Since it’s about books, Goodreads would lose its essence if there’s a glaring divide between authors and readers. The only thing that I wanted is that every camp should know the lines that shouldn’t be crossed. That way, they can co-exist harmoniously.

    Is your blog a place where you would only want other bloggers commenting, or are you open to authors and welcome them to all your posts?

    Well, I never had an author commenting on my blog but if one does, I would feel awkward but ecstatic. I would probably be deleting and retyping my reply to his or her comment. Wooohooo! When I created my blog, I intended it to be read by everyone.

    What a lovely post, Lexxie!

    • And regarding authors reading negative reviews from me for their books, I don’t think I could stand the whole situation. It’s prolly one of the reasons why I don’t want to be super friendly with authors because I am afraid that a time will come that I will read one of their works and give a negative review. And I am scared that that particular review would put a strain to our friendship. I hate causing my friends hurt even if it’s unintentional. So I think that the best way to avoid friendship drama is just to stay away from authors I think. Bahahahaha.

      And hey, are you planning to join Ashley’s book blogging directory?

    • Eh, I just butt into conversations sometimes, though 🙂 And I have fun with it for sure. But I agree with you that it’s sometimes a lot easier to interact with blog-posts because you have more time to think about what you want to say and how to say it that way. Tweets are fun, though, because you have to say what you want with few words 🙂

      I can totally see you in front of your computer now, Charlotte, carefully typing out a response, then deeming it not good enough and starting over 😀

      I agree with you about Goodreads as well, however, I think one of the big problems over there was that until not that long ago, the owners of Goodreads repeatedly told readers that GR was a safe haven for them. And that authors came second. Now, that has completely changed, without a site-wide announcement, and I think a lot of users are very confused about it all.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Charlotte 😀

  7. This has been on my mind for a while. What would I do? How would I react if a disgruntled author started a shit storm? Honestly I don’t know. All I know is that if in doubt I’d rather not hear from authors at all.
    I did, however, do a little back-flip when Kerry Hudson tweeted a link to my review of “Tony Hogan Bought Me An Ice-cream Float Before He Stole My Ma”.
    So I can’t give you a definitive answer. I guess because in the end it always depends on the tone of the interaction.

    Cheers, Kaz 🙂

    Kaz @ Notes on Novels recently posted: (ARC Review) Freak of Nature by Julia Crane
    • Yeah, that’s exactly my thoughts as well, Kaz! If the interactions are fun from both sides, it’s awesome! And I know what you mean about the back-flip 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts 🙂

    • Yes, it is kind of a difficult question to answer, which is one of the reasons I needed a discussion post 🙂 And I’m sure it’s just as difficult for the authors to figure out what is best as it is for us 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts, Pamela.

  8. This is a great post, Lexxie. I have to agree with you – even is it does sound like waffling. 🙂 I do interact with a few authors as well, and I’m always thrilled when they reply to a tweet or whatever and/or leave a comment. I have had an author comment on a 3 star review, thanking for me it and I felt kinda guilty. But like you, I want to be honest in my reviews…I have a duty to my friends and readers, right? I do think that some authors could take the negative feedback and improve from it though. So it’s a catch-22, no?

    Gosh, wish we could have coffee and mull this over more. 😉

    **hugs**

    Bookworm Brandee recently posted: **#COYER Review ~ Julia ~ Sarah Krisch**
    • Well, why don’t you just come over for some coffee right now? I have freshly made croissants, and I have time to mull this over as well 😉

      I agree, it is a total catch-22, damned if you do and damned if you don’t. And I’m sure it’s all very confusing to authors as well! Because if they interact with us on twitter, how should they be able to guess if we’d be OK with them coming to our blogs to chat as well?

      I think that as long as things stay courteous on both sides, interactions are all good. And at the same time, a book that makes me feel a lot might not leave me feeling like being courteous 😀 Yet another catch-22 and time for another coffee 😉

      Have a great weekend my friend. *hugs3

    • Exactly my feelings as well, Lindy. I feel bad about a negative review, too, but at the same time, I just could never not write my review, or try to make things seem better than what I thought they were…
      Thanks for stopping by!

    • LOL non-insane authors? I’m glad you’re warming up to the interactions, I think it can be really awesome 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by Lyn.

  9. I have a couple of authors (not bigwigs) who I am a little closer to than others, because sometimes you click with the person behind the author, and I suppose sometimes the reverse is true – you click with the person behind the reviewer. They have even asked me for feedback about a couple of books that were still unpublished. Having said this, I’m lucky, because they are also super cool about reviews, and I’ve NEVER seen them involved in any kind of social drama. And when I say I’m close to them, I absolutely don’t mean we are “friends”. I may joke with them on Twitter or via email, but – like I stated in a post of mine about author/reader interactions – I make a point about NOT becoming their “friend”. And the main reason is…I want to be able to recommend their books and review them without people thinking I’m biased. I want to help them getting their work around. That’s more important than striking what you would call a friendship. Though I guess our relationships are a bit more intense than the ones I have with other authors I may have talked with after reading their books.

    I’ve had a couple of authors commenting on my blog too. I’m totally OK with that, but then again, some of those posts weren’t even reviews of their books, but discussion posts or something like that. And about reviews, my stance is the same as yours – I try to be very careful not to hurt feelings, even when I have to rate a book 1 or 2 stars. But I suppose that doesn’t grant me – or you – immunity from someone’s rage LOL. On the other hand, I still prefer the interaction and the risk to no interaction… 😉

    • I have some authors I joke with on Twitter or in e-mails, too. And now that I’ve been to two conventions, I’ve had the chance to meet some in person, which now makes those interactions even better 🙂 I still remind them that if I receive a review copy of their book, I’ll review it no matter what, and that I might not enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed their prior books…

      Commenting on the blog is OK, too, and I’ve had some authors who have commented on a blogtour post – which included a review of their book – and in a way, I think this is different, as they are also promoting my stop on the blogtour that way.

      I hope we’ll be able to stay clear of any kind of rage when it comes to our reviews in the future as well, Roberta 🙂

  10. I’m totally with you on the awkwardness that can happen when authors read negative reviews. My more critical reviews are always respectful and are not raty. I try to clearly explain why it didn’t work for me (and like you, they can be a bit long because of that). But I always fear running into an author or have them think I’m a “terrible person” because I spoke my mind. That fear doesn’t cause me to suppress my opinion or anything, it’s just a fear.

    I’m think it’s really cool to interact with authors who pen your favorite books. But for many reviewers/bloggers who get close with a lot of authors, they cannot separate the personal relationship when reviewing. This results in reviews being skewed. I guess what I’m saying is that my view on the whole subject is mixed. I’m okay with author/reader interactions as long as everyone can be respectful and fair.

    Megan @ Reading Books Like a Boss recently posted: Book Review – All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

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