Amazon Kindle's New @Author Feature – A New Way For Readers and Authors To Connect

Amazon is testing out what I think is an awesomely cool feature for the Kindle that will allow Kindle users to post questions, comments, etc. to the author of the book they're reading. It's called @author.

The long and short of what it can do is that when you're reading a book on your Kindle, if you have something you want to ask or say to the author, you just highlight the passage of interest, enter your question (comment, whatever), beginning with "@author," and then save/share it. The message will be posted through Twitter (so yes, to use the feature you'll need to have a Twitter account), and will appear in the @author section of the author's Amazon author page. And if you're not on your Kindle, you can also head to the person's author page on Amazon and enter the question/comment there.

It wasn't specified, but I assume once they get the kinks worked out, the various Kindle apps will also sport the new @author feature.

Right now it's in beta testing, and only twelve authors are in on the gig. You'll likely know some or all of their names, but I was particularly pleased to see that self-published authors are well represented, and include Joe Konrath, John Locke, and Scott Nicholson.

For full details, scope out the @author page.

Just remember, though: you don't have to wait until this program opens up to other authors before you ask questions about their books! If you've got a question or comment about any of mine, feel free to email me, send me a tweet, or post something on my Facebook page.

Related Posts:Blogging: How Important Is It?Who's Your Favorite Hero?The Joys of Technology!