New Providence Memorial Library's Online Reading Group discussion

Well, here it is:
If you could ask the author a question, what would it be? Have you read any other books by the same author? If so, how does this one compare?

This week's prize is a $10 gift certificate from New Providence Florists.

I'm reading Elizabeth the Queen, The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith- although it is so detailed that I may switch to just reading the chapters I'm curious about.

My question would be about her research- did she have access to the Queen? It appears not since much is carefully attributed to those around her at different points during her life.

Had a nice, long post going and I guess I hit the wrong button - it disappeared. Here goes, again:

I have frequently contacted an author to ask a question.

One author that I still have an occasional email conversation with is Beverly Swerling. I really enjoyed her series about old NYC "The City of Niewu Amsterdam" is the first in the series, with great characters and interesting story line.

I recently posted on Matthew Dicks' blog about "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" because I liked it very much, thought it very creative, but wondered which of my interpretations about the epilogue were correct, if either. Here's part of his response (not posting it all because I don't want to give it away in case anyone is going to read it):

"As for the epilogue, my feelings about it change often. I know it sounds crazy to not know the meaning of the end of my own book, but I've never been able to make up my mind."

Love it!

Eileen wrote: "I'm reading Elizabeth the Queen, The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith- although it is so detailed that I may switch to just reading the chapters I'm curious about.

My question woul..."

Well, from looking at the GoodReads reviews, they are decidedly mixed. Somebody actually says that they think the author cobbled together a bunch of People magazine articles!....

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Marilyn wrote: "Had a nice, long post going and I guess I hit the wrong button - it disappeared. Here goes, again:

I have frequently contacted an author to ask a question.

One author that I still have an occasi..."

Hmm...This sounds like the beginning of another great question....Books that we finished but didn't understand the ending of..

Marilyn wrote: "Had a nice, long post going and I guess I hit the wrong button - it disappeared. Here goes, again:

I have frequently contacted an author to ask a question.

One author that I still have an occasi..."

I've often thought of questions for an author but never actually thought to post it to their blog or send an email - what a great idea!

I've emailed authors as well, and they have been surprisingly responsive. As much as I've loved J.D. Salinger's books, I have no desire to ask him anything or even be in his presence (were he still alive.) Great writer, but from what I understand, miserable person. I have a friend who had the opportunity to meet Allen Ginsberg (her idol), and apparently he was just a disaster. Great creativity doesn't always bring about the ability to be kind! I suppose I'd enjoy a nice afternoon tea with the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. But Salinger would not be invited. :)

Karen - I agree! I wrote to James Patterson a couple of times because I hoped to get my grandson more interested in reading and communicating with an author of a book GS liked. Hoped it might have fueled a desire to read. I never got an answer, not even a 'form letter/email' reply. Too bad...missed opportunity to encourage a young reader. Perhaps he is too busy with all of his books or not enough staff?
I've actually skyped with a couple of authors too, as part of discussion group.

Karen wrote: "I've emailed authors as well, and they have been surprisingly responsive. As much as I've loved J.D. Salinger's books, I have no desire to ask him anything or even be in his presence (were he stil..."

Yes, we always think that great talent equals sterling personality. I worked w/ a librarian who grew up in Philip Roth's neighborhood and loves his books for describing a world that is so familiar. However, she always says that he is "not a nice person and has down awful things."

I have to think that Jane Austen would be a hoot. And obviously others think so, too from the large crop of continuations and movies about her and alternate reality. Lost in Austen is a favorite and although the person coming from the past is Elizabeth Bennet and not Jane herself, she is surprisingly mild mannered and just anxious to take off into the 20th century.

Marilyn wrote: "Karen - I agree! I wrote to James Patterson a couple of times because I hoped to get my grandson more interested in reading and communicating with an author of a book GS liked. Hoped it might hav..."

I spoke w/ a local author, Yvonne Ventresca, recently at NJLA - the annual NJ librarians' conference. She write children's & YA books and has a presence on GoodReads. She was very willing to do a book chat so perhaps that is something that would be fun to arrange in the future whether w/ her or somebody else.

As a teacher, I've had my class write to an author. The author's of children's lit are VERY responsive. Since I'm teaching letter writing, we used the old snail mail and generally we receive responses that vary from a publicity packet to a real response to what we wrote. The kids love it!

Smart authors! That's great marketing for them. But of course I'm sure that they just love to talk to their readers. How fun would it be to get letters from your readers and be sure that you really are having a positive effect on children's literacy...