Last week we chatted about authors directly communicating with their audiences, as a way of opening up an avenue to write in a genre they’re not known for. Here’s what you all had to say.
Kathy P. wrote: “Louise Penny is the only writer's newsletter that I receive. I'm convinced she reached out to me first, but that's probably wrong. Her books were recommended by a friend, and the friend is a super Louise Penny fan. The newsletter is very honest and straightforward. Louise Penny writes the kind of letters I once received from friends who kept in touch by mail … She talks about her writing, how the next book is going, how it's going to be rolled out, where she's going on a book tour, and then commiserates with us … This is my one connection with fame, and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience.”
Shaun W. wrote: “I think comic book creators are often worth following via newsletter. It can be a great insight into that profession, or in the case of Chip Zdarsky it's a dizzying combo of self promotion and comedy. Known earlier on in his career for comedy books with a big heart (Sex Criminals, Howard the Duck, Jughead, Kaptara), this regular email is a great chance to still show the comedic side of Zdarsky's public persona as most of his books (Daredevil, Newburn Batman, Stillwater, Captain America) have now ventured into more straight-shooting genre territory. The email newsletter has even spun off into a monthly print magazine called Zdarsky Comic News (ZCN).”
Janice P. wrote: “I thought you were leading up to a far more interesting question (IMO) than writers' use of social media: What authors do we recommend who work successfully in many different fictional genres? (Today, because it was certainly common in the 19th century...) I'd start with Joyce Carol Oates: Fox, just published, is simultaneously a murder mystery of the police procedural variety, a social novel in the manner of Trollope or Dickens, a Greek tragedy and a psychological thriller - while taking up very contemporary issues in education and the internet age. Many genres at once, and she has written dozens of novels in a variety of genres labeled as the catch-all "literary fiction." … Appalling that any publisher would want to stifle any creative dimension in any of their writers. Don't they realize an author's fans will follow him or her into new genres? That writers and readers want to grow?”
See you next week!
P.S., if a friend sent you this newsletter and you want to sign up, the place to do it is npr.org/newsletter/books. :) | 
