I spotted her from, oh, maybe thirty feet away as she browsed the selection at the bookstore.
I’d never met her before, but I knew who she was, and introvert though I may be, I just had to cross the distance and connect with her. With uncharacteristic boldness and excitement, I stopped beside her and broke the ice.
Who was I fangirling over?
I’ll give you a couple of clues.
- This happened about two weeks ago in Saint Louis.
- The bookstore was part of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference, an event that brings writers of all stages together to learn and connect.
- The same hotel also hosted a reader event called Storyfest that weekend.
- The woman in question was browsing the Romance table, where my books were displayed among some other fabulous titles.
- She held one of my books in her hand.
If you guessed this woman is a reader, you’re correct!
Social media—my feed at least—was filled that weekend with posts where readers gushed about meeting some of their favorite authors. Since authors also tend to be readers and avid fans of certain other writers, we certainly fangirl over our favorite authors too.
But did you know we also fangirl over readers?
You are so important to us!
We pour a lot of energy and heart into the stories we write, but we really never know how those stories will be received.
As we navigate the inevitable (though hopefully rare) low reviews or the sometimes disappointing low sales, we can start wondering if our stories are making a difference for eternity—or even just in the day-to-day of the lives of the people who pick up one of our novels. Is anyone picking them up?
People are wired for connection, and a huge joy of writing is getting to share our stories with others. Our characters help and shape us. Or, more accurately, God helps and shapes us through our characters and their stories. When that happens, it’s natural for us to hope the blessing doesn’t end with us.
We want to know people are entertained.
Bonus points if they start to think of our characters as real people!
And what higher calling is there than for a story to reveal some truth and hope to someone who needs it?
All of that happens in the hearts and minds of readers. Authors are often miles away from any impact our stories may have, so getting to read a real, live reader? It’s enough to make us giddy—and enough to encourage us to keep writing when the going gets tough.
So, if you see a writer, say hi and give us the chance to fangirl over you!
I took woefully few pictures during the conference, so I don’t have a picture of the readers from that first anecdote (when I approached the one reader I saw, she had a friend I also got to chat with), but here’s me and another reader, Vickie, who I first met online and then got to meet in person in Saint Louis.
Speaking of that bookstore meeting, the book I saw her considering is To Bring You Back, the first in my Rhythms of Redemption Romance series. Because Gannon and Adeline, the main characters in To Bring You Back, were impacted by a friend’s battle with depression and in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, I’m donating $1 to a local crisis center for each copy of To Bring You Back sold between now and the end of the month. Even better, To Bring You Back is also on sale for $2.99. So you can get a good deal and support a good cause. Shop To Bring You Back and other romances for $3 and under here.
That’s an online event, so of course, I’m not going to see you and can’t interrupt your shopping to say hello, so let me say it here. Hello! I’m grateful for you!
If you can’t make it to an event where you meet an author in person, there are other things you can do that let us know our work has made an impact—buying books, giving them as gifts, leaving reviews, posting on social media, or reaching out through email or DM to let us know what a story means to you.
Since most of those things happen through computer screens, you may not get to see the author’s reaction, but you know that excited fangirl giddiness that wells up when you meet someone important to you? You, dear readers, are important to us, and that means you can stir that feeling in the heart of a writer.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for getting attached to characters. Thank you for all the time and energy you invest in stories.
Have you met any authors in person? Which ones? Or whom would you most like to meet, and why?
I met a children’s author last year when she came to our school. I was so surprised because I had taught her children but she wasn’t writing then.
Meeting a children’s book author sounds like a fun surprise!
Fangirling is the best! I always share with my author friends about readers I get to meet in person and how honored I am that they read my books.
And I had so much fun meeting YOU at the conference! 🙂 You’re right. It’s such an honor when someone reads one of my books, and even more so when they like it enough to want to say hi!
I’ve never met any authors personally but I’d like to, I have been to events where I’ve heard authors speak though.
I do get quite excited reading these blogs and comments when it’s an author whose books I have read and enjoyed, so I don’t know how I’d cope with actually meeting them!☺️😂
I know what you mean, Ruthie. Ha! I can be downright awkward sometimes (introvert problems), especially when I’m excited to meet someone. But the good news is book lovers always have lots of common ground to give us things to talk about! I hope you get to say hi to some of your favorites soon. And thanks for being part of the Inspy Romance community!
I love meeting authors and have been blessed to attend a couple of CFRR events. I’ll never forget the first time when an author screamed and ran over to me, like the moment I got there. I was like, ummm I’m just this awkward bookworm. Why are you running to me!?
It’s been awhile since I’ve attended an event. I need to change that!!
Oh, that’s just the sweetest. I’m so glad you got the royal welcome! Awkward bookworms are some of the best people around <3 (And you're not alone, since writers are awkward bookworms, too 😉 )
I’ve met Jo Grafford, Danni Roan, and Lynn Coleman in person! I love meeting authors! I review books all the time on Goodreads and Bookbub, sometimes on Barnes and Noble and Christianbook, too. I share about books on my FaceBook page, too. I also buy books quite a bit, sometimes for gifts, sometimes just for me. Well, the ones just for me get passed around, too!
Sounds like you’re all-in when it comes to bookish community! I love how you’re sharing your love of books with others through reviews and book recommendations 🙂
welcome today. such a fun post. thanks for sharing. I have met some authors in person. They have all been in church. The last one was Dr. Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs and they shared their book: Love & Respect. Then there was Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian and his book: Beyond Sex Roles. And Bill and Pam Farrel and their books: Red-Hot Monogamy and Men are Like Waffles and Women are Like Spaghetti. We met Dr. James Dobson and have numerous of his books. These are the ones I remember off the top of my head
That’s quite a lineup of authors! So fun to have met so many!
No, I’m too much of an author at an event.
Sorry it hasn’t worked out to meet any yet!
Hi, this is a sweet post, thank you for sharing it. The only author I have met lives here in our town so that is pretty nice, I would love to meet Jane M. Auel. Have a great weekend .
I hope you get to meet Jane M. Auel! Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
Hi, Emily! What a fun post. The few authors that I have met have been at marriage enrichment conferences, nothing for fiction. It would be totally fun, though! I just finished your Rhythms of Redemption series and have Matt and Lina’s story on pre-order. I had gotten “To Bring You Back” on the recommendation of a poster here at IR and was so tickled when you joined the crew here. Each of the RoR stories has spoken to me as a reader AND as an author. I enjoy your narrative voice very much and the issues and conflicts that your characters face make me hope that my own struggles will have happy outcomes as well. I definitely read for escape but escape without truth is empty. Thank you for filling your stories with God’s hope.
Whatever the economic status of your writing journey, rest assured that the emotional and spiritual impact is clear and valued. Write on, sister! (Yeah, yeah, I know I’m old 🙂
Oops! I realized after I posted my comment that there was one more thing I wanted to add. If you are an indie publisher and can update your published content, you might want to add a reference to Celebrate Recovery to the Author’s Note at the end of “To Begin Again”. CR is a 12-step program that is explicitly Christian. While I doubt that it is as large as AA or NA, it serves the same purpose in helping those who deal with substance abuse.
You just made my day, Lincoln! Thank you so much for picking up the Rhythms of Redemption and following along with the series. I hoped to strike that balance between entertainment/escape and truth/meaning, so hearing that that came through is wonderfully encouraging.
I will make a note to add Celebrate Recovery the next time I update To Begin Again. I’d only heard a little about it at the time when I wrote the book, but your comment prompted me to look it up. I love that they are Christ-based and a “large umbrella” group, meaning they can help people who are struggling in many different areas from co-dependency to various addictions (I figure you know that, but defining it for anyone reading through comments and possibly looking for help!). I’m grateful for the suggestion!
I hope you enjoy Matt’s story. We don’t have much longer to wait now!
Emily, my husband’s good friend is doing Celebrate Recovery right now if you ever want to know more about it. He is dealing with codependency issues and going through a divorce, so yes – they are more than just substance abuse recovery.
So glad there’s a Christian group like this!
Never have meet any authors i don’t really care if I met any or not but if I did it would be an love inspired author or harlequin heartwarming author.
I hope you get to meet your favorites some day! The Love Inspired authors I’ve meet have been very kind.
I have not had the privilege of meeting any authors in person. I have communicated with a few through email. There are so many authors I am enjoying since I retired. To name just a few, Jessie Gussman, Valerie Bodden, Caryl Lawrence McAdoo, Beverly Lewis, and, of course, you. I did just order your book, To Bring You Back. I love that you are donating to a local crisis center through your sales. God bless you. ❤❤
Since readers and writers all value words so much, connecting through email is a fantastic option. And, wow, thank you! You’ve listed me among some authors I really admire! Thank you for ordering To Bring You Back. I’m grateful we can partner together to support suicide prevention in some small way!
I have never met any authors but I would love to meet Austin Dragon, he writes one if my favorite series, Liquid Cool.
I hope you get the chance, Cindi!
no, not sure
What a great post! I was at Storyfest, and met a bunch of authors. I was so intimidated, because you guys put your hearts and souls into your books, making yourselves vulnerable for us. It was amazing getting to meet so many of you (and I happened to buy that very book while I was there!)!
Are you the one who got away?! Ha! I suppose there could’ve been more than one Charity there, but I saw someone with one of my books and I didn’t say hi because I didn’t want to be pesky. Later, if you’re the Charity I’m thinking of, we interacted more on Instagram. I wish I’d said hello in person! Regardless, THANK YOU for picking up To Bring You Back! I am counting books sold at the conference toward the count for the donation toward suicide prevention efforts, so you’re part of that!
The only author that I have met in person is Brenda Novak. I would love to meet so many authors, I could not even begin to list them all. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
It’s wonderful that you’ve read so widely and have such a long list of authors you enjoy! I hope you get to meet some more!
No I haven’t. I have tried to connect with a couple of authors from WV but got the brush off. It’s nice to know some authors fangirl over their fans.
Oh, I’m sorry you got that reaction. I suppose meeting up isn’t always possible, but kindness is! Readers are vital to our success as authors, and it’s an honor when someone cares enough about a story to reach out!
I have meet a few from Australia including Narelle Atkins. I also met a few on a trip to America. Debby Guisti, Missy Tippens, Patti Jo Moore and Patty Smith took me to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. Then I meet Carrie Fancett Pagels in Williamstown. Then I went to a readers retreat with some Good Reads authors, Jill Hart, Janet Tronstad, Danica Favourite and one or two others.
I would love to meet Cheryl Wyatt because her first book had cricket in it and she knows what it is. There are quite a few others I would love to meet also.
You’ve met some great authors! And I spy an Inspy Romance author in your list! 🙂 Sounds like you’ve made some meaningful connections. And I love it when an author correctly captures something that matters to me—those are definitely authors I would enjoy getting to chat with too.
I think Nicholas Sparks is the only fiction author I’ve met. (Need to fix that!) Non-fiction I’ve met Annie F. Downs, Jordan Lee Dooley, Lisa Harper, Bob Harper, and a few other non-fiction.
If you’ve only met one, Nicholas Sparks is quite the author to meet! Those are some good non-fiction authors too.
I met Francine Rivers and Tamera Alexander years ago at a conference and at the time I wasn’t familiar with Christian fiction. I wish I’d fangirled a little more! I did get to meet Tamera later at an ACFW conference. My son actually had her husband as a professor at Belmont! I’ve also met Ray Bradbury at a talk years ago at our local university. He signed my copy of Dandelion Wine. (I have no idea where it went, though! :()
You’ve met some great authors, Anne! I can understand how meeting them before you’ve read their books wouldn’t be quite the same, though, so it’s nice you ran into Tamara Alexander again.