Up this point I’ve read very few blogs and most of them were military oriented, like Micheal Yon’s. The rest of the time I go to Baen’s Bar and visit the different conferences there which, since I try to read most of them, can take quite a while. But I don’t think it’s quite the same as a blog, is it?

Many of the conferences are Author related and the Authors do hang out there and talk to the fans while others are set up to discuss various subjects like the Tech Manual for research, or Truth vs Pravda for religion related topics, Slush Pile and Slush Comments for aspiring writers to post their latest piece of work and get critiques and comments, Publishers Podium for the publisher to keep in touch with the readers and get feedback on, Feelings for the “Need to get it off my chest” stuff, and a whole bunch more.

I find that I enjoy being able to interact with the authors, editors, and publishers. Hopefully they find it fun and invigorating as well.

Personally, I don’t “get” blog land. The only reason I know about this Dear Author blog is because one of “my” authors directed me to it after Janine reviewed her latest release. That’s how I usually come across them – only if directed toward any in particular.

But, I’m old. Like 50. *smile* I’m not very tech savvy, but I do love to gab. Wayyyyyy too much. I’m currently addicted to MySpace and have been a Yahoo groups addict since…well, it seems like forever.

I need a Blog directory or something, I guess; however, it also looks like something else I could become much too addicted to!

I’m wondering if it’s plain old vanilla ignorance on the part of some people, like me? Unless we’re steered in the right direction, we just don’t know it’s there?

My feeds include readers and authors and agents – and TvSquad and Illicit Cultural Property (thanks to Michele)

And when we come up with the same plots, we’ll know how that happened!

I personally find blogs more useful for information than for socializing, but that’s just my personality. Some people — readers as well as authors — are quiet rather than chatty, and lurking is the default setting.

Maybe someday I’ll get over it, but for now, I’m a comfortable lurker!

How does one go about cultivating a rabid fan grrrl base?

I’m thinking I need to work on this before demanding they buy hard covers to support my impending jet set writer life style.

I guess she counts as an auto-buy for me, who knew…

OK, enough of the mutual appreciation society, I’ve a got a motorway to navigate!

Well, Teddy Pig, I do talk a lot and my ex had told me I had a mouth that wouldn’t quit. Twice. The first time in the early years of our marriage and then just before the divorce. I’m relatively certain, however, that he meant it differently that last time. :-D

And geez, Jane, you know my schedule better than I do. I keep mixing up the months and trying not to have panic attacks. ;-)

Go Fetch!—Available from Samhain March ’07
Sun, Sand, Sex—Avaailable from Brava June ’07
Here Kitty, Kitty—Available from Samhain July ’07
The Mane Event—Available from Brava October ’07

Here Kitty Kitty used to be a Triskelion release but I remember that Pack Challenge was revised. Woot. Not too long until her Brava release.

Shelly,

As one of your old sailor gay fan boys waiting patiently for your werewolf sequel “Go Fetch!” after that delicious “Pack Challenge”. I’ll take your back in the next bar fight. OK?

I don’t have my own blog and don’t want one. Tragically, I’m just not that interesting. And I rarely read author blogs for pretty much the same reason. Oh, wait. See? That was rude.

Anyway, it took me 39 years, but I finally learned to follow my father’s advice. A former Marine, he was a straight shooter and simply said, with that powerful knowledge that only comes with age, “Maybe you should shut the hell up. Ever think about that?”

*sigh* Some days I really miss that old bastard.

Quite often I’ve seen comments after a dust-up, a miscue, involving a writer from some readers stating outright they would never by that author again due to her on-line comments and/or behavior. Their choice.

But the reality exists. Commentary can have consequences. I believe I made my first comment here after a reader referred to me behaving badly (and I had) years before on a mb. Long-lived, indeed. The reader neglected to give the circumstances–only that I behaved badly. And also didn’t mention (or know, apparently) that I had copped to the mistake and apologized for it on that mb, and privately to its owner. I’m talking years ago, and that incident still pops out to slap at me–even though I took responsibility and apologized in the same forum.

It’s not hard to see why some authors elect not to comment or participate in the blogging community. Not every reader will separate the author’s on-line personality from the books she writes.

One of the common threads of the sites I enjoy visiting and commenting on is the intelligent back and forth discussion, the humor, the sharing of opinions between writers and readers. Another common thread would be I’ve always felt welcome on these sites.