Letters

*
--Come play over at the BTT site!

Have you ever written an author a fan letter?

Did you get an answer?

Did it spark a conversation? A meeting?

(And, sure, I suppose that e-mails DO count . . . but I’d say no to something like a message board on which the author happens to participate.)

Technically, yes. During high school . . . you know, back in the early 1980s . . . my best friend and I wrote letters to just about every author we loved. David Eddings. Piers Anthony. Anne McCaffrey. Nancy Springer. Katherine Kurtz. Susan Dexter. Terry Brooks. I think we got responses from every one of them. Although a couple were just postcards, we actually carried on correspondences with a couple. I distinctly remember David Eddings reassuring me that he'd finished at least the rough draft of "Enchanter's End Game, the fifth Belgariad book, so that, even if he got run over by a steam-roller, we would at least know what happened to Garion and his crew. Then there was the wacky, three-way exchange with Piers Anthony, you know, back when there were only about four Xanth books and they were still funny.

We did outgrow the gushing-fan stage, though, and then I went about 20 years before writing another one. You remember. You were there. I've toyed with the idea of sending Sharon Shinn a letter, just because I think her books are so wonderful. I've left a few comments over at Sharon Lee's blog, too--although that wasn't "gushing" so much as, you know, commenting.

Did I ever meet any of the authors I corresponded with? Yes, Katherine Kurtz, when she attended a convention in northern NJ (apparently, it's still going on, but in the southeast US now). But since I basically just got to meet her for a handshake, it wasn't exactly all warm and fuzzy.

Of course, there's also Wendy and Stephanie and Stitchy . . . do fellow bloggers count?

But, anyway, the answer is yes!

* And, okay, I'm cheating just a little, using the BTT question that won't actually be posted until tomorrow, just so I can be sure to get a post up on Wednesday. (You know, other than the reading list that posted this morning.) I figure, I made up the question, so it's not like I don't know it's coming . . . And it'll give you all something to read tonight while I'm at Linda's Mom's wake.

Comments

[Deborah]

I absolutely love David Eddings. I got so sucked into the Belgariad Books. Hmmm, last I checked we are still waiting on another book in this series. Correct?

[Gracie]

I have never written Paula Deen, but I have met her in person, and she is delightful. I want to be her friend. I've also read Brooke Shield's book, and I've been tempted to write her as well.

[Kat]

Omigosh! I'm a huge David Eddings fan! That's so cool you got to correspond with him. Do you still have those letters? I'd probably keep mine if ever I did receive any from him. I'm so sentimental about that ahaha. Receiving a letter from him is almost as good as meeting him, I think, especially if he wrote the letter himself :)

[Julia]

I never read books by David Eddings before. I guess I should put him on my TBR pile then?

[Rhinoa]

I have two Sharon Shinn books on my TBR list which I am looking forward to. I have read most of the Terry Brooks books but only one David Eddings novel. It's cool that you heard back from them all and continued speaking to a couple of them.

[Melody]

I have not read anything by Anne McCaffrey & Terry Brooks, but I read lots of good reviews about their books!

Happy BTT!

[Marianne]

As a kid, it never occured to me to write to any of the authors I loved. I found out Lloyd Alexander died recently, and that made me terribly sad -- I loved his work, and my DD loves it now.

I imagine authors love to hear from their fans (as long as it's not their crazy ones!).

[Alice Teh]

Marianne made a point and a funny one too. How true, as long as it's not their crazy ones. LOL.

[Kim]

I've never written a fan letter. But I have met a lot of authors; mostly authors of dull textbooks (my college & law schoolprofessors). And I met Stitchy and Harlot.

[Risa]

I'm sure I mentioned this before, but I really really love the Eddings' books! Though I've never written a fan letter.

[Carrie K]

I've never written a fan letter but that's very cool that not only have you, but you've recieved responses! More than Susan Dexter.

[Chris]

I'm trying to remember if I've written a fan letter... I don't think I have.

[Literary Feline]

I'm afraid I've never outgrown the gushing-fan stage. LOL Movie stars and musician types don't get me worked up, but a favorite author just might. :-)

[Cereal Girl]

Thanks for your comments on my book meme.

I can barely knit so I don't dare comment on your fibre arts stuff. I do, however, have one friend recreating Old Norse linen tunics and another who is making a reproduction of an ancient African weaving.

What a pleasure it is to have creative friends.

Happy Reading