I work in a bookshop - off to the side there I've added a link to our website if anyone's interested - and we have authors come in and sign their books. Not all the big names, but a fair number. And I've observed something interesting. Most of them come in with their company manners - they realize they're meeting fans, fans buy books, authors get paid royalties when fans buy books, so authors can continue to write books. Therefore most authors are friendly with the fans, and with people working in the store.
But there are some who are "too big" or "too important" to be bothered with the little stores, although they certainly weren't when they were starting out, and who was selling their books then, hmm? And there are some authors who come to the little stores, the independents, but are too haughty and filled with self-importance to be nice. And I wonder, why do they bother? After that, I wonder why people continue to buy their books. Allowing for good writing, which can overcome pompous author attitude, why would you buy the book of someone who was rude to you? If an author really doesn't like his or her fan base, doesn't it seem counter-productive to meet them? And if your publicity department insists that you tour, can't you find it in yourself to be polite?
I've wanted to say this to some authors for a long time now. If you hate meeting your fans, then just stay at home and be a recluse and let us have our fantasies that you're a nice person, just shy. And if you're going to go out and meet people, then be nice! Act as if you're interested in your fans. If you're a mega-star in the book world, what's it gonna kill you to be nice to the little people too? Don't they buy your books? In this economy, hell in ANY economy, it just makes sense to be nice to the people who are paying you to be able to do what you like to do. After all, you could be cleaning out cages somewhere, emptying bedpans, doing all the things that have to be done but are less than popular and certainly less glamorous. So, since our money is allowing you to be rich and famous, why not be gracious along the way?
Now I've addressed this to the authors since I've met them, but I'm willing to extrapolate a bit and guess that you could substitute any high-profile, celebrity type profession in there and it would be just as true. Athlete, musician, actor, you name it. I'd even throw in politicians. None of you are absolutely necessary to our survival, you're a luxury. Never forget that. Be nice. It won't hurt you and will probably help all of us in the long run.
But don't forget, most of the authors whom I've met, and I've met quite a few, are true sweethearts and absolute darlings!
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