“The world belongs to those who read.”
Have you ever been to a readers’ retreat? Do you even know what that is? It’s something a little new in the world of books, I think. A few years ago, an avid reader or two got together and thought how much fun it would be to actually meet the writers of those books they love. And not just one at a time at a bookstore signing or even at a book fest where you might only have a few moments to chat with them while they were telling you about their new book.
No, this would be an all day, maybe two day event, where the authors and readers would mingle. They would sit at the same tables to eat. The authors would participate on panels and answer questions about why and how and what. They weren’t sure it would happen. They weren’t wanting to make money. They didn’t offer to pay the authors. It shows how much authors love talking about their books to readers that so many raised their hands and said, “Let me, let me. I’ll come.”
That was a beginning. Since then, reader retreats have popped up in many places. The ones I know about are Christian fiction ones, but I think readers of other genres enjoy getting together to talk favorite stories too. I shared with you about going to a readers retreat in St. Louis not too long ago.
Now I’m scheduled for another one in May, the Christian Fiction Readers Summit. You can check out the link here to see more information. They even have my picture on the header from when I was there a few years ago.
Here I am taking a selfie with the amazing Susie Finkbeiner, author of many wonderful books including The All American about a women’s professional baseball team. There actually was a professional women’s baseball league in the 1950s. Susie did some great research and brought that story to life.
Anyway, it was so much fun that I was thrilled they asked me to come again this year. It’s in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That’s a good drive for me, but not impossible. And once again, I had my hand up waving it this way and that saying let me come., let me come. To make it even more fun, my daughter volunteered to go along with me. So, it will also be a mother daughter retreat for us.
Today, I bombarded the Fiction Readers Summit Facebook Group with all sort of posts. I may have gone a little overboard, sharing about my books and my family and my dogs. Well, you all know I can be a little wordy at times. This was one of those times.
Up top is something I shared with them today. This is one of my favorite lines/scenes from my upcoming release, The Song of Sourwood Mountain.
Do you like meeting the authors of books you’ve read? What is a question you might like to ask them?
Comments 6
I’ve never met an author in person, I think it would be fun though. I would ask if they have a plan about the whole book they’re writing and how it will end, or do they just start writing a story and see where it goes.
Author
The same as I told Lucy, Connie, I feel almost as though we have met through our words here. I appreciate you reading my words and sharing some of yours with me in your comments.
That’s a great question. Some authors do have everything planned out. In the writer community, they are called plotters because they plot out the story from beginning to end before they start writing. That doesn’t mean that nothing changes for them, because I’m sure it does. I’m the other kind of writer. A seat of the pants writer. We sit down in front of our keyboards with an idea about where we’re going but with nothing exactly plotted out. The story develops as we go. Sometimes, well actually a lot of the time, I think having things plotted out might be easier. But I can’t seem to do that. I do usually know what end I’m hoping to get too. Usually. I’m not so sure with this one I’m working on right now. I keep wondering if I should do some of that plotting out on it.
It is absolutely wonderful that you are excited about writing, meeting your fans/readers, and other authors. You are in love with what you do and that spills over to us, your fans and readers.
Author
I do enjoy meeting other authors and even more other readers, Jean Ann, because I’m a reader too. So nice to have you as one of my readers.
I’ve never met an author. I would just like to have a conversation and get to know them on a personal level. Blessings
Author
I feel like we’ve almost the same as met here, Lucy. Always love seeing what you have to say about my posts. But wouldn’t it be fun to all sit down together with a cup of tea or coffee and talk books. Maybe I should have us a tea party here soon. 🙂