I hope this isn't going to be a trend...
HarperCollins has released a multi-media version of an ebook that will allow the author to "pop up onscreen at various points in the novel to talk candidly about the plot's turning points and her vivid characters."
To be fair to the author, I have no idea whether this was something she agreed with or not. I imagine that authors get suckered into doing all sorts of things once they've signed a contract. And I've not seen the completed product, so I have no idea just how "candidly" she talks about anything, but good lord, I really don't want to hear from the author while I'm reading a book. I want to interpret things for myself, thank you very much. I don't want the author popping up mid-book to direct my reading experience or to "candidly" tell me anything. If it's important for me to know, it should be on the page. (Can you imagine if JKR had the freedom to turn up amidst the pages of the HP novels? "No! No! Why do you people love Snape? It's the bad boy thing, isn't it? Or you're confusing the actor and the character, aren't you?" Tsks "Well, you just stop that right now. It's unhealthy!" ~snerk~)
After I've read a book and formed my own opinion, then I might be curious about what the author has to say. But until then, I prefer my reading experience to be between me and the book.
And we're a little over half the way through assigning the prompts for the sshg_exchange. We've been tearing our hair out trying to make sure that everyone gets something that they can at least work with they'll be happy with. That's not always easy.
Also, the voting as started at the Quill to Parchment Awards, and sshg316 has posted a very nice HG/SS "Support Our Ship" summary here. Yes, I have a story nominated, but it's up against some very good competition, so I'm not holding my breath. ;)
To be fair to the author, I have no idea whether this was something she agreed with or not. I imagine that authors get suckered into doing all sorts of things once they've signed a contract. And I've not seen the completed product, so I have no idea just how "candidly" she talks about anything, but good lord, I really don't want to hear from the author while I'm reading a book. I want to interpret things for myself, thank you very much. I don't want the author popping up mid-book to direct my reading experience or to "candidly" tell me anything. If it's important for me to know, it should be on the page. (Can you imagine if JKR had the freedom to turn up amidst the pages of the HP novels? "No! No! Why do you people love Snape? It's the bad boy thing, isn't it? Or you're confusing the actor and the character, aren't you?" Tsks "Well, you just stop that right now. It's unhealthy!" ~snerk~)
After I've read a book and formed my own opinion, then I might be curious about what the author has to say. But until then, I prefer my reading experience to be between me and the book.
And we're a little over half the way through assigning the prompts for the sshg_exchange. We've been tearing our hair out trying to make sure that everyone gets something that they can at least work with they'll be happy with. That's not always easy.
Also, the voting as started at the Quill to Parchment Awards, and sshg316 has posted a very nice HG/SS "Support Our Ship" summary here. Yes, I have a story nominated, but it's up against some very good competition, so I'm not holding my breath. ;)