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There are some, but off the top of my head the only ones I've read that I can think of are: the Renegades series by Marissa Meyer (YA but more upper YA) and Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots. The latter is adult and deals with the bystander victim who gets hurt when a superhero does his hero thing- it's a good read!

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I just wanted to thank you for this post. So rare to see American feeling that's something is local, not universal, and this local comes with pros and cons. And yes, Gatsby is not a European character.

A polite letter or email or a positive review, yes.

i’ve been reading through agatha christie’s poirot novels. i ended up purchasing a set of blank library cards online and i use them to write down character names / relationships. it’s really helped me keep track of large casts of characters.

I do, but then I end up not using it 🙃

I also get overwhelmed by all the books I could read, so I'm like "ah. I could just plan what I read! and then not be overwhelmed!" but then it doesn't work out. I'm a very frustrating combination of structured and chaotic lol

Edit: recently I discovered a monthly reading challenge on Storygraph (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/5e52bf76-47ba-497e-b1e7-66b3901c0a05) that I plan to try out in April

I'd love a VR/AR app for sticking post-it notes on random surfaces or constructing murder boards.

I think public figures expect the public to reach out to them, but everyone is an individual and some people will love the feedback while others may feel it's a burden. I would think that those that are bothered by public attention have found ways to filter it. They may have an employee or publisher who reads it and responds to those that need a response.

I would check to see if they have a website, that should have info on how to contact them. If they are on social media you can reach out to them there or ask what is the best method to send correspondence.

I love mysteries too and sometimes I'll actually make notes to keep track of characters.

I really want a format for a "murder board" something that will allow me to keep track of all the characters and make notes about the crime and clues.

A friend of mine wrote a blog post about one of his favorite authors; possibly through Twitter, the author read it and they became friends. A decade later, that author introduced my friend to his editor and publisher after the friend had written a novel. He’s now published and rising in the charts.

Reach out. You never know what May come if it.

Yeah, I broke it down on my podcast, feel free to listen. Detail, context, quotes, rationale, to be found there.

This is an absolutely terrible idea that's antithetical to the very idea of libraries. Public libraries provide a multitude of services that people need, and which are not profitable. Take them away and people will not only lose inexpensive access to books. A lot of people will lose access to the internet who can't afford to have it at home. Also gone will be cheap faxing (which you'd think would be an obsolete technology but is still required for a lot of things), free notary services, free computer help, and one of the last public places people can go where they're not forced to spend money merely for existing.

Privately-owned libraries will inevitably become profit-driven, and from there it's a matter of time until they start losing services that people depend on.

Brawndo! It's got what plants crave.

Many authors have a "Contact me" page on their website. Check there for the best email to send fan mail to (or, sometimes, perhaps a posted letter). Many bigger authors will mute their notifications on social media, so tagging them there may not get noticed, but it can be an option, especially for newer/smaller authors...

I will say that as long as you 're reaching out to say how much you've enjoyed something, it will be appreciated. If you're reaching out to let someone know about a spelling error or how you think the story should have ended or anything like that, just don't...but genuine fan letters are welcomed. And from everything I've heard from authors, and other artists, it happens less often than you might think! Of course, a small handful of people get overwhelming attention, but the majority of authors aren't in that club...

I've personally written thank you notes to authors, musicians, actors, directors, set designers, and others through the years. I don't always get a reply, and that's fine. But I often do, even if it's probably a form response. And a few people I've connected with to the point that we regularly stay in touch.

So definitely go for it. All you're doing is putting a little kindness into the world, and that is a good thing!

in 4th grade i wrote a fan letter to robert newton peck, my favorite author. he wrote me back and it was the highlight of my young life.

When I was in middle/high school, I read the Jack Blank books. The first Accidental Hero was good. I tried reading some by the author Lucas Flint, but didn’t get hooked into them. Curious by the books as well.

I'm not aware of a database, but I did a quick search for which libraries retain the largest digital collections and that returned results pretty easily. It seems like the Los Angeles Public Library has the largest Overdrive/Librista collection in the US, for instance. Their nonresident fee is $50, which applies to all applicants who are not CA residents.

Usually there is no limit except that you be within the country, though I can't definitely speak for every single library. Certainly for the larger libraries at least there isn't. Most of them are very, very used to having members who live quite a distance away.

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Writing fanmail is fine, do it if you want to but don't expect a response. Many will get more than they can read.

I actually chat with a few I like on Discord. :)

Many authors have contact info on their web sites. As long as you’re not saying you want to wear their skin, most authors appreciate hearing how they e impacted a reader’s life. You can also leave a review for the book & say what you what there. It might be even more impactful because someone in a similar situation may decide to read the book because of your review b

You may be able to get books for your grandma at Little Free Libraries, thrift stores, and garage sales. I guess this is the new, "black market."

I have shelves of books in my queue, but also put books on hold on Libby, then rad them as they drop. I have about four ebooks on my kindle waiting right now, as well as the non-fiction I’m reading bits of at work.

Thanks!

That's true. Thanks!