Our Weekly Geeks task today posed by Bernadette of Reactions to Reading is whether there are two types of readers...those who stick to the books versus those who like to know more about the author's background, thoughts, motivations and writing process.
Among the questions she has asked:
Do you track down author websites or look for biographical information about them elsewhere? Would you skip reading a book if you couldn't find out anything about its author?
This wasn't her first question but I thought I'd start here because it is the easiest for me to answer.
I often look up biographical information about authors. For example if I am writing a book review I like to look for the author website, see what I can find out about the author. Author websites often have book tasters on them as well as bio. details.
I also use biographical details in "Forgotten Books" one of the memes that I participate in regularly.
Not being able to find information about the author would not make me skip reading a book, but it certainly would raise my antennae.
Do you seek out interviews with authors of books you've enjoyed? Why or why not?
Do you interview authors on your blog? If yes what did you gain from the interview process? If no is it because you don't want to or because you haven't felt able to ask an author yet?
The answer to both these questions is generally "no". I'm not a biographer, and I'd be too afraid that the questions I asked would be of minor interest to people who read my blog, and a bit tedious to the author.
The answer to both these questions is generally "no". I'm not a biographer, and I'd be too afraid that the questions I asked would be of minor interest to people who read my blog, and a bit tedious to the author.
Have you hosted an author on a blog tour? Was it someone whose books you already read or did it introduce you to a new author?
I have been asked many times by promoters to host an author interview, and again my answer has been "no". It is just not something that interests me. I've even been asked to be part of a blog tour when the promoter doesn't want to send me a copy of the book, or I haven't read the book. I don't want my blog name associated with material I didn't write, or with an author whose work I haven't read.
Do you subscribe to the blogs of authors you like? Which ones? All the authors you like or only certain ones?
I couldn't follow the blogs of all the authors that I read, but I certainly do include some in my RSS reader. I'm not really interested in authors who only promote their own books. I want them to write regularly about crime fiction and to contribute to my knowledge of what is out there for me to read.
I couldn't follow the blogs of all the authors that I read, but I certainly do include some in my RSS reader. I'm not really interested in authors who only promote their own books. I want them to write regularly about crime fiction and to contribute to my knowledge of what is out there for me to read.
For example, here are 10 to check.
- Margot Kinberg at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist is one of the best authorities on Agatha Christie and other Golden Age novelists that I know of. She blogs daily and is always worth reading.
- Martin Edwards at Do You Write Under Your Own Name seem to have a lot of interests in common.
- Vanda Symons is a New Zealand crime fiction author who blogs at Overkill, and I find her blog stimulating.
- I follow International Crime Authors Reality Check too. They consist of Barbara Nadel, Christopher Moore, Colin Coterrill, and Matt Beynon Rees.
- I follow Type M for Murder because that's where Vicki Delany blogs
- There there is Meg Gardiner on Lying for a Living
- Criminal Minds features Kelli Stanley and others.
- PD Martin is a young Australian crime fiction author blogging here
- Scandinavian crime fiction authority Barbara Fister blogs here.
- Stephen Booth blogs here
