Thursday, March 15, 2018

Author-Reader-Connect. What’s your style? by Alicia Street



The days of book tours or frequent book signings are gone, but the truth is the internet gives reader and authors more ways to connect on a regular basis.

What is your favorite way to interact online?

Do you join in conversations on Goodreads? Do you belong to Yahoo groups for certain book genres?

Our Sweet Romance Reads collective has a great Cafe. Do you belong to any others like it? Or have you joined in street team Facebook groups of favorite authors?

I’ve noticed that readers who visit websites will more often leave a note in the contact box rather than leaving a comment on a blog post. Does that mean they don’t read blog posts? Or just that they don’t comment on them?

Pictures or videos on a Facebook page can also start conversations. But while some readers seem to like sharing with an author whose life is filled with the same day-to-day challenges and laughs as her own, many want merely to say they liked a book and to ask when the next one is coming out. I know many readers keep up with authors through their newsletters and just want updates and nothing more.

As a reader, I’ve often found new-to-me books on Twitter, but I’ve never contacted an author that way. So it came as a surprise when a reader actually began tweeting with me about my books, and it turned into a great conversation that drew in others.

Then there’s Pinterest. I know authors who love visual images and meet readers through boards that focus on a shared interest. And what about Google + or Instagram?

So tell me, where does your author-reader connection happen? What kind of interactions do you prefer and what do you like to talk about?

                                                        ~*~


Alicia Street is a USA Today bestselling author and a Daphne du Maurier
award-winner. A compulsive reader of every genre, she writes
both sweet and spicy romance. She spent many years as a dancer,
choreographer and teacher.
Alicia loves to connect with readers~
 The Sweetheart Test is on sale for 99¢ through March.     
   


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5 comments:

  1. Alicia, as a reader, I just want to know about the books. I follow authors on twitter and facebook, but some of my favorites aren't active on social media. It's okay with me for them to be writing the next big, delicious novel instead. ;)

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  2. Very good points, Alicia. For me, Facebook seems to be the primary way to connect with readers, although I also follow authors on twitter and linkedin.

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  3. I agree with Josie, Facebook is my primary social media connection.
    Magdalena, it's good to hear that for you some of your authors aren't social media active. I think when you like an author, you want to read more from them.

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  4. As an author, Facebook is definitely the primary way I connect with readers. That said, my newsletter has started getting more and more interaction over the last year.

    As a reader, I often rely on Facebook (if the author has a FB page) or Amazon new release notifications to know when a new book is out by my favorite author.

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  5. I like Facebook. That's my place to connect.

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