Meeting Authors?

[Scott]

Have you ever met a published book author? Who have you met? Had you read their book(s)?

Which authors do you want to meet?

[Jillian]

yes i have had 2 awesome experiences on meeting 2 fabulous authors

the first is wally lamb with his published books "she's come undone" and "i know this much is true" which i have read them both i do have one more book by him that i got and have not read yet. i actually forget the title but basically its about wally lamb working with women jail inmates in helping them write and create their own life stories. for all of you who don't know wally lamb has been a professor at the university of connecticut

the second is david sedaris who is best known for his book naked as well as many others and actually i have the book but haven't read it. it's typical of me i keep buying too many books that it takes me awhile to read them all.

[LoveHatesYou]

I've met quite a few authors due to the wonderful prgram I was enrolled at at UCSB- it was an honors program for Literature Majors, and offered a million opportunities to meet wonderful people and even take mini courses by them. The two most memorable of course, were Charles Bukowski (I will never forget that- he was amazing and witty and cynical) and N. Scott Momaday(very gracious and thoughtful- used to be a professor there). I met Dave Eggers in passing- not really as an author, more as a he was there visiting his brother and came to eat pizza and I said hey brothers- I love your writing, collectively. Most of my teachers had actually been published quite a few times though...

I had always wanted to meet Bukowski so that was checked off my list. He called me a "broad", which was great. I would love to meet Toni Morrisson, and Chuck Palahunik.

[sleepydumpling]

Oh I've met quite a few, I go to a lot of author events and writers festivals. Let's see how many I can remember...

Andrew Daddo
William McInnes
Frank McCourt
Michael Palin
Nancy Pearl
Venero Armanno
Nick Earls
Jasper Fforde
Hugh Lunn

I'll have to think about some others!

[kaytie]

I've met a lot of authors. I go to the LA Times Festival of Books every year, and stand in line to meet them after their panels. I met a bunch of authors the one year I lived in the Bay area--there are so many author events there!

Outside of the FoB, I've met TC Boyle, Charles D'Ambrosio, Aimee Bender, Jonathan Lethem, Jonathan Safran Foer (and made a total idiot of myself) Hubert Selby, Jr., before he died, Hannah Tinti, and Sandra Tsing Loh. I know there are others.

Oh! I met Leonard Nimoy at his photography book signing party in Westwood.

[Herstory]

Yep. In order to meet authors, one must go where authors are!
Go to book signings at public libraries and bookstores!
If you're a writer (or aspiring to be) attend writer's workshops and seminars.
In doing both, I've met many. Here are a few of my favorite encounters:

Barry Manilow (yes, the singer wrote his autobiography in the 1980's)
Jean Auel
Helen Ketteman
Debbie Dadey
Patrick McMannus
William Least-Heat Moon
Christine Harvey
Kevin Lehman
Carolyn Meyer
Carol Gohrman
James Rice

[sleepydumpling]

I'm off to meet Bill Bryson next week!

[Laura Stamps]

I know and have met lots of published writers and poets, because I write novels, poetry books, and reviews, plus we have a fabulous literary festival here every year in Columbia, SC, where I live.

But the most memorable meeting was when I went to a reading at USC by Charles Wright, a very famous poet and the one 18 years ago who inspired me to become a poet. He has won every award there is (Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, you name it). I have collected all his books, and after the reading I got in line to have him sign some of them. When I got up there I also gave him my latest poetry book as a gift. He took one look at the book and my name on the cover, and he said, "Laura Stamps...I know you!"

Wow! You can't get any better than that, and I'll never forget it.

[Rowan]

I have met a ton and I can honestly say all have been gracious and kind. I always hated interviewing them for the paper because I would stay and chat with them off the record. I find that they are truly good people right up until they are richer than the Queen. They may get a bit on the nasty side there.

[awelker]

i have never met a author at least to my knowledge. i never know when signings or seminars are so i never go to them. how does one find out about them??

[sleepydumpling]

I usually hear about them through book shops in my area. See if the book shops in your town have mailing lists and stuff. And read the newspapers book sections - the one in Brisbane's Courier Mail is called BAM "Books Arts Music".

Plus see if there is a writer's festival in your town or state.

[awelker]

hey thanks for the tip!!

[sleepydumpling]

Good luck chickie!

[radical88]

I met Manda Spring! She is a pretty well known author ( she writes children's books) She didn a book signing in a mall and I happend to be there! She is really nice!

[Kyle22]

If you want to meet authors, you can call your local book stores and see if they have any book signings or meet-and-greets planned.