I remember a time, pre-blogging, pre-Twitter and other social media, and pre-Facebook, when authors seemed mysterious shadowy figures. The bio paragraph and the picture on the dust jacket was about all I knew about them.
That's not the case anymore. Between Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and all kinds of other social media so many authors are incredibly accessible. My Twitter feed and my book shelf have many of the same names which most of the time is absolutely amazing. I can see their progress on their current work in progress, learn publication dates and all kinds of bits of trivia about how they work or where their inspiration come from. It's fascinating. However, what also happens when authors step out of the shadows is that they become actual people - actual people with opinions and personalities. And sometimes I don't always love the person revealed.
Now my question is - does not liking an author effect the readers enjoyment of the book? For me not really. There was a case several years ago when an author decided it was okay to essentially stalk a blogger and show up at her house after a bad Goodreads review. That'll probably keep me from picking up that particular person's books. I'll also hesitate if an author is mocking reviewers or responding to reviews in a negative manner. However, a mishmash of political views or personalities doesn't bother me. I might unfollow them on Twitter but if I like the book it'll be on my pre-order list just the same as if we were best friends.
How do you feel about the accessibility of authors - especially when it comes to the negative side?
I will admit that some things might affect my opinion of an author. Not really sure what would, but anything ultra-negative (in my opinion of what is 'bad') would likely cause me to hesitate to read their works. Though there are some authors right now that I know 'stuff' about and I still read their books. Anne Perry, for example, who participated in a murder when she was a teenager. Since I don't do a lot of social media, the info that comes out from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., just flies right over my head. I'm happier for not being on those platforms. LOL
ReplyDeleteI think I feel similar to you. It would have to be something really bad that they did (stalking, or being horrible to reviewers, or harassment of some sort). If I just don't agree with everything they believe I would probably still read their books and just not follow them.
ReplyDeleteMy take is that it depends on what they said or did. The author of the Raven Cycle says some pretty awful things. The first thing I saw her tweet was that bad things only happen to people who put negative energy out into the universe, and I thought... wow how many of her fans probably struggle with mental health issues and what a statement like that does to people. Then she did a whole Tumblr post about the evils of college and that you shouldn't go to college, that you are much better off spending that money traveling and that you should tell your parents to F-off because all college is is guys drawing penises in books and pinning pictures of penises to bulletin boards. The last thing I saw her tweet before I unfollowed was that minority authors shouldn't get any extra publishing help, that the reason a person doesn't get published is because their books are crap and they need to just work harder. I will still read her books, but I will get them from the library and not buy them and I will never promote them or even review them on Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteThen there was the author who led a Twitter mob and dragged the author of the Outsiders for not having a gay character in her book she wrote 50 years ago. Ugh, it was gruesome. Not only will I never read another book of his, I took down my two good reviews from Goodreads and Amazon, and removed the first book of his that I reviewed on my blog. I have a difficult time wanting to promote the two female authors who are still his buddies. How can you be author buddies with someone like that?
Then the worst one was when I found out that the author of The Mists of Avalon and her husband were convicted of molestation and child abuse. I was going to donate the two paperbacks I had of hers to the library used book sale, but then decided to just chuck them in the garbage. :/
Wow! You're right, sometimes I forget that an author is human and just like us. Things happen. This is an amazing topic Katherine, and the thought of an author showing up to a blogger's door for a bad review sounds pretty crazy to me. In fact, it scares me that someone would actually do something like that. I like having access to authors that I really like, because of their books, but I don't always get to hear the things they say. I usually hear it from another blogger. Usually what I hear about on my own is when an author is ill or has cancer or something like that. An author who stalks a blogger though is not someone I would ever read again, and the same if one was convicted of any type of child abuse, child porn or something like that. Children are defenseless, and I just don't think I could get past that. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteThis is a though question. I usually don't look up too much about authors when I pick up there books, so I'm usually not aware of their opinions and have to be told by others. But indeed, if such things happened, I would think twice about reading the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat question. After reading some examples in La La's response I was horrified! I couldn't support some folks like that by buying one of their books. Makes me wonder how I'd feel if Tana French or Peter Robinson were awful people as I love the books.
ReplyDeleteI essentially stopped following all authors on social media because of a lot of what I was seeing posted. I want to enjoy their books, not listen to their political opinions. There is one author in particular who went off after the election and said some pretty offensive things about people who voted for the current president. Regardless of your political opinions, that was not called for. So that particular author I won't read, but others I just focus on the books and not the politics.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic Katherine. I tend to just enjoy following a few favourite authors and none of them have said or done anything outrageous. I did hear about the horror when an author stalked someone - bizarre! I think most authors are pretty sensible and as you say human too. It is nice to see their personality and of course its all about book promotion too for them.
ReplyDeleteI choose to live in the pre-social media era, because I enjoy NOT knowing stuff. Does it affect my reviews?I don't really think so,since I prefer reading printed books. I did enjoy this post though!
ReplyDeleteI do like following and "meeting" authors through social media. I haven't had any bad experiences, although I did hear about the situation you mentioned. That would definitely make me stop reading her books. Overall, I've had some nice experiences.
ReplyDeleteFor me it sometimes does affect my enjoyment- I guess it depends on how obnoxious they are (if at all) about it. Like if they have opposing political views that's fine- I don't expect everyone to agree with me, obviously- but if they're nasty or something or ridiculous then yeah it may affect how I feel, or I may not even read them. I had a case with a popular YA author who said some very inflammatory things (I thought so anyways) on Twitter and that does make a lot less likely to read his books.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't interact with very many authors on social because I like having that gap between art and artist and when you know too much it can be hard to separate.
ReplyDeleteHaving more access to authors is a good and bad thing. I kind of miss the days when they were more of a mystery in a lot of ways but have had some great interactions through social media. Of course, I have seen horror stories and have been turned off of a few authors due to their behavior. Great post!
ReplyDeleteAll good comments and a good article. It is a good thing 99% of authors are respectful and kind. Since many authors are introverts, having a public face is stressful. Still, that is no excuse for bad behaviour.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting to consider. Most authors I follow seem to have sense enough to only post upbuilding topics and information about their books and hobbies. Pretty harmless stuff. A few are political and I typically just ignore their rants. They’re entitled to their own opinion on such matters. But if an author expresses something that I find personally objectionable I might consider that when choosing to read another one of their books. I guess it can matter to me based on how I perceive their attitude about certain things.
ReplyDeleteOn rare occasions I have stopped reading an author due to their behavior. It has more to do with being a nice person than their views etc. We are all entitled to our opinions, faith and beliefs but not treating another human being nicely is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteYou are 100% correct!! I agree totally. 😊
DeleteI have attended a number of conferences where authors are speaking on panels. I personally have found that the authors whose ideas and opinions I don't very much like write books I'm not mad about either. I don't think anyone whose books I've absolutely LOVED has ever turned out to be an opinionated idiot. As for the ability to meet authors and talk to them online - I love it!
ReplyDeleteThankfully I've only had positive experiences with the authors I read who I also follow and keep up with online, however I'm not entirely sure if I could separate author and their work if they did something that didn't quite sit right with me.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that we're able to connect with authors in this way, but I am also someone who kind of longs for the more simpler days when everything wasn't readily available with the use of a mouse click.
Great topic!
Great discussion, Katherine! Like some others have said, for me, it depends. I think for the most part, I am able to separate the book from an author, but unfortunately there are certain beliefs or actions that make it near impossible to do. More so actions or behavior, really.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same as you. I think this is an important topic to discuss since some people feel that they should "like" the author in order to read their books. There is one very popular author that is constantly posting political views. I still follow them on twitter since once in a while a gem comes out and I like to see them in my feed. I don't hold an author up to be just like me, or think like me. There is very little (like stalking, for example) that would make me discount reading a book. I can separate the author from the book.
ReplyDelete