how to meet an author

If you are going to a book signing or a conference where you will be meeting authors, here are a few possible conversation starters:

1. "I loved your book, x." It is always appropriate to say this. Authors never get tired of hearing it. If you haven't actually read the book, however, there is a small danger in saying this. I have been known to ask readers questions about the book they mention, not in an attempt to see if they have read it, but to figure out what my readership likes about certain books more than other books. If you know enough to squeak by here, then you're fine lying. It is probably preferred.

2. "I loved your panel/presentation." If you're at a conference, this is easier to say if you haven't actually read the author's books yet, but are now planning to because of how wonderful they were in person. You could even say, "I'm going to buy your book right now because I loved what you said."

3. "I am so excited to read your book. It's at home waiting for me. I just got it in the mail, but then I had to come to this conference." The great thing about this comment is that it doesn't require you to know anything about the book, but it's a nice thing to say and who will know if you are lying? It sounds like you are interested, so you can talk to the author about the business or about the conference.

4. "Excuse me. I know I should know who you are, but I don't. Could you tell me what books you have written so I can go find them?" This is an obviously honest question, and there is nothing wrong with it. You may feel like an idiot, but I doubt many authors would be offended by this. A friend of a friend who came to dinner with me recently asked it, and I was pretty sure he didn't know who I was, so I actually appreciated the chance to tell him.

Some other tips:

1. If you meet an author cold after a panel or presentation, feel free to chat for 3-5 minutes in the hallway. More than that and the author may feel like you are taking too much time. You might possibly hit it off immediately, but I would recommend saying after 5 minutes something like, "Do you need to go somewhere else?" to give the author an out if he/she would like one.

2. Bathrooms are neutral space. You do not recognize or meet people in the bathroom. Even if you have just seen them in a panel, you wait until outside the bathroom door for an introduction. The most you could do is meet eyes and smile politely.

3. If you have already met an author on one occasion at a conference/convention, beware of appearing stalker-like by continuing to chat him/her up at every convention event where you both happen to be. Again, a nod and a polite greeting in passing is all that is required. Let the author invite you into a conversation if he/she wishes to do so.

4. At a signing, you should limit your interaction to one minute if there are others standing in line behind you. If there is a long line, that's all you get. If it is a shorter line, you could potentially come back later and chat for a little longer. If an author is at a signing, he/she is likely to be interested in chatting because otherwise boredom may set in.

5. Emailing an author after you have met is perfectly fine. Don't be offended if they don't respond, however. And also don't assume they will remember you. They meet lots of people (well, not me, but you know--other authors :)). Just add a line about where you met and possibly some identifiers, like "the girl with the blue hair." Something distinct if possible.

6. Don't ask an author to read your manuscript unless you have known him/her for a long time, like several years. And even so, he/she may not have the time to do so. If you want to be subtle, you could bring up a manuscript idea you are working on and then let the author make the suggestion to read a manuscript. If you have a book that is to be published, the rules are different. Feel free to ask an author to read an ARC and give you a quote. I'm not saying you will get a quote, but you can ask. Make sure that you state up front that you don't expect a nice quote if the book isn't their cup of tea (a gentler way of saying "hate").