Years ago, author Allison Trowbridge (Twenty-Two) received a message from a reader: “I’m in London! Can I meet you?” Trowbridge agreed, but had no idea how much the experience would end up affecting her. “The opportunity to connect and see firsthand the impact my book had in even just one young woman’s life made all the struggles of writing and launching the book worth it,“ Trowbridge told me. “I was burned out and exhausted walking in, but I left that interaction realizing I would be writing books for the rest of my life.” Author Alex Temblador (Secrets of the Casa Rosada, Half Outlaw now available for pre-order) had a similar experience when she met a 17-year-old girl whose favorite book was Temblador’s first novel, Secrets of the Casa Rosada — the story of a 16-year-old girl who moves to Laredo, Texas, to live with her Abuela who she never even knew existed. “She said it made her feel so seen and understood in a way that no other book had,” Temblador told me. In fact, it was the very first book this high school student ever owned. “It was a beautiful experience and one that I will never forget,” Temblador said about not only meeting the teenager, but also her family. “I realized that my book was meaningful to this girl in so many ways that went well beyond the story I told.” I talked to Temblador and Trowbridge — who is also the founder and CEO of Copper, a new app that brings authors and readers together — about why interacting with readers is as just as meaningful to authors as it is to readers. However you decide to reach out to authors, if you do it in a way that’s genuine and respectful, you’ll be creating memorable moments not only for you, but also for the writers who bring you the books you love. In Temblador’s case, not only did her YA novel, Secrets of the Casa Rosada help a high school student feel seen, but a short story she recently published — one that she told me “discusses the cultural barriers in medicine in an almost satirical way” — prompted a professional therapist to reach out to her and ask if he could incorporate the story into his training of therapists who work with Latine immigrants. “I couldn’t believe that my work was actually going to be used in a way that bettered the lives of Latines in a tangible way,” Temblador said, adding that any positive feedback from readers is the boost authors need to keep writing. She’s interested in even the smallest insights. “I love how readers pick up on things that you intended to write in your books and then point out other things that you did unconsciously.” “Of course, you hope that your writing alone will make a difference for others,” Trowbridge said, “but it’s an entirely different experience to actually receive direct feedback from a reader, hear how your story resonates with someone else’s, and really get to connect on a human level with someone who has made the investment to read what you’ve written.” “There’s so much more encouragement and fulfillment that comes from direct connection with your readers,” Trowbridge told me. In fact, one of the primary purposes of her app, Copper, is to help authors “build genuine depth and connection with readers.” “Every author I’ve talked to, whether a first-timer or multi-bestseller,” Trowbridge said, “has expressed frustration with the launch process and lack of genuine connection with readers.” Why does this matter? For one thing, it helps them establish and grow their author platform, which the New York Book Editors blog defines as the ability authors have to reach people who may buy their book. The bigger an author’s platform is, the less risk a publisher takes in offering them a deal. “I don’t think it’s a secret that publishers like authors who are willing to participate in events and connect with readers,” Temblador told me, “because it is a marketing tool that can have positive results for both author and publisher.” For example, readers are probably more likely to buy the books of writers they’ve actually met. Not only does this help authors earn more royalties, but good book sales along with author platforms are both factors publishers consider when offering an author more book deals. All of this affects us, too. The more successful an author is, the more they’ll be able to keep writing and publishing the work that we love. If your favorite authors don’t live in your town, look for virtual readings, literary panels, discussions, and festivals. Temblador told me she’s connected with many readers through virtual events. It was clear to me that both Temblador and Trowbridge hold their interactions with readers close to their hearts — so much so that Trowbridge even created an app around it. If you’re still unsure about why your favorite author wants to connect with you, Temblador sums it up this way: “There are a billion books that readers can choose from — so when a reader chooses to read my books, I feel especially honored, and I want to show my gratitude by sharing what I can. Whether that means answering questions about the book or explaining my writing process, I’m happy to do so. I see connecting with readers as one of the best perks of being an author.”
