What's Cool About Indie: Blogathon, Day 9 & ROW80 Update

What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though. J.D. Salinger
I saw this quote today while surfing the Internet. As I was nodding my head in agreement while reading it, something dawned on me... since I read a lot of indie books lately, I often get to pick the brain of the author. How cool is that!! I get to be a fan AND contact the author. 
What I wouldn't give to be able to call up Markus Zusak and discuss The Book Thief or Judy Blume (my favorite author from back when) to talk about any of her books. But those authors aren't as accessible as my indie author friends.
It's just one of many reasons that Indie Rocks!
And speaking of indie... my YA book, Chasing Memories, is finally available on Kindle . *woot* 
I'm so excited to start getting reader reaction. I want to talk about it! I feel like it's a secret I've been keeping but dying to tell someone about.
But, now I need to get to writing the sequel. It's in my head, and I have lots of notes. First, I have to get through next week and this move (movers come in less than 24 hours!). I can't remember when the next A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) starts, but writing the sequel will be my main focus when it does.
Hope all my Blogathon and ROW80 friends are having a great month!
For fun, if you could pick the brain of any author, who would it be?