Authors are my superheroes. Therefore I will never ever ever ever ever talk to them.
Hush, this makes perfect sense. This might come as a shock to you but: I’m very shy. (It’s easy to be outgoing online because SAFE behind my SCREEN.) I’m as socially awkward as a piece of broccoli left amongst the cauliflower to try and fit in and mingle and build connections, but ends up running through a grater multiple times while all the other vegetables go “Was not a piece of broccoli just here?? Why is there just broccoli soup on the floor now???” I DON’T DO PEOPLE AND I ESPECIALLY DON’T DO CONFESSING TO AUTHORS HOW MUCH I LIKE THEM. I also don’t do vegetables so who knows what all this broccoli comparison nonsense is.
No I haven’t met an author in real life either. And no I mostly don’t want to. I’d rather view them from a distance, like the dark side of the moon.
“Okay Cait,” you say patiently while pretending you’re not mumbling you incredible loon under your breath, “can you give us ACTUAL reasons you don’t talk to authors and pls hold back the broccoli analogies.”
As you wish, my fiends.
- I ADMIRE THEM TOO MUCH. And obviously when you like something you never want anything to do with it again, right? RIGHT???? I’m sure I’m not alone in this.
- I’M PAINFULLY AWARE THEY’RE JUST HUMANS AND THEREFORE WILL MAKE MISTAKES. I’ve seen authors I love doing things I reeeeally feel the opposite of love towards. So sometimes I like enjoying their art as separate to their person.
- I’M SO AWKWARD I MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF. From dumb stuff like telling an author who much I adore them and having my comment be THE ONLY ONE NOT ANSWERED…like. I’m sure it was oversight. I’m sure they don’t hate me. [SOBBING OFFSTAGE]
- I SUDDENLY HAVE NO THOUGHTS. Oh look! An author tweeted me! WHAT IS ENGLISH. I got nothing. I want to say something pithy and memorable and instead I just end up ignoring them because that also is how you show authors you love and support them.
- LIKE I SAID…I’M SHY! I actually have an anxiety disorder, social anxiety to be specific, so even my author heroes are quite terrifying. Especially if they’re fabulous. UGH WHY ARE THEY SO FABULOUS.
- I DON’T LIVE CLOSE TO ANY AUTHORS TO MEET THEM ANYWAY. Because I live in a speck of a town and don’t have the ability to get to a big city and a signing. Plus Australia is pretty slack on its touring capabilities for authors. It has to be a big event, like the Brisbane Writers Festival, if you want to actually spot an author in the wild. They don’t tour here like they do in the USA.
However, that all saying, I have had a few interactions with authors online that didn’t end in fire and volcanic flames of death on my part.
This is an accomplishment that I’m proud of. And sometimes it makes me feel quite encouraged and full of bravery for 2.3 seconds!! Which is amazing!! Let’s never do this again!! #SociallyAwkwardMomentFTW
Although I would like to note that I intend to be an author someday. I assume I’ll cut off all communications with myself immediately.
I’m also linking up with Top Ten Tuesday with their prompt “Top Ten Authors I’m Dying To Meet” which is obviously not what I’m blogging about but you know what? Whatever. I AM LOKI. And yes one of these days I’ll give like more than a 5% effort to follow the prompts but it is not this day.
1. CORNELIA FUNKE
I’ve been talking about Reckless a lot lately but that’s because #obsessed. Which gave me enough courage to actually mention Cornelia Funke in my tweet!! SOMETHING I NEVER DO. BUT LOOK HOW BRAVE I WAS.
FYI she is sending me a magical mirror so you can be jealous at any time now while I am traversing the magical worlds of the galaxies and renaming myself Jacobette Reckful.
2. NICOLE CASTROMAN
This was one of those “WAIT WOAH WHAT” moments because I didn’t even know she followed me on twitter and then THERE SHE WAS. COMMENTING ON MY TWEET. I freaked out so much that I just favourited and didn’t reply. I mean, c’mon. She writes pirates!! My favourite!! thing!! of!! ever!!
Obviously I love her and therefore am hiding.
3. MEGAN JACOBSON
Ya know…just that average moment WHEN A REAL LIVE AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR COMPLIMENTS YOUR WRITING. I’d tweeted a snippet of the book I was working on (all about poisoned arms and death and OTPs actually) and discovered not only does this incredibly kind soul follow me, SHE THINKS MY WRITING IS ADORABLE.
#sohappy
#sodead
4. STEPH BOWE
So back when I was the smallest of bloggers and had just started out, I was obsessed with Stephe Bowe’s blog. #1 Stalker Commenting Fan = me. And she not only (a) responded to my comments, but (b) she even visited my smol blog, and (c) stopped by for an interview! This was back in 2013 when the world was fresh and dinosaurs still ate humans on toast for breakfast and I’d barely started book blogging for real, so it was just so so exciting and WOW.
Also FYI I was the first person in the world to release Steph Bowe’s latest book’s cover so. Still #1 Fan Material.
5. JENNIFER NIVEN
Just SAYIN’ that Jennifer Niven said I WRITE THE BEST REVIEWS. I mean. Also you can notice how in the below conversation I wasn’t even in it. At all. I was dying in a small puddle in the corner, so it’s debatable if I can call this an “interaction”.
And if you haven’t devoured All the Bright Places yet…WHILE I’M HERE I will just say it is one of the best books of ever and also takes delight in stabbing you in the feels. As all good books do.
6. DEREK LANDY
There was this one time HarperCollins Australia had this conversation with me that went something like this:
HarperCollins: hey cait we heard you liked Derek Landy books. Would you like to review one?
Me: *STRANGLED EXCITED NOISES*
HarperCollins: and also interview him.
Me: *PTERODACYTL SCREECH*
HarperCollins: Is everything okay?
Me: *TRIES TO ACT NONCHALANT*
Me: I mean, yes of course. I can squeeze it into my schedule.
Me: *HOLLERING IN CIRCLES AROUND THE HOUSE*
It was all very courteous and dignified, obviously. I’m nothing if not a professional. And we might’ve discussed how long he’d survive in a demon roadtrip apocalypse sort of setting. Because I ask DEEP AND PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS when I interview * authors.
But like I interviewed an NYT bestselling author so excuse me while that makes me famous obviously.
* Speaking of interviewing authors, you’ll notice I do this barely never too. It take me about 6 months to work up the courage and then 6 months to recoup. If only they weren’t so MARVELLOUS, ugh.
7. LEIGH BARDUGO
I’d actually forgotten about this interaction until I was digging through dead files on my computer! This was back when I was @notebooksisters so I WAS SUCH A SMOL BEAN I CAN’T EVEN WITH MYSELF.
I also don’t actually know why I tweeted this because I don’t ship the Darkling and Alina??????? I would’ve sworn till I was blue in the face that I NEVER HAD. But the internet says I did. And when can the internet lie. *
Also while we’re here, can I just say that Leigh Barudgo is lovely and amazing and writes incredible books and just seem so ridiculous fabulous?!??? UGH I ADMIRE HER SO MUCH.
* Do nOT answer that.
8. AG HOWARD
I have had many many interactions with AG Howard who is so ridiculously kind I can’t even. I nearly DON’T have a near-nerves-death-experience when we talk now!! That’s like amazing!! Someone congratulate me I’ve reached the pinnacle!!
I’ve chatted with her, and interviewed her (twice!!) and recently she sent me a signed copy of Roseblood which was, of course, ridiculously kind of her and oh — oh are you seeing someone melting into a puddle of broccoli soup again???
IT ME.
I seriously can’t handle nice people. Or mean people. Why can’t we all be dragons. #TheRealQuestionHere
9. JAY KRISTOFF
So this was totally a case of like AUTHOR’S HAVING THE ALL SEEING SAURON EYEBALL. (Actually I think someone tagged them in the conversation somewhere but shhh. I like to think that authors = Sauron’s children. Becuase of all the times they hurt our feels, yes?) And we also need to talk to Mister Kristoff about what “soon” means. Because it’s nearly APRIL. So that was not “SOON” for Illuminae 3 news dangit.
Also I just realised so many of these authors are Aussies?!???? So basically I feel kinship enough to speak to my own kind because if we’ve all battled the drop bears hyped up on Vegemite and human blood — then we have things to talk about.
10. VE SCHWAB
So the more I like an author, it becomes a 500000% sure chance I’LL NEVER EVER SPEAK TO THEM. Case in point: I have never spoken to Maggie Stiefvater, who is my #1 favourite author of all time in ever. But. VE Schwab is my second-favourite-author-in-all-time-ever * AND I worked up the courage to reply to her tweet! Because I had something somehwat intelligent to say!!
OKAY SO I WAS JUST QUOTING TANGLED.
Hmm. No. It was not intelligent. Not really at all since I was just quoting Tangled. But yet she liked my tweet. So that counts, right??? THAT’S AN INTERACTION, RIGHT????? Okay fine. This is the worst “interaction” on my list but hush.
Omg she is so amazing. Can I be VE Schwab when I grow up.
* This is the technical phrase for it that adults use and not an 8 year old child like I have reverted to just now.
Just to be perfectly clear: I really do admire authors!!
So if an author is reading this (highly unlikely hopefully ha ha nervous laughter for everyone) then they will just need to know I’m only dead and having my ghost type this up because I LOVE THEM. Not because they’re strange. Although, honestly, they probably are a little strange. It happens when you have imaginary friends and get paid for it. But regardless…I have had other interactions, but like VERY small ones. And there was one time Walker Books had me lined up to do an interview with Cassandra Clare (!!!!!!) but it fell through, which is probably good because my heart would’ve fallen through too.
Authors are my superheroes. I am broccoli soup.
ME. IN FRONT OF AUTHORS. TRYING TO SAY I LOVE THEIR BOOK. FAILING. BUT MEANING WELL. THANK YOU FOR EXISTING, AUTHORS.
I can relate to. I am shy too especially to my fav author ..
Btw, it is holarious Cait! Great article! 🙂
Ahhh! We are twins in this!! *hi fives* I’m so glad you relate too. 😂
I swear Jay Kristoff sees everything. I didn’t tag him in a tweet about nevernight and he still replied to that, haha.
Bahahhah.😂😂 He’s GREAT. An all-seeing-Sauron-eye (I swear that’s a compliment…somehow).😂
I had both Stephanie Garber and V.E. Schwab liking and reposting my tweets about Russian covers of their books, Plus Stephanie replied multiple times on that topic 😀 We ACTUALLY chatted on twitter /big grin/
Interaction with fav authors is the best thing ever! Have you actually seen Russian cover for “ADSOM”??? Like THIS BEAUTY – https://twitter.com/liliananbookish/status/844369648543969280 ????
I can’t sit patiently and wait for my copy to arrive… Lucky I have friends to help me getting these BEASTS 😀
AHHHH THAT’S SO AWESOME YOU’VE CHATTED WITH THEM!!! But omg that Russian cover though. 😍😍 Like someone please remove me to Russia immediately I have need.
I’m ready to go back to Russia only to hunt books, like, you know, last time I went there for my annual vacation I bought 19 books. 19, CAIT.
OH BUT YOU HAVE BEEN TO RUSSIA?!? EXCUSE ME WHILE I BE SO JEALOUS.😂 I have a smol obsession with Russia. I don’t even know.😂
CAIT HAVE YOU EVEN READ MY BIO?? I’m Vietnamese, but I was BORN AND RAISED in RUSSIA. Do you think how am I capable of speaking Russian at all??? /And why the heck I RANT about RUSSIAN BOOKS??/ 😂
I’m sorry. 😭🙈 I don’t actually always remember to read bios?
Your posts always make me so happy. I don’t know why you would say that your comment about Kell not wanting to sing is not intelligent. I saw that tweet and I mentally write the lyrics for the song they make him sing based on a song from A Chorus Line. IT TOTALLY MAKES SENSE! It is also headcannon for me.
I live in China, which is great for some things but not exactly a bustling english literary scene. I feel your pain for the lack of author stalking opportunity. TBH I am not sure that I would be cool enough to interact with them. Or at least not in a way that makes me regret learning to speak and interact wtith other humans. Well, I always have their books!
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THAT KELL TWEET.😂 I agonised over it omgggg and it was like…nothing.😂 I’m a complete dork and not even going to deny it at this stage.
Oh I could imagine meeting authors (well, I guess the big-name American authors?) in China would be very rare. 😥
Okay just to be clear I AM SITTING HERE FLAILING OVER THE LAST FIVE. YOU SLAY ME BARTHOLEMEW. In other news we can go back to being twins on the part abut avoiding people you admire???? THEY’RE TERRIFYING. Like. I would rather fight the dregs one handed than meet a favorite author. They’d probably leave cataloguing me in their mental psychopath list 😂
I know right?!?? Like it’s just LOGICAL that our reaction is “oh I admire this person, I will run away forever”. 😂 It makes SENSE. For sure. (Omg please let no authors I’ve mentioned here read this post I’ll just die.😂😂)
😂😂😂 omgeeee that were just be too hilarious 😂
This is such a lovely post, Cait! I loved seeing all your interactions with authors! I am actually not bad (I think?) at talking to authors online. It depends on the author. If my review is super positive, I’ll always mention them when I tweet my review. And some authors I can actually have conversations with on Twitter, like Heidi Heilig, who is so approachable and just wonderful. But in person, if I’m a HUGE fan, I fall apart. I met Jennifer Niven once, and oh my god. It was after All the Bright Places was released, and I was such a wreck after reading it, so not only was I meeting the author, which is AAAAH, but I was still feeling everything over Finch, and I just kind of garbled my way through telling her how beautiful her book was, and how it affected me so much, and I got a little emotional talking about it. I think I mentioned how much more emotional it was knowing that it was loosely based on Niven’s own experiences with a friend, and I got a little teary, and she looked like she did, too. I *may* be reading a little too much into her reaction, but she seemed genuinely moved by how moved I was? She asked to take a photo with me for Facebook! (It never went up, I checked, but still!) So embarrassing, but also really lovely? And I’ve met David LEvithan several times now, and I just fail to be articulate. All I can pretty much say is “I LOVE YOUR BOOK/S!!!” I’ll be meeting LAINI TAYLOR on 9th April, and oh my god, I don’t know if I will survive it. Her writing is just… oh my god, she might just be my top favourite author. Just incredible. I worry I might say something like, “Your writing is just so beautiful and imaginative, I want to live in your head!” Which wouldn’t be awkward at all. But fhdullhgkjfhguiealdyhtg LAINI FREAKING TAYLOR!!! I can’t bear it, and it’s not even happened yet, haha!
Also! As I said, I can talk to Heidi Heilig quite easily online, but I’d love to meet her, too… but my love of her has gone beyond just being a fan of her books to being a fan of her as a person (she is always talking about racism in publishing and the world, and raising voices, but is still so approachable and lovely), and I guess I kind of hero-worship her, and I do not think I would survive meeting her either. She’s just too amazing.
I have to say though, as much as I make a fool out of myself when I meet an author, I always love it. I just feel so excited for having got to meet them, and having signed books, and reading what they wrote. Aaah. They do say never meet your heroes, though. I wonder how it would be to meet an author you love, and it turn out they’re not so great. That would suck.
Omg I LOVE your story about meeting Jennifer Niven!! She seems so lovely online so it’s just afjdskalfd so beautiful that she’s amazing in person too. <3 Honestly authors are precious creatures to share their art with us. <3 AND CONGRATS THAT YOU'LL MEET LAINI TAYLOR TOO. THAT'LL MAKE YOU LIKE FAMOUS JUST BY DEFAULT I SHOULD THINK.
Like why do words fail when we need them most though.😂😂
Heidi Heilig seems so awesome! I love a lot of her tweets!
I can relate to this so much! I met Karin Slaughter and Jenny Han at book signings and was just too nervous to say anything haha. I just stood there, having my pic taken while shaking all over my body..
Then last Sunday I got to interview 2(!!!) authors at the same time. I was so so so nervous that I was thinking up ways to get out of it… thank the gods I went through with it, they were so incredibly nice!!
Now I have to find all my courage for the Dutch Yalfest where I’ll be meeting 8 authors I think!
I probably would be exactly like that if I actually met an author IRL. They must think most of us don’t even care about their books. 😂😂 But instead we care FAR TOO MUCH TO EXPRESS IT OMGGGG.
Ahhh!! congrats on interviewing authors!!! YOU ARE FAMOUS NOW BY DEFAULT.
It is so AMAZING that you’ve talked to so many authors! I’ve met a couple at book signings, including a Wendy Mass, who was my favorite author as a kid, and I’m fairly certain I turned into a blubberfish with no human capacity to speak 😅 I’m not sure why meeting people you admire is so strange: it’s like you have to prove your love for me and prove your own worthiness all at once!
WHAT ARE WORDS ANYWAY WHEN ONE IS IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR HERO.😍😍
I am so incredibly jealous ugh *bursts into flames* But like I am happy for you that you got to talk to so many authors! *flails* If Maggie ever talked to me, I would literally pass out. #thetruth
The thing I hate most is that authors never come to India! WHY????? All of their tour stops are in USA and sometimes in Europe and I am not okay with this? Wut is this EVEN.
I know right?!? I would be so happy if some of my favourite American authors came to Oz!! 😂 Although, like I said…chances of me actually getting to meet them are still like 2% haha. I feel your pain!
I’ve interacted with Leigh Bardugo, A.G. Howard and Jay Kristoff on Twitter mostly and I’d love to meet them in person. I wouldn’t faint, buuuttt I might stop breathing? Great list!
It’s a problem isn’t it?!? Like yes we want to meet them BUT WILL WE SURVIVE THE INTENSE FANGIRLING FEELS AS WELL??? WHO CAN KNOW.
I love your list, Cait! I’ve met a lot of authors and I always seem to be awkward. I should probably just stick to the internet. 🙂
The internet is safer…we can just run away when we get too awkward.😂
Oh, yes, can definitely relate on the social anxiety front! I actually have met authors in real life, and it was awesome! There was this book festival I discovered was in state, and because I saw that two of my fave authors were going, I, of course, went (my state usually doesn’t have any cool events like California and NYC, so it was a small blessing). And, basically, I got to meet Sarah J. Maas and V.E. Scwab.
I definitely had to get myself pumped up for it, but it was all so worth it in the end to get my books signed, and they were both so sweet. I was probably an awkward potato, but I didn’t feel terrible after the interaction, so that’s good for me. 😂
I’m going to Bookcon this summer, though, and it’s both exciting and terrifying because authors, booktubers, and other bookworms, but also crowds and all these people I admire! Hopefully, I’ll survive. 😄
I hope authors are used to all we awkward potatoes, right?!?😂😂 They must get SO MANY of them because literally everyone in this post is saying “I relate! we are all so awkward”.😂😂 Ahhh, but it’s so lovely when authors take the time to be kind and nice and just inspiring. <3<3 I LURVE THEM.
Oh oh good luck with bookcon!!😱😱
“I SUDDENLY HAVE NO THOUGHTS” <— This is so me it's not even funny. Even if I get over my shyness enough to actually say something, I pretty much can't even remember my own name. Sooooo awkward! I love your list of authors you've interacted with though. Tweet likes totally count as interactions in my book! 🙂
To be fair, our own names ARE really hard to remember when we’re in the presence of famous people, right?!😂😂
Amazing post Cait 😛 I’d actually love to meet all the authors!! The biggest author I met in person was Markus Zusak! He was soooo sweet <3 He signed my copy of The Book Thief with a stick figure holding a heart shaped balloon *heart eyes* (I think there's an old picture on insta! Gotta find it 😛 ) And I think I babbled on to him how The Book Thief movie and book made me cry and I loved it blah blah and he actually apologized for making me cry then signed my book and shook hands and I was a puddle of happiness and nervousness on the floor 😛 😛 I swear it was THE best day ever!! <3 And OMG! Leigh Bardugo liked my tweet about Shadow and bone too!! A non-interaction 😛 but still AAAAAAHHHHH!! Wonderful post Cait <3 Made me smile so much 😀
OMG YOU MET MARKUS ZUSAK!! THAT’S SO AWESOME!! That sounds like the best author meeting/signing in the world honestly. <3 Authors can just be sooo nice and afjdksald it's really nice that they care about their fans and encouraging and inspiring us. 😍
OH, CAIT, BLESS YOUR LITTLE BLACK DRAGON HEART. 😉
I generally avoid trying to connect with famous people, because I would turn into a puddle of something not nice. (FYI – Broccoli soup is my fave.) But I’ll add Robert Beatty to this list of very, very nice bestselling authors. He’s responded to a few of my tweets, and been kind. (And he actually found me first on Twitter – insert all the feels here!)
THANK YOU, DALEY. MY LITTLE BLACK DRAGON HEART IS BLESSED. <3 😂
(But we gotta disagree on broccoli soup. But then I'm just not in favour of anything green or of the vegetable family.)
So many feels about authors though! I mean, I'm socially inept at the best of times, but I manage to hold my own online...unless there's an author around.😂 They're just too fabulous omg.
You are a braver human than I. I’m shy around people I don’t know at the best of times, and I find writers kind of intimidating in real life (I don’t know why – they’re just people).
I mean, this whole post is a confession that I find authors too intimidating.😂😂So I don’t think I’m braver than you hahha!
I’ve recently had my tweets replied to/re-tweeted by Mark Lawreance, Rin Chupeco, Sarah Driver, and had a full on coversation with James Nicol (who I’m sneakily also trying to get to visit the library I work in… you know… for the kids *shifty eyes*)
I just about DIED every time.
Writers are magical, ellusive unicorns with enchanted pens sticking out of their heads instead of horns and they scare and facinate me in equal measure.
Believe In Fairy Stories
I would be nearly dying too!! THAT’S SO AWESOME YOU’VE TALKED TO SO MAY TOO. 😍 They are magical enchanted beasts of awesome and we looooove them.
Haha great list, Cait! I really need to interact with authors on social media more, but I’m always afraid of coming across as a creepy stalker. I’m pretty sure Silvia Moreno-Garcia probably thinks I’m a weirdo with the amount of times I’ve talked about her books by now…
It’s so nice when authors are pleasant and actually take the time to speak to people, I think – even something as simple as liking a tweet goes a long way, there’s nothing more disheartening than mentioning an author in a tweet only for them not to respond at all. (No, of course I’m not crying). I mean they don’t have to say anything at all, of course, but it’s always nice when they take the time to acknowledge your support. =)
I’m 99% sure Maggie Stiefvater would just think I was a creepy stalker with how often I post instagram photos of her books. 😂😂 I’ll just be an enthusiastic hidden fan over here hahahahah. *cries* 😂
And it’s SO TRUE! Like an author can make me a fan for life by just favouriting my tweet! And like I totally don’t blame them when they don’t reply/respond. Like would I rather them interact all the time with fans or work and give us more books?? ALWAYS THE BOOKS.
Hi! I found you blog through the hop and I really love it. It’s quirky and the layout of your post is awesome. Thought I’d let you know 🙂
http://gildedsunflower.blogspot.com/2017/03/top-ten-tuesday-authors-im-dying-to-meet.html
Omg THANK YOU. <3 That completely makes my day!! (And also welcome!! :D)
Is it terrible that all I can think is, ‘OMG all these authors are so young and beautiful, what the heck am I doing with my life?????’ T_T
Professional photos can make anyone look wonderful.😂😂 But it’s okay. WE CAN BE GNARLY BOOKWORM TROLLS TOGETHER.😂😂 Tbh, you shouldn’t allowed to be stunning AND talented at writing. 😜😉
oh gosh these cracked me up. Every time Cassie Clare favs a tweet I just die. She loved one of my photos one – but I think it was because I got eaten alive by bugs trying to take it haha Thanks for the post! .
OMG SHE FAVOURITED YOUR TWEET?!??! You’re famous now, Angel. Famous by, like, association.😂
Oh, I adored your list. It was so cheerful and funny. I hope you get to meet Jennifer Niven in person one day. It’s pretty cool that she loves your reviews.
Here is my TTT.
Oh thank you!! I am so glad! And omg yes it’d be lovely to meet Jennifer Niven and also entirely terrifying. I don’t think it’ll happen hahhahh.😂
I’ve met a ton of authors in real life, but never one that I love so much I’d explode with nervousness in his/her presence. I have had authors discover my reviews and tweet them. That freaks me out so bad!
Ohhh that would be awesome to have an author love your review so much they tweet it!! AHH!! CONGRATS FOR THAT!!
I get so overexcited whenever an author likes or replies to a tweet of mine on Twitter. I actually have met quite a few authors in real life as well, I am also quite shy, but it’s got easier the more authors I’ve met, they are honestly just the loveliest people in the world. My friend and I have embarrassed ourselves in front of Derek Landy twice, the second time we were taking a photo and he managed to make the entire signing line crack up when we messed it up. We look so awkward in both photos we have with him. It’s become kind of an annual tradition, go to YALC, meet Derek Landy, mortally embarrass ourselves! I’ve actually met both Maggie Stiefvater and Victoria Schwab, both lovely people, Maggie Stiefvater had the entire room cracking up during her talk, yes she is as hilarious IRL as on Twitter.
Omg this makes me laugh so much about your story with Derek Landy!!😂😂 Like that’s awesome but I also understand the pain.😂😂 Maggie Stiefvater is so funny online I can only imagine she must be hilarious IRL too!!😂
Oooh, what wonderful interactions! I have to say, Jay Kristoff is so great at responding to his fans, it’s awesome! And Jennifer Niven’s response… I would just completely melt from happiness (it’s definitely a deserved response, to0)!
And honestly every single one of your reasons for not talking to authors more are my reasons too! I am so incredibly shy and sometimes just have no idea what I could possible say… it’s intimidating! But it feels so wonderful and exciting when I actually do and then they actually respond in some form. Great post!
Yes! Jay Kristoff is so active on twitter it’s awesome. !! And Jennifer Niven is SO NICE I CAN’T EVEN THOUGH. <3 LIKE AUTHORS OMG. THEY'RE LOVELY CREATURES OF SPECIALNESS.
But at least we completely understand each other on the shy/awkwardly front. *hi fives awkwardly so we can go back to hiding* 😂😂
This is SO RELATABLE. I always thought I was so strange!! I can barely get up the courage to reply to an author’s tweets, let alone actually mention them in one!! I liked what you said about not being able to talk to yourself after you’re a published author. So true… Fantastic post!!
I’m so glad you liked the post! WE RELATE SO MUCH.😂
I do like talking to authors! I’ve met a few ones IRL, but not YA authors. That I was tweeting about Nightstick IMG and Steph Bowe retweeted me. And I fangirled so much when Garth Nix liked my tweet. And the other day VESchwab answered my Vicious question. Twitter is the best for that TBH. I’m a deeply awkward human and I always notice typos or something. I would love to meet some YA Authors for real too
OHOH GARTH NIX!! I could imagine the fangirling happening there!! 😂 And VE Schwab actually spoke to you..ahhhh!!! I’m in the presence of your FAME. (Shh this totally makes you famous. Fact.) And twitter/online meeting authors is great because often you can spend like hours agonising over what to say instead of, well, doing that to their face.😂
ENJOY? MORE LIKE RUN AWAY FOREVER BECAUSE #INTORVERT MUCH!
I’ve never met an author in IRL, BUTT, Cornelia Funke’s sister (which kinda counts and I already told you abt this one) LEIGH BARDUGO (on Twitter) which are I just screamed for hours on end about and Jo Cotterill (I Interviewed here). She’s a children’s author and I felt honoured. Also, I’ve talked to YOUUU and I’m dying to meet you because you’re an AUTHOR so like of course.
Authors I Fangirled over upon seeing their name:
-DEREK LANDY, LIKE WHAT? I CAN’T BREATHE
-VE SCHWAB? (I’ve never read anything by here) BUT I KNOW SHE’s FAMOUS! and love her twitter!
-JENNIFER NIVEN. All the Bright Places, ME LIKED A LOT so omg, that is so awesome!
CAAAIIIT, you are so famous! TEACH ME LE SECRETS
INTROVERT FEELS ARE MUTUAL HERE, MAHRIYA. *shares cake with you while we run away from seeing our heroes*
BAHAHHA omg. ME?? 😂😂😂 You make me laugh. I am just a smol dork.
Derek Landy is AMAZING THO. And VE Schwab is just like who I want to be when I grow up. And Jennifer Niven is so nice. Let’s just cry because she’s so nice. 💕💕
I just bought All The Bright Places. I need to read it soon.
PS: I love your blog, it is so pretty.
My TTT.
Aww, thank you so much!! <3 And yesss, please do read ATBP and then come flail with me if you love it too!!😂
I haven’t met any irl or online, so I’m good. 😛 but I intend to write some some letters soon……which will probably be very rambly and take an hour to read. 😛
Most crazily, ~Olive
Haha, the life of a fangirl right?! 😀
I WANT SO BADLY TO INTERACT WITH AUTHORS ONLINE BUT GET SO NERVOUS AND THEN DON’T @ THEM IN MY TWEET AND OMG WHY IS THIS ME. Side note: I have an anxiety disorder too!! I feel ya on that one. When I summon the bravery, I AM REWARDED WITH THE THING THAT I (maybe) WANTED FOR A SECOND BUT THEN MUST HIDE AND NOT RESPOND AND ugh it’s the worst???
I have not met ANY author, online or IRL! While I do live in the USA, I live in Michigan. That means no one wants to come here really because it’s this weird mix of like cold and wilderness full of waterfalls and things but also there’s Detroit and a lot of people are scared of Detroit??? I DON’T KNOW. I DON’T THINK IT’S that BAD.
Also, I’m way behind on books I need to read by cool authors I want to meet but can’t because how can I meet an author without having read their book and not feel like the annoying piece of gum that still slightly remains on the bottom of your shoe even though you’ve been scraping at it for like 2.4 days? SPOILER: I CAN’T.
Authors are mythical creatures who I must hide from because they’re too good for lil ol’ me to talk to. BUT I WANT TO ATTACK THEM WITH MY FRIENDSHIP. This is a constant struggle!!!
DUDE, I AM THE SAME. SO YOU’RE NOT ALONE. I think I tag an author in a review ONLY if I never say a single negative thing.😂 So it has to be like 5 stars and zero complaints hahhahh. And then I secretly hope they just ignore me. It’s too scary. *sends you smol warm cupcakes because living with anxiety is tough* We can STAND TOGETHER ON THIS THO.
I emailed Maggie Stiefvater after reading Shiver, and she emailed me back!!! I have it saved (of course) and reread it from time to time. It makes me cringe now, b/c I was so fan-girling- and I spelled a character name wrong *dies*- but she was so nice back. I also saved the email notification telling me we’re friends on Goodreads, lol!
Omg I totally understand that!! That is AWESOME that you have an email from her. <3 <3 AUTHORS ARE SUCH PRECIOUS CREATURES.
Ahh your author interactions are amazing and I am already flailing for you so I can only imagine how it made you feel 🙂
I had V.E. Schwab like one of my tweets recently and it made me so ridiculously happy and flailing that I just had to run around and tell people that she liked my tweet and flailing, only to have them give me a blank look and saying “Who’s that?”. Pfff. Some people don’t appreciate the awesomeness, BUT I WILL TREASURE THIS MOMENT FOREVER 😉
I SO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!! I grin like a DORK for hours (okay fine…yeeears) afterwards.😂 I hope authors know how much power they have over our fangirl hearts.😂
Oh my goodness, you brave soul.
I would have been agonizing over those tweets before I sent them. Venturing towards famous and revered humans on the interweb is a risky thing. XD
I mean like I’m a 3% brave soul.😂 Let’s be real here. Half of these I didn’t even instigate hahahh. AHEM.
Hi! I totally forgot I met Leigh Bardugo at a talk she gave to writers. It was before her stuff really took off. The Steph Bowe book looks great! I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
My TTT
Leslie
Eeep, that’s so cool you met Leigh Bardugo. SHE IS AN AMAZING QUEEN.
#1 OMGosh!! I was rivetted to Inkheart!!! LOVED IT. [Even liked the movie]. So (nicely) jealous!!
AFJDSAKLD CORNELIA FUNKE IS SO LOVELY. <3 And the movie is great, right?!? I watched it so many times when I was a small bean.😂
I haven’t really interacted with authors online, although I’ve had a couple like or thank me for a review. I have met a few in real life! (Cassandra Clare is probably the most famous; she signed my copy of CoFA.) It’s really daunting and you’re just like, “What the heck do I say to them???”
I was thinking about this yesterday and it’s never even occurred to follow or tweet authors online. But heaps of other people do, so?? IDK, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything by not doing it.
OMG THAT’S SO AWESOME YOU MEET CASSANDRA CLARE SHE’S AAAAMAZING. 😱😱🎉🎉🎉
And honestly it’s really fun to follow some authors online! Maggie Stiefvater is HILARIOUS.
I love when authors reply to you on Twitter — even though it’s like complete happy panic. It’s nice though. I don’t do well with human interaction in general… put me in front of an author and try to come up with something to say? hahahhahaha Kill me. I’ve only met one author (Richard Kadrey) but I’ve been in the same room as Stephen King and that’s good enough for me.
I totally agree! HAPPY PANIC <--- excellent phrase ofr it. 😂 I'm sure if I was actually in-person in front of an author they'd think I hated their books.😂😂😂 IT'S SO HARD TO BE A FANGIRL.
BETRAYAL! YOU (AT ONE POINT IN YOUR NON-MEMORY) SHIPPED ALINA x DARKLING! *flips table*
But also, I totally get giddy when Leigh responds to my tweets, though I also LOVE talking to authors in-person. And Jay is local, so you have no excuse–you need to meet him at some point 😛
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I HONESTLY DON’T REMEMBER SHIPPING THEM. My ship was Alina x Nikolai. 😂 And that still turned out…great. 😭😭😭 Basically someone don’t let me ship things. I’m DOOMED.
Heyyyyy that’s true! I kind of have smol dreams of going to a Writers festival someday! Although I just live so far away, Brittany.😭
I actually met several authors a few weeks ago???? it was one of the most wonderfully exhausting days of my life. AND I ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE PANELS SPECIFIALLY FOR YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ALL BUT ONE OF THE AUTHORS THERE. Here is the link to the post if you want to see it http://words-inmysoul.blogspot.com/2017/03/nttb-festival.html
AJFDSLAD THATMAKES MY DAY, KRISSY. YOU ARE SO LOVELY. I’ll go check out the post ASAP!! And that’s so awesome you got to meet them all. 😍😍
I don’t really talk to authors either? And for all the reasons you mentioned. But I DO go to signings because publishers love Seattle, apparently, and there are authors sent here pretty often. And I love to hear authors talk but the signings are SO AWKWARD.When VE Schwab toured with a Conjuring of Light our “conversation” went something like this:
Her: Hi, how are you?
Me: Good, how are you!
Her: Good!
then there was an awkward silence while she signed my book, I thanked her, and basically fled. Plus I’m sure I looked FANTASTIC because I came directly from school so I was still wearing my chef coat and pants and they were covered in raspberry juice so and flour.
But I still keep going to signings, for some reason. Even with all the awkwardness.
Hahaha I love it! I would totally be like that if I met an author too…although tbh I probably would be whispering so they wouldn’t be able to hear me anyway so like AGH LIFE IS SO HARD SOMETIMES.😂 I should probably just not meet authors. Ever.😂😂
(But that’s still so so cool that you met VE Schwab!!!)
I get ridiculously excited when I act all cool and comment eruditely (or so I think lol) on author blogs and OMG THEY JUST REPLIED TO MY COMMENT and LOOK THEY USED MY NAME MY ACTUAL NAME.
So yeah, I understand. 🙂
I’m glad you understand!! 😂 I hopefully am acting kind of calm???? But like not really also????😂 Half the time I’m counting a “like” as an interaction so like I should just go sit down.😂
I’ve never met a fiction author in real life, but I do talk to them online. Once upon a time, before I ever thought of writing, authors seemed to be unapproachable beings and I didn’t know any one did talk to them. (probably enhanced by the fact I read a lot of books by people who died a century ago)
But now I’m friend with several authors (no one famous or hi-profile) and talk with others. The Christian spec-fic world seems to be quiet friendly and the homeschooled authors world even more so and that’s the main places i hang around. They’re writers who like to stick together, go to a particular conference and have a public Facebook group. They write together, I write too and I make friends. And when you’ve made a few friends in a group, suddenly the rest seem less intimidating. Especially if you join their street team and they start calling you an ninja and send newsletters with dorky pictures of them-self. That’s when it gets awesome. Fan group are awesome.
That’s really cool you have so many friendships with authors! I suppose it’d be less intimidating if they weren’t like massively famous? Or I don’t know.😂🙈🙊 I get intimidated by some epic bookstagrammers who aren’t famous so I GUESS I’M JUST ALWAYS SHY. Also if an author calls their reader a ninja, they are definitely awesome. #fact
I don’t have author interactions online, but ONCE (and gosh I’m gonna scream), I got the chance to meet LEIGH BARDUGO AGGGHHHH. It was at a book festival, but we were there a few hours before she was ready for book signing, so my family and I go to a craft store for my sister. But we had to wait a loooong time and I was freaking out that I would be too late to the signing. AND THEN I GET THERE AND THERE’S THIS HUUUUUUUUUGE LINE and it’s just a few minutes after the appointed time. So then my mom tells me to run to the line and I do and then some other mom and daughter get in line behind me just a few seconds after. A girl runs up to them and gives them a VIP PASS TO CUT ALL THE LINES. Then after a few more minutes of waiting, my parents tell me that we have to go because they are IMPATIENT LITTLE BEANS AGGH and to think that if I hadn’t listened to my mom and WALKED SLOWLY to join the line, I would’ve gotten that VIP pass and the chance to meet & talk to LEIGH BARDUGO. *cries* Oh but I saw her hair and it was dyed grey and it was so amazing and GAH. But I did get to meet Ally Carter whose series of Heist Society I love, so that was okay??? Also sorry for this really long depressing story. But LEIGH BARDUGO. *wails*
OMGGGG THAT IS THE SADDEST STORY EVER. WAIT A SEC WHILE I FEED YOU COMFORTING CUPCAKES AND THEN CRY WITH YOU. 😭😭😭 I’m sorry for you, aghh. To be so close.😭😭💔 And Leigh Bardugo just seems like such an epic queen of awesome. Hopefully you’ll get to have a redo and meet her properly another time, right?!
That’s so cool when authors like/reply to tweets. Also, YOU INTERVIEWED DEREK LANDY. COMMENCE FANGIRLING 😂
Awkward and me go hand in hand. Like, go look up awkward in the dictionary and you will see a picture of me. I’ve met Brandon Sanderson and Tricia Levenseller in person and I feel like both encounters were so awkward lol. Fortunately, I met Levenseller at a con and I was in disguise so if I ever see her again, she won’t recognize me ha! Of course, then she went and liked my tweet in which I mistyped the title of her book. /facepalm
YAAAS I’LL FANGIRL TOO. I was literally busting out of my brain when HarperCollins asked me and I ran upstairs to tell my mum and she was like “Okay so…who?”😂😂 So that was anticlimactic. AGH the life of a bookworm in a house of non-bookworms.😂
Omg I’m laughing that you were in disguise!😂 That would so be me. But like that’s actually an excellent idea??? When I meet an author I should wear a mask so I can just keep trying again if it’s too awkward and THEY’LL NEVER KNOW IT WAS ME.😂
I love that even though you haven’t met these authors face to face, you still were able to have some fangirl moments while interacting with them. 💙 It’s seriously the best!
Eeep, so many fangirl moments. SO MANY.😂 The fangirl life is fun but also terrifying.
I can relate so much, having social anxiety myself. Introverts unite! Separately! I’m having secondhand fangirling from your interactions with these authors… especially Jay Kristoff! That’s so cool! -fangirls- I’ve never been so nervous as the time I got to meet Marissa Meyer at a book signing…I was in actual danger of passing out. I’m nearly positive I made an utter fool out of myself. XD It’s much better to interact with people through the internet…what’s an anxious little fangirl to do when she wants signed books, though? 😀 I just found out that Sarah J. Maas is coming to my town on her ACOWAR tour, though, so I’m going to see if I can get my act together… :}
I know so much how you feel!! It’s hard to be a smol shy anxious fangirl!! Like we LOVE their books but we probably look like we’re in so much pain the authors probably think we hate them.😂😂 (I hope you get to meet SJM!)
OMG A SHADES OF MAGIC MUSICAL WOULD BE MAGICAL! And I completely agree with you, even if you WERE just quoting Tangled 😉
I know right?!? IT WAS TOO PERFECT.😂 Kell would be so 500% done if he was in a musical. Poor Kell I love him so.😂
I love interacting with authors online and in real life! I have met Rainbow Rowell and Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman in real life and they were so lovely and down to earth! Some of my favourite authors I’ve interacted with are Jennifer Niven (she follows me on twitter, cue the squeals), Roshani Chokshi, Marie Rutkoski and Sara Barnard!
AHHH THAT’S SO AWESOME!! You’ve met so many awesomely famous ones too omggggg. 😱😱🎉🎉 Im’ in the presence of fame!!
I kind of feel shy online in general. Like people always tag me in non tag IG posts and i don’t get why? Maybe they just want me to look at it? I am confused? And what would happen if an author responded? Then I’d be terrified. I’ve never met authors irl, except like this guy who lives in my town and whose books we had to read at school (and I didn’t meet him, I just saw him and didn’t care because his books are silly). I guess that internet means that the idea of an author sitting in a cave writing and not being able to talk to them ever except by letters isn’t true anymore.
It’s so cool that you’ve met all these authors! One day I’ll be a famous book blogger and this will happen to me, probably 😛
Oh when people tag me on instagram for no reason I get really super annoyed. 🙈🙊 It’s like “Come and like my photo”???? I don’t even KNOW the person ever and I think it’s kind of rude tbh. 😂 If they keep doing it I ask them to stop haha.
I kind of miss the idea of authors living in caves because that was my life goal tbh. *sighs* 😂
I haven’t interacted with lots of authors, because like you, I suffer from social anxiety and am usually to terrified to venture out to meet authors (Online, I’m okay, because I have time to think about what I say). But I did get to meet Kelley Armstrong ,and she signed two books! And I got a picture! It was so scary but really cool at the same time. I managed not to make a fool of myself, and she complimented me on my shirt which said ‘coffee first. your problems second’. Jennifer Niven friended me on goodreads, and I’ve actually had quite a few short interactions with Jen Wilde on wattpad, which mostly consisted of me shrieking about how much I loved her books/or the new chapter, and her replying with various forms of thanks.
Online is MUCH easier to interact with people. *nods* And omg I’m really glad you had a good author-meeting experience. That’s just glorious. Mots of me does NOT want to meet an author, but some of me kind of does??😂 Just so I can say I have. haha.
That’s so cool you talked to Jennifer Niven and Jen Wilde!! I’M FLAILING FOR YOU.
I definitely know that hesitation to meet someone you really admire – few things are more crushing than meeting one of your idols only to discover that they’re actually really snooty or not very nice! :'(
Agh that’d be awful for sure!! Hence I keep my distance and my unrealistic expectations for their awesome.😂
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award your wonderful reviews and gorgeous blog!
Aww, thank you, Madi! I’ll come check it out!
We have really different tastes so I’ve only heard of one of the authors you mention.
I really appreciate it when authors respond to tweets etc… Sometimes they’re funny – I once tweeted an tagged a v.well known US author saying I was about to go and have a bath with him and he thought that was funny. I think in reality I meant to hashtag him not tag him, but still… he didn’t seem to mind.
I’ve met a few authors IRL and I think it’s easier if they’re authors I don’t read / read much of. I don’t do the fan-girl thing though as am jaded (ie. bitter and twisted and hard to impress) so usually I’ll have bizarre conversations about non-writerly things. In fact, I’m probably almost paranoid about not being overly impressed so won’t gush too much, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Of course I’d be entirely different if it was some stud-ly actor I (ahem) lust after or something. Actually no, I think I’d still play it cool then – though probably try TOO hard to impress with my wit / brilliance and disdain. #orsomething
Aw, at least you don’t embarrass yourself being so excited then, I suppose!😂 I’m so glad I think authors are superheroes though. <3 They are precious and need to be celebrated!
OMG CAIT YOU’RE FAMOUS. That’s so awesome that you’ve talked to all of these authors! I think if I talked to any of these authors I’d probably die of happiness haha. I’d love to talk to Jay Kristoff and Jennifer Niven – their books are fantastic. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! <3
AFjkdlsjk it’s so exciting.😂😂 BUT ALSO TERRIFYING. But if we talk to authors, that makes us famous by association right?!?😂
THESE ARE ALL INCREDIBLE. Actually I may be meeting Steph Bowe In Real Life soon and I am freeeeakkkking out about it because she is like…goddess. But ahhhh every time I interact in any way with an author I’m just full of awe. Why do authors prompt this reaction? I’ll never know.
AHHHHH THAT’S SO COOOOOOL. I hope it’s awesome!! She is like a goddess omg. Honestly one of my biggest inspirations as a teen for getting published.
Authors just need to stop being so fabulous. That will fix it.
“Oh look! An author tweeted me! WHAT IS ENGLISH. I got nothing. I want to say something pithy and memorable and instead I just end up ignoring them because that also is how you show authors you love and support them.” I can relate to that so much, Cait! 😂😂 Literally me when I got a tweet from Vic James where she quoted my review and said she loved it and all I did was stare at my phone trying to think of a reply but ended up only liking it. 🤦
I’m extremely shy too and I’ve only ever met one author in person, Colleen Hoover. I was so awkward! It was my turn in line and at first I couldn’t speak and then I said something about loving Maybe Someday before we took a picture and then I walked away. I thought I would be so witty and talkative but nope it did not turn out that way because I completely closed up from the awe of meeting her. 🙈
WE’RE BASICALLY LIKE TWINS NOW. *hi fives for our awkwardness* And omg the amount of times I just like instead of, you know, responding. 😂😂 It’s just too hard to think up words, honestly. It’s THEIR FAULT FOR BEING SO FABULOUS.
*hi fives* I’ve done it more than just that once too but that’s the time I remember really wishing I could think of something to reply. 😂 Right? It really is! If they weren’t so fabulous maybe it would be easier to think up words but alas they are lol.
*sobs* social anxiety is the worst thing sometimes. Most of the time. All the GIFs, so perfect!!
These all reminded me of the time I got a response to some fan mail I sent to Lauraine Snelling, haha. I ran around in circles and my mother thought I had won the lottery.
Also: you’re a broccoli??
And also: I think that quoting tangled is extremely intelligent! It’s my favorite Disney movie. ☺️
I’m glad you approve of my Tangled quoting.😂 Further proof that I can’t talk to authors though because I just quote Disney at them hahaha. AHEM.
but omg reply to fan mail would’ve been AMAZING!!!! I’m so happy for you!!
Maybe they secretly like having Disney quoted at them.
Oh gosh, a couple days ago I got the chance to meet Marie Lu, Jay Asher, Jennifer Jenkins, and James Dashner! I was a ball of awkwardness but it was such a joy to meet them, plus, I got my poster signed by all of them XD
OMG THAT’S AMAZING!! So many amazing famous people, ahhhh!!!!
It’s much easier for me to interact with authors online than in person – I just clam up, all thoughts leave my head, and I can’t string a sentence together to save my life… But, I did have the opportunity to meet Mindy McGinnis which was pretty cool and she was (relatively, for me at least) to talk to!
Online DEFINITELY makes it easier!! Like how are we supposed to put thoughts into words. arghggh. Don’t ask so much of us.😭😂
I’ve met a number of incredible authors. I met Neil Gaiman once while I was very pregnant and he told me he hadn’t wanted to assume because he’d once asked a woman when she was due and she told him no, she was just fat. And I got to chat with Anne Perry once, but we mostly talked about cats. (Then my husband asked why I hadn’t asked her what it was like to kill someone. I told him that would NOT have been polite.)
Oh, and Anne Rice told me I have beautiful eyes. Which was nice of her, I thought.
Haha, that’s very wise of Neil Gaiman. 😂 And omg that’s so nice Anne Rice likes your eyes!! AUTHORS CAN BE SO NICE THOUGH. (Although I secretly want to ask if they enjoy killing off characters too…soo…)
Ahhhhh, I’m flailing over here on your behalf!!! Isn’t it so cool when authors respond to their fans and have actual conversations with them?? It’s my favorite thing to see bookworms and authors interacting. Do you ever get a little nervous, though? Like, “omg how long has this author been following me what if I said something stupid and they saw it before I realized???” Because that’s something I’d totally do.
I am not at all shy online (I will talk, talk, talk), but in real life I usually only manage little, excited squeaks until the author basically reassures me they’re a normal person by, you know, acting normal. Once I get going I can usually pretend to be normal, too. I’ve had many, many interactions with A.S. King (who is just freaking awesome and I love her) because she lives thirty minutes away from me and has book releases at my local indie bookstore. (She even came to a local author book signing I was a part of and bought the anthology my short story was in and had it signed by me and everything!) My family goes to her releases every time and we’re friends with their family and I play D&D with her daughter. It’s all super unreal. Then I met Maggie Thrash at another local book event and she is the SWEETEST AND FUNNIEST. I was with a couple friends of mine and she extended numbers with all of us to text and she even gave me college advice about the colleges she and her brother went to? How is she real???
YES YES IT’S SOOOOOO COOL. And so lovely when they make time for their fans!?? Like they really don’t have to yet they are NICE.😂
And omg you live nearby a famous author. THAT IS AMAZING.🎉🎉 And she bought your book and you’ve done stuff with her daughter!! AHHHH!! Congrats on that, Kate!! That is so cool. You’re like, totally, famous by association.
I so get your dilemma about author love/real-life-meet-up-angst! Meeting Maggie Stiefvater was a life goal of mine, but when I finally got to speak to her at Book Expo America a couple of years ago I was so star-struck that all I could do was smile at her like an idiot and babble something about llamas. (Seriously. Llamas. Why am I so weird?!). The worst/best was when I met Ellen Hopkins, though. I literally started crying because I was so happy, and she eventually had to give me directions on basic things like, “We can take a picture together if you want. Walk over here. Stand here. Yes, like that.”
That would be TOTALLY me if I ever met Maggie Stiefvater!! I just admire her too much hahah.😂 I would probably end up glaring because when I get anxious I look like I’m about to murder someone apparently.😂 THAT’S STILL SO COOL THAT YOU MET HER THOUGH!!!
OKAY… you’re adorable. I tweet at authors (and famous people, and not famous people, and people who are probably wondering who the fecking hell is tweeting at them) all the time. It’s the internet, so who cares if you stick your cyber foot into your mouth? GO FOR IT. Live, Cait. (although telling someone to live by encouraging them to do lots of tweeting sounds like mixed advice. i digress)
But what if you don’t like an author? Are you able to talk to them? Because when you become an author, all you’ll have to do is not like your work (which is SO easy) and then you’ll be able to keep talking to yourself, and that is important! You and Yourself is a lifetime commitment!
As for people I’ve met… I have met no one IRL because like you, I live in a speck of a town where people do not come unless their name is Cullen, probably, most likely. (yes, I am from that corner of the world) HOWEVER… Amanda Lovelace of poetry goodness “The Princess Saves Herself In This One” and I just bonded over our mutual asexuality this morning… I regularly talk at Erica Cameron of Deadly Sweet Saga, the Assassins Series, and the Ryogan Chronicles. But we’ve known each other for years, so does that count?
AND THEN WHEN I WAS 16 AND MADLY IN LOVE WITH NICK JONAS I WROTE A SONG AND POSTED IT ONLINE AND SENT HIM THE LINK AND HE TWEETED BACK SAYING THAT IT WAS GOOD AND HE HAD REALLY LIKED IT SO THERE IS ALSO THAT.
(I am still hoping Maggie acknowledges my existence one day, because I feel she could be my cool writing aunt/Jedi master and I would be a totally lame niece/Anakin, but minus the whole going Sith Lord thing, so maybe not so lame?)
I AM ADORABLE. THANK YOU.😂 Awkwardly adorable.😂😂
haha, I will probably continue to hide in my hobbit hole. But I’m glad you’re not terrified of authors like I am. 😉
That’s really call you talked to Amanda Lovelace! I haven’t read her book but I wnat to. 🙂 And omg. You’re famous since you talk to all these famous people. Famous by association.
Oooh I feel you! I am SO AWKWARD. Sometimes I can talk to an author if like, I started talking to them BEFORE they were super famous? Or were like, on the cusp of fame, interacted with awkward me, then delved into proper author fame, and still for some reason talked to me.
I’m going to tell you a couple of awkward stories here, Cait. Because I feel like you need them, and maybe it is cathartic for me to tell them, who knows.
First: I met Marissa Meyer. She was at BEA ’15 signing copies of Fairest. I… had not yet read Cinder. Or maybe ONLY read Cinder, but either way, that was all. So Holly is in front of me, gushing about the series, and I get up to her, and she opens the book, and I see the GORGEOUS endpapers. So, instead of being like “hi awesome author person who writes great words”, I INSTEAD choose THAT MOMENT to get giddy and ridiculous about the ENDPAPERS of the book. You know, the part she had nothing to do with? Those. I think I did redeem myself a bit at last year’s Macmillan party in Chicago because I spoke to her like a human, but that was because of WINE.
Second: You know about Shattering Stigmas, and you also know I am a nervous person. Well, last year, I finally got up the guts to email Jennifer Niven. Sent her this GUSHING email about her book, and how much it would mean if she’d participate but if not, I understood because of course she was busy writing wonderful things, etc. And then waited like a kid for Santa for a response. Even a no would have been okay but now…. I wonder if she ever got my gushing email, or if she just thinks I am an actual lunatic and didn’t want to associate with me. It haunts me still.
#AwkwardPeopleProblems
I LOVED YOUR AWKWARD STORIES I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER ABOUT MY SOCIAL DEFICIENCIES.😉😂😂 No really this is great hhaah. I’m sure authors think we are all PSYCHOS who hate them because we’re so weird and awkward. Hopefully they realise we’ve just been dropped on our heads as children. Or something. IDK. My mother fell down a waterfall with me in my infancy so I just blame that on everything.
(Still SO COOL that you met Marissa Meyer!!)
(And actually I wrote a gushing letter to Lemony Snicket when I was about 13. NO REPLY. HOW DARE HE.😂)
You are soooo lucky. I’ve never SEEN an author let alone MEET one. If I ever had the chance to meet an author, I would probably sit/stand there doing nothing, pretending I’m not going to have a nervous breakdown. 🤗📚
Haha, I haven’t seen an author either, so we’re the same. 😉
Oh my gosh, such a cute post 🙂 really enjoyed it.
I also live in a place where nobody comes, so I know what you mean. I haven’t been blogging for long at all, so I haven’t had a lot of online encounters, but I’ve had a few authors I like reply or thank me, and that was pretty awesome 🙂 I think Twitter is awesome that way, as bad as it can be sometimes with all the Twitter drama, it can also be really good because pretty much anyone out there can answer you. And it’s crazy how sometimes you feel like those people are in the same world as you – because when it comes to famous people, it often just seems like they’re.. in another planet, you know what I mean? Haha.
Aww, thanks, Evelina!! YOU ARE KIND. And agreed about twitter.😂 It’s good and bad haha, and sometimes it’s just the most SPECIAL thing in the world to have your hero reply or favourite something. <3 I always have such a flaily reaction.😂
Huh.. I’m like the trillionth person to reply to this post, but I kind of had to! I have always said that authors are my rockstars! (And this possibly dates me awfully, because my friends in school were drooling over George Michael many moons ago, and I was already just drooling over authors, as one does;) )
I have had the chance to meet some of my favorite authors in real life, and while most of the interactions were very nice, some were quite awkward, too. Like, after I squealed and flailed, I didn’t know what to do.. uhm… you know?
And I always swoon if an author tweets me or likes one of my tweets.
Great post, as always Cait!
Omg thank you for commenting, Lexxie!! I appreciate your comments so much. <3
And YAY for our mutual feeling that authors are rockstars/superheroes.😂 They are just so fantastic though, like how do we even talk to them??😂 They must feel so weird being flailed over haha.
I have met SOOO many authors and I am still in awe of them regardless of their fame. My most memorable interaction? Markus Zusak last year. HE RODE IN MY CAR. *dies* That memory popped up on FB a couple of weeks ago and I got all fangirl-y over my own pictures of the event.
I actually remember reading a blog post of yours about that Markus Zusak encounter! IT’S STILL SO AWESOME AND YOU’RE STILL BASICALLY FAMOUS BECAUSE OF IT.
Laini Taylor was the first author I met and I was completely tongue tied and incoherent. I have met lots since and they’ve all been lovely and I’m now almost not a complete idiot when faced with one of my literary heroes.
The most embarrassing thing is when they don’t look like their author photo and say hi and I don’t recognise them. Oops.
Yayyyy that you’re not so awkward meeting these superheroes now.😂 I’m 99% sure I will forever be awkward hahah.
I remember when I was a baby blogger and an author favourited a tweet where I mentioned them and it was like THE BIGGEST DEAL OF EVER. I love interacting with authors, and I’m happy to say that I’ve interacted with a few pretty amazing ones 😀 I even have one or two as Facebook friends *sunglasses emoji*
I think if Maggie Stiefvater replied to me (which is impossible because I never tweet her) I would likely faint with intensity. Which is 100% now a thing.
Meeting authors in real life is incredible, and I am ever so thankful for the fact that I have met some of my favourites – DAVID LEVITHAN, I REPEAT DAVID LEVITHAN (who was 200% nice). I always think I’m going to be a nervous wreck but somehow I manage to keep my cool. :’)
Well, duuuuude, YOU ARE FAMOUS NOW. FACEBOOK FRIENDS. THAT’S BIG.😂 (and I laughed out loud at your Maggie Stiefvater comment because that’s literally me. I’m waiting for the day when she replies to a tweet I’ve NEVER WRITTEN BECAUSE AM SHY. I’m sure…I’m sure the logic is sound.)
long before the days of the interweb and other magical forces I emailed Tracy Chevalier to thank her for writing a particular book and was so thrilled when she replied with a lovely message. Now you can follow authors so easily and often chat to them too which is cool but it never ceases to be a thrill does it.
That’s so awesome she sent you back a nice message!!🎉
I’m not shy to get in on Twitter conversations with authors but for some reason I can’t tag them on reviews I post, like I see some other bloggers do. I think maybe it is because I do free form reviews and I think they are going to hate them? I have to rely on them doing title searches on Twitter. And yes, A.G. is a gem! She was the first person to follow me on Twitter, and she always helps me out by giving me something to giveaway on my reviews. I love her. I loved that Cornelia saw your Reckless tweet and responded! 🙂
AG Howard is just so endlessly lovely. 💕💕 She seems to just have time for everyone and it’s just incredible!!
I’ve had a very awkward twitter chat with V.E. Schwab several times, including her tweeting this:
http://oi67.tinypic.com/w7mvjd.jpg, which, if I ever meet her, I’m getting signed.
I’ve also had a quite awkward chat via twitter DM with her which was awkward.
Jay Kristoff retweeted and replied to tons of my tweets as well.
Omg that would’ve been QUITE the twitter chat!! That’s hilarious. 😂😂
I’ve met Megan Jacobson irl! I love her book so much and I went to a book talk of hers last year. When I went to get yellow signed, she started saying how much she loves my hair and just stood there like an idiot majorly freaking out because OH MY LORD AN ACTUAL AUTHOR WAS TALKING TO ME AND LIKED MY HAIR so yeah after that I think she thought I was a bit weird…
AHHH THAT’S SO COOL!! I’ve talked to her on twitter too and she’s soooo lovely. <3
This post is how I feel about YOU. Like you are practically famous and yet you take the time to reply to each and every one of my smol comments and even visit my smol blog????? IT BLOWS MY MIND, CAIT. YOU ARE THE AWESOME. Thanks for interacting with your adoring fans! 😉 😉
Omg you’re hilarious. 😂 I am just a smol dork who uses too many gifs and terrible vegetable puns.😂 *gives you cake*
My face hurts from laughing! You are literally my new favourite person on the internet. It’s been a while since I laughed this much. Thank you <3
I’M SO ENDLESSLY PLEASED.😂❤️❤️