Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

As part of a "degrees of separation"-related prompt suggestion I'm going to put forward for 2021, I would like to start this thread for everyone to list authors they have either met in person or had a conversation/meaningful interaction with on social media or elsewhere.
The idea is to have a collection of authors from whom everyone in this group is only two degrees of separation away.

You can add authors if you:
-- have met them in person and talked to them (just being in the same room, e.g. at a panel discussion or convention, does not count unless you went afterwards and got an autograph/picture/signed book);
-- have had an actual conversation with them on social media (just having an author like a comment you posted on their page does not count unless they actually commented back);
-- have had any other kind of direct interaction with them, e.g. received a personal answer to a fan letter, ran into them in a public place and exchanged words with them, or came into contact with them in a professional context (could be anything from "I performed surgery on their knee" to "I once sold them a bag of chips");
-- and, obviously, if you know them privately for whatever reason because you're friends or related or your kids are friends or whatever ... I'm sure you get the idea by now :)

The original comment in the Wild Discussion thread explaining the prompt idea can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Edit: Just to be clear, you do not have to contribute to this list yourself in order to complete the prompt (provided it makes the list in the first place), you only have to refer to it. I am sure there will be enough members contributing names for us to have a sizeable pool to choose from!

As a librarian, I have chatted with a number of authors at library and book conferences over the years, but of course I can’t remember any of there names at this moment.

As I reader, I cherish the responses I have received from authors I enjoyed reading - Helene Hanff, Clifford Stoll, and M. Louisa Locke

I have never meet an author or had any contacts with authors. I don’t want to have to reach out to someone just to complete the prompt.

Here is my list (featuring English- and German-language authors):

Kevin Brooks
Work-related; also talked to him at length.

Uwe-Michael Gutzschhahn
Same as above.

Shaun Tan
Work-related; was introduced to him beforehand and talked for a bit.

Jenny Trout/Abigail Barnette
I've been following her blog and other social media for years; she generally engages a lot with her readers and followers, but I once reached out to her with a specific question and she answered me in great detail.

Jason Reynolds
Work-related; talked to him for a bit (he is SO cool!!)

Aya Cissoko
Work-related

Que Du Luu
Work-related; talked to her for a while

Sharon Bolton/S.J. Bolton
Various interactions on Facebook including an exchange of private messages when I won a contest she hosted on her page. She also tends to reply personally to comments on her page.

Ursula Poznanski/Ursula Archer
Attended a book signing event and managed to talk to her for a bit afterwards and get a picture and everything.

Frank Cottrell Boyce
Work-related; talked to him quite a bit before and after.

Salah Naoura
Same occasion as above; I had a long and interesting conversation with him at the reception.

David Almond
Work-related; talked to him quite a bit before and after.

Nancy Herz
Work-related; had a good laugh with her afterwards.

Robin Robertson
Work-related; had an interesting conversation with him afterwards.

Rita Süssmuth
Work-related; we were introduced.

Cathrin Kühl
A personal friend of mine.

Carlotta Amerio
We went to university together.

Irena Berger
My good friend's little sister.

Agnes Imhof
My cousin.

Julia Freidank
(That's a pseudonym, but I don't think her actual identity is officially known. I'd rather not out her, but I definitely know her personally.)

Dagmar Winter
Work-related.

Alfons Th. Seeboth
Various business-related conversations: I contributed a short story to an anthology he was publishing.

Cornelia Franke
She worked with me to edit that short story.

I don't have a Goodreads author profile, obviously, but if it counts ... here's the anthology with my short story:
Yggdrasil der Weltenbaum: Thor und Odin

Sherri wrote: "I have never meet an author or had any contacts with authors. I don’t want to have to reach out to someone just to complete the prompt."

You won't have to, that's what this list is for :) Two degrees of separation means you just have to know someone (= anyone in this group) who has met an author (= this list). So basically members of the group can pick any author from the list we are putting together here to complete the prompt.

Sherri wrote: "I have never meet an author or had any contacts with authors. I don’t want to have to reach out to someone just to complete the prompt."

Sherri, I don't think you would have to connect personally with anyone. I believe the prompt would be to pick an author that you are two degrees separated from. You are connected to everyone in this group (one degree of separation) and so you are now two degrees of separation from knowing all the authors that anyone in this groups has met or conversed with. You would then choose an author off of that list, the one we are compiling here, and read one of their books for the prompt. Hopefully that makes sense :-)

My list is mostly indy authors, but I love them all so I hope some others here will read and enjoy their work as well.

Nicholas Anderson - Sci-fi graphic novel, own voices (autism/disability) author/illustrator and all around best cousin-in-law ever, I recommend Planet Ripple: Minnow's World

Jeffrey Cook - Steampunk and paranormal fantasy author, I recommend First Light and Foul Is Fair

Kory M. Shrum - Paranormal and Urban fantasy writer, I recommend Dying for a Living

Angela Roquet - Paranormal and Urban Fantasy writer, I recommend Graveyard Shift

Trish Marie Dawson - Paranormal/Urban fantasy author, I recommend Dying to Forget and I Hope You Find Me

and now I am drawing a blank but I know there are a few other indy authors in particular. I will come back and add those later I guess!

°~Amy~° wrote: "My list is mostly indy authors, but I love them all so I hope some others here will read and enjoy their work as well.

I actually read "Dying For A Living"! Also, great idea to put in recommendations :) I might update my list to do the same.

Conny wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "My list is mostly indy authors, but I love them all so I hope some others here will read and enjoy their work as well.

I actually read "Dying For A Living"! Also, great idea to put..."

That is one of, if not my absolute favorite urban fantasy series. Such a creative and unique storyline. :-)

Moved my list here to make it easier to organize! I've met all of these authors at book festivals (like the LA Times Festival of Books) or individual signings at my local indie bookstores, and I'm only counting the ones I've spoken to one-on-one - even if just for a second!

Jennifer Niven
Piper Kerman
Lemony Snicket
Maggie Stiefvater
Brenna Yovanoff
Tessa Gratton
Stephanie Perkins
Ransom Riggs
E. Lockhart
David Levithan
Kimberly Derting
Richelle Mead
Cynthia Kadohata
April White
Gary Soto
Jimmy Carter
Buzz Aldrin

This list is basically good for YA fans, with a few memoirs sprinkled in (Piper Kerman's Orange Is the New Black, Jimmy Carter or Buzz Aldrin's books) and some MG as well.

I've not necessarily read everyone's books as some people I just hung out with at cons or blogger events, "back in the day".

Science Fiction:
James Smythe, Laura Lam, Emma Newman, Jon Wallace, Wesley Chu, Adam Christopher, Nick Harkaway

Contemporary:
Nikesh Shukla, Claire Fuller, Rebecca Chance

Fantasy:
Edward Cox, Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman, Den Patrick, Maria Lewis, Francesca Haig, Deborah Harkness, Mark de Jager, Liz de Jager, Samantha Shannon, Sarah Rees Brennan, Holly Black, Tom Lloyd, Suzanne McLeod, Aliette de Bodard, Sarah Maria Griffin Jen Williams

Young Adult:
Juno Dawson, Kim Curran, Amy McCulloch, Tanya Byrne, Laure Eve, Lucy Powrie, Tom Pollock, T.S. Easton, Keren David, Non Pratt, Chloe Seager, Will Hill, David Owen

Middle grade:
Louie Stowell

Historical Fiction:
Lloyd Shepherd, Cesca Major

Comics:
Kieron Gillen

Other:
Matt Haig

Irene wrote: "Jennifer Niven, Piper Kerman, Lemony Snicket, Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff, Tessa Gratton, Stephanie Perkins, Ransom Riggs, E. Lockhart, David Levithan, Kimberly Derting, Richelle Mead, Cynthia Kadohata, April White, Gary Soto, Jimmy Carter, Buzz Aldrin ..."

But wait, you MET Buzz Aldrin? Like, breathed the same air as him? So jealous! *fangirling*

*updated 5 minutes later.....We are three degrees of separation from the freaking MOoN people, the MOON! *still fangirling*

My first degree of separation authors:

Chloe Benjamin - went to a book talk, asked a question, and got a signed copy of The Immortalists

Erin Morgenstern - went to a book talk, got a photo with her and a signed copy of The Starless Sea and The Night Circus

Dave Eggers - went to a book talk, got a signed copy of The Monk of Mokha

Michelle Markowitz & Caroline Moss - chatted via instagram about weddings - Hey Ladies!

Some Political/Social Geography authors/books I'm connected to by college/grad school:

Lisa Benton-Short - The National Mall: No Ordinary Public Space and Cities and Nature

Wesley Reisser - Black Book: Woodrow Wilson's Secret Plan for Peace

Laurence C. Smith - The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization's Northern Future

Terry Hunt & Carl Lipo - The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island

David A. Burney - Back to the Future in the Caves of Kaua'i: A Scientist's Adventures in the Dark

Met and talked to at book signings:

George R.R. Martin (not sure if this is the right link, there are several with no picture but you all know who I mean) - this was almost 20 years ago now when he was getting famous and he was very funny talking about how his first readings had literally no one at them.

John Scalzi

Alexander McCall Smith

Jayne Ann Krentz - romance writer who gave excellent talk at a Borders bookstore (most of these were at Borders, which I miss!) She analyzed her genre of romance in Jungian terms and was also very fun - She also writes under the names Amanda Quick (regency romance) and Jayne Castle (paranormal romance)

Went to college with Patricia C. Wrede - writes children's fantasy and humorous romances

Friend of Audrey McClellan - writes romantic novels mostly set in Scotland

Corresponded online with Michael J. Sullivan

Met at a college reunion Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Djinni. She is a much younger alum

In a different vein, back around 1990, I went to a library talk by Barbara Rosenblatt, one of the earliest and best narrators of audiobooks, later made famous by being on the TV show Orange is the New Black. Back then, there were only about 6 of us who knew enough to show up. She read from a couple books and answered questions and was delightful. This was back in the cassette days when it was very expensive to buy audiobooks and libraries were the best way to get them. She narrated books by many famous authors, so maybe this means I am only 2 degrees from them? For instance she is the voice of Amelia Peabody from the series by Elizabeth Peters.

Forgot I met and got a signed copy of Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese Family from Lauren Kessler and A School for the People: A Photographic History of Oregon State University by Lawrence A. Landis (former coworker)

Kevin Henkes - Children's picture books and middle grade novels; met and talked with him at a library conference years ago.

Larry Watson - His most known book is Montana 1948; took an English class from him and talked with him at a library conference.

I don't have many, but I'll add what I have.

I talked with Ray Bradbury at a book talk at a public library in LA. It was the library where he had written a bunch of his early works. He liked to come back, and still lived pretty close to it. It was small event and I had a chance to chat a few minutes. One of my highlights in life.

Meadow Griffin: Met her on Independent Bookstore Day. We talked about folklore and mythology in fiction. She has a great series based on Irish folklore.

Howard Zinn: A club I was VP of in college arranged to have him come and give a lecture, so I got to talk history with him for a while, which was so cool, because I was a history major.

Benjamin R. Barber another lecture given by my club. He was a philosopher who wrote some very interesting ideas. I got An Aristocracy of Everyone signed by him.

Robert Pacilio: Was my high school English teacher. Has written some great books, especially about high school. Would definitely recommend his books, especially Meetings at the Metaphor Cafe

I can only think of two authors I've personally interacted with.

One is Frank Warren the author of PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives; he had an event on my college campus and a friend and I went and got our books signed afterward. He himself wasn't that memorable sadly.

The second author I cannot in good conscience recommend since I didn't like his books but it's got a fun story. Back when I was in fifth grade, Bill Wallace came to my school to do a reading/q&a event. In advance of this, the teachers bulk ordered a bunch of his books and my mom bought me two of them, Beauty a book about a boy who becomes friends with an old horse that dies (not a spoiler, that's in the description), and Trapped in Death Cave, a book about two boys who search for buried treasure.

I duly read them and decided they were pretty predictable and boring. Beauty is basically a more boring version of every horse-book you've ever read and Death Cave is basically the Goonies without any of the fun. Anyway, Bill Wallace comes, reads a chapter of some book to a group of bored 10 year olds, and then asks if we have any questions for him. Silence. Some teacher says, "Jackie? Can you think of a question for Mr. Wallace?" Unable to say no to a teacher, I asked the only question I could think of:

"Why aren't there any girls in your books?"

He didn't have to answer that because apparently in 1999 that wasn't considered "an appropriate question". My best friend (a classic grade A **Horse Girl**) then proceeded to pepper him with comments about all the horse inaccuracies. I don't remember if he got any other questions because I was dying of mortification for being reprimanded.

I responded to Seanan McGuire on Twitter once, but I don't think she ever replied.

Aside from that, my mom's friend is married to Robert Charles Wilson, and she went to school with Lilian Nattel. If those count? I might have met Robert Charles Wilson too, at some point, but I don't remember.

Oh, and also Aisha Saeed. I had a brief interaction with her on Twitter, with her "daily joy" threads.

Jackie wrote: "I can only think of two authors I've personally interacted with.

One is Frank Warren the author of PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives; he had an ..."

Good for you for speaking up with your proto-feminist question! The thinking was that girls would read books about boys but boys wouldn't read books about girls (or even with girls on the cover!)

Robin wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I can only think of two authors I've personally interacted with.

One is Frank Warren the author of [book:PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives|876..."

Oh I'm sure it was totally about trying to get boys to read more by introducing them to an author of "boy books" but it was a little misguided even by the standards of the day.

Todd Shimoda was a coworker of my husband's, and I enjoyed the 2 books of his I read - there are a few more now.

I met Mike Massimino when he visited my school to read from his book, Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe - nice guy.

Ooh - I was the high school advisor of George Watsky (known more for music/rapping) and read his book of essays, How to Ruin Everything: Essays.

There have been tons of authors that have visited my school, actually, but I am too shy to talk to them! (Ali Wong, Cheryl Strayed, Chang-Rae Lee, Monique Morris...) Ah well!

Probably no one knows who they are, but

Robert Lowery was my professor
Revelation's Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb: How to Read the Book of Revelation

Betty Castleberry is my distant cousin. Never met her in person but we are Facebook friends

Brandt Dodson went to my church.

°~Amy~° wrote: But wait, you MET Buzz Aldrin? Like, breathed the same air as him? So jealous! *fangirling*

*updated 5 minutes later....."

Haha yes!! I got tickets to his book signing for Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration at my local Barnes and Noble and it was great to talk to him even though our conversation lasted probably 10 seconds. (Still haven't read the book yet though..)

But you're right!! Crazy to think we're just a few degrees from the MOON!

Avery wrote: "My first degree of separation authors:

I am SO jealous that you met Erin Morgenstern!! The Night Circus is probably my favorite fantasy book, period, and I've been wanting to meet her for years. I'm so sad that I was living abroad when The Starless Sea was being released since that was basically the first time she was making public appearances in forever!

I've met and talked to several authors at author talks put on by my libraries.

A.J. Finn (author of The Woman in the Window) signed my book at the Brisbane Writers' Festival in 2018.

I met Kelly Rimmer at one of my libraries in March just before our libraries closed!! So then, during lockdown I read The Things We Cannot Say and Truths I Never Told You - and gave 5★ to both. She has several other books as well, but these are her most recent, and my favourites so far!

I've met Judy Nunn and she signed a book for me a couple of years ago - she has some great Australian settings in her novels - I think Sanctuary is my favourite of hers, although I recently read Khaki Town, which is her latest and also a good read.

I've also met and talked to Sara Foster, Josephine Moon, Tony Park at various author events.

And I know some authors personally, although their works mightn't be very readily available outside of Australia - Helen Goltz, Lynne Stringer, Jeanette O'Hagan, Allan Walsh, and Dale Harcombe.

Let me think...

Dutch authors:
Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Rik Raven
W.J. Maryson
Brad Winning
Wim Daniëls
Loes den Hollander
Dolf Jansen
Alex de Jong
Sander Koenen
Sara Kroos
Paul van Loon
Sophie Lucas
Bianca Mastenbroek
Adrian Stone
Tais Teng
Kim ten Tusscher
Henk de Velde
Lars van der Werf

Signings non Dutch authors:
Jane Goodall
Marissa Meyer
Terry Pratchett
Christopher Paolini
Lauren Kate
John Boyne
Jill Mansell
Robin Hobb
Megan Lindholm
Trudi Canavan
John Flanagan
Naomi Novik
Robyn Young

Responded to a tweet:
Blake Charlton

My list of author encounters is pretty cool.

Jimmy Carter - I shook hands with the former US president at a book signing event for Sources of Strength: Meditations on Scripture for a Living Faith in the late '90s

Suzanne (Sue) Corso - This is a friend who wrote a juicy trilogy beginning with Brooklyn Story

John Fowles - Many years ago, I wrote a cheesy letter to the late great British author about some lusty details alluded to in The Magus. And he answered me!

Emily St. John Mandel - I plum forgot! This past week, the author was interviewed about The Glass Hotel by Alison Stewart, the host of WNYC's fantastic monthly book club,"Get Lit with All of It". I asked a question about the novel through the online link, Ms. Stewart selected it and Ms. St. John Mandel answered it. It felt like the author was speaking just to me.

Leo Robitschek - I attended a book launch for the author's cocktail book, The Nomad Cocktail Book

Darcey Steinke - I attended a book launch thrown by a mutual friend for Steinke and Marie Weber's unicorngirl

Amor Towles- I attended a book talk/signing for A Gentleman in Moscow.

Alan A. Winter - The man who saved my teeth! My terrific periodontist who is also a pretty decent author. And vice versa.

I was friends in high school with Will Allison.

Through my church, I have met Scott Cairns and Joanna Eleftheriou.

I also know Stephen Paul Sayers through my children's school.

Alex George runs an independent bookstore where I live. I have commented on his social media and he liked my post.

Not a great deal to add, but

Michael Farris Smith who was kind enough to participate in a question and answer for a group read of one of his books here on GR. We traded a bit of conversation back and forth.

Margaret Atwood signed a copy of one of her books for me. It was hello/goodbye, but I met her.

These are the only two I can think of off-hand.

Okay, I'm absolutely certainly forgetting many, but I'm gonna try to list those I can think of off the top of my head...

Elana K. Arnold
Ray Bradbury
Tad Williams
Naomi Novik
Adib Khorram
Alyssa Cole
Daniel Mallory Ortberg <-- Daniel Lavery
Brian Jacques
Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Neil Gaiman
Sarah Kuhn
Meryl Wilsner
Connie Willis
Zen Cho
Diana Urban
Tessa Dare
Paul Krueger
Marvin Carlson
Mohammad Kowsar
Lilah Sturges
Noelle Stevenson
Kat Leyh
Jo Walton
C.L. Polk
Dana Schwartz
Yangsze Choo
Jonny Sun
Nicole Chung
Neda Maghbouleh
Clive Thompson
Emily Nussbaum
Lin-Manuel Miranda


umm that's all I can think of off hand, but I'll edit this post if I remember some more.

Wow! What a list, were they mostly at book signings/conventions? I love Connie Willis, Naomi Novik and Jo Walton, and of course I'd love to meet Lin-Manuel.

I like this idea, hope it gets in!
Just the ones I remember from the top of my head for now:

- Jo Nesbø - Harry Hole, crime novels
- Per Petterson - most known abroad for Out Stealing Horses
- Lucinda Riley
- Anne Holt - Crime novels
- Jon Michelet
- Roy Jacobsen - This one is beautiful in its original language, not sure about the translation though: The Unseen

Most of these have some of their works translated to English.

I can now add Courtney Summers to my list! We had a brief conversation on Twitter about the new Babysitter's Club Netflix series

Do you think a Listopia or a google doc would help keep the list more organized? Listopia would show you which books you already have on your TBR, but a google doc would let you search or filter by author, genre, book title, etc. What do you think?

Fiction authors:
Anne Fine at a library talk
Jan Fortune (formerly Jan Fortune-Wood) my sister-in-law

Children’s author:
Michael Rosen library again

Non-fiction:
John Taylor Gatto (education)
Pink Dandelion (Quakerism)
Erica Burman (psychology)
Valerie Ann Worwood (aromatherapy)

Others:
Billy Bragg after a gig
Frank Turner likewise
Gok Wan accompanying daughter to a book signing
Mark Kermode university

YA distopia author Michael Kinch (I used to work with him)

Robin wrote: "Wow! What a list, were they mostly at book signings/conventions? I love Connie Willis, Naomi Novik and Jo Walton, and of course I'd love to meet Lin-Manuel."

Mostly cons and signings, yeah, plus several conversations on social media. Naomi Novik I knew before she was a published author, we were fanfic livejournal friends, lol. A couple of these are personal friends. And Lin-Manuel Miranda I chatted with for all of three seconds at the stage door after In the Heights.

Bill Clinton
T.C. Boyle

The first -- knew when I was in college.
The second -- from a book signing.

I'm sure I'll have more, but have to think about it.

Rachel wrote: "I responded to Seanan McGuire on Twitter once, but I don't think she ever replied."

Fear not, Rachel - she's on this list now! :-) I interacted with her back in the heyday of LiveJournal, but also had a chance to converse with her when she was a GoH at a convention.

Seanan McGuire
Mira Grant
Kevin Hearne
Michael R. Underwood
Lois McMaster Bujold
Larry Correia
Neve Maslakovic
Douglas Hulick
DeAnna Knippling
Dean Kenyon
Naomi Kritzer
Kelly McCullough
Lyda Morehouse
Tate Hallaway
Wesley Chu
Will Shetterly
Tamora Pierce
Mercedes Lackey
David Weber
Dave Duncan
Elizabeth Moon
Joel Rosenberg
Emma Bull
C. Robert Cargill
Anthony Eichenlaub
Laura Anne Gilman
Patrick S. Tomlinson
Melissa F. Olson
Scott Lynch
Elizabeth Bear
Paul Cornell
Adam J. Whitlatch
Tim Lieder
Steven Brust
Lou Anders
Larry Dixon
Lynn M. Thomas
Carrie Patel
Craig Cormick

(I must say - compiling this list has been one of the best & happiest moments of 2020 for me thus far. Brainstorming with the sweetie, going through my autographs, looking back through the program guides from conventions we've attended... I am buzzing with glee. Whether or not this prompt makes the list, THANK YOU, Conny, for the suggestion and the fun!!!)

I don't know how to do links, sorry.

I met Pete Buttigieg at a book signing a year ago when he was beginning his run for the presidential nomination.

Jkmays wrote: "I don't know how to do links, sorry.

I met Pete Buttigieg at a book signing a year ago when he was beginning his run for the presidential nomination."

Here you go: Pete Buttigieg

When you're typing a comment, there is an "add book/author" link above the comment box (in the browser at least, I don't think it is there in the app). Click that, and you can search for a book or for an author. Handily, when you search for one, the other tab also populates appropriately. And I only know this now because someone once kindly showed me.

I know many authors, but mostly of academic works (my husband is a professor, I worked at a university), so I'll just put the names of those who have also written popular books. I know some cookbook authors and authors of books on vegetarian nutrition, too, through my former job (corresponded with some, worked with others). I'll put a couple words about each one in case the names are not familiar.

Psychology
Philip G. Zimbardo (prison experiment)
Art Markman (leadership, career, practical)
Daniel Simons (gorilla crossing basketball court unnoticed)

Other type of books
Martha Vicinus (women & LGBT)
Dennis Baron (modern & gendered language)
Sarah Wisseman (archeological mysteries)

Food and Nutrition
Charlie Ayers (the Google chef)
Nava Atlas (vegetarian cookbooks)
Virginia Messina (vegetarian nutrition & cooking)
Mark Messina (vegetarian nutrition, soyfoods)
Heidi Swanson (cookbooks)
Reed Mangels (vegetarian nutrition)
Debra Wasserman (vegetarian cooking)

Avery wrote: "Do you think a Listopia or a google doc would help keep the list more organized? Listopia would show you which books you already have on your TBR, but a google doc would let you search or filter by..."

I think a google doc might be better because the Listopia might get REALLY long if we include every single book by every single author, which might make it harder to browse through. Unless we just list the most popular book by each author? Which could also work since people could still click on the author names.

ladymurmur wrote: "(I must say - compiling this list has been one of the best & happiest moments of 2020 for me thus far. Brainstorming with the sweetie, going through my autographs, looking back through the program guides from conventions we've attended... I am buzzing with glee. Whether or not this prompt makes the list, THANK YOU, Conny, for the suggestion and the fun!!!)"

Glad you're enjoying this :) I'm amazed at how fast this list is growing. So don't forget to upvote the prompt suggestion in the polls to make sure it's not all for nothing :D

I've been to a few signings and one festival. I've included the most well known work for each.

Naomi Novik: His Majesty's Dragon
Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair
Melissa Albert: The Hazel Wood
N. K. Jemisin: The Fifth Season
Deanna Raybourn: A Curious Beginning
Tochi Onyebuchi: Beasts Made of Night
Dhonielle Clayton: The Belles
K. Arsenault Rivera: The Tiger's Daughter

Interesting that genre writers seem to be the most accessible. Fantasy/sci-fi writers often attend conventions. Romance writers are also good about corresponding with fans. These authors are happy to talk about their characters and plots as if they are real acquaintances of the reader. I think some (not all!) literary authors are more snobby and don't like readers making suggestions about the story or characters.

I met Joanne Harris when she came to talk at my high school about her new book Runemarks back in 2007 (I didnt realise it had been that long!) She is probably most famous for Chocolat

I also met the poet Simon Armitage every summer as a child. His family all live in a local village and every summer they put on a charity play that he usually contributed to and family friends would be in the production so we would go along and support and he would always stay and chat with everyone after. It was a bit surreal when he was on the GCSE syllabus years later that I had actually met him. Last year he became the UK poet laureate as well.

Conny wrote: "Glad you're enjoying this :) I'm amazed at how fast this list is growing. So don't forget to upvote the prompt suggestion in the polls to make sure it's not all for nothing :D"

I did! Fingers crossed that it makes it...

Ive got a few to add. Larry Niven
Irene Radford

Michael Z. Williamson

Kevin Steverson

Anne Rice

Bruce Campbell

Ursula Le Guin

Clive Barker

Elizabeth Shannon