Launching Today: Goodreads Q&A! Ask Your Favorite Author or Fellow Readers Questions on Goodreads!

Posted by Patrick Brown on May 21, 2014


If you could ask Margaret Atwood, Khaled Hosseini, or James Patterson anything, what would it be? Maybe you want to know their writing inspiration, what they read as a guilty pleasure, or you have a burning question about one of their bestsellers. Now's your chance because these three are among the 54 major authors who are helping us launch an exciting new program on Goodreads—Ask the Author!

Ask the Author allows readers to ask questions and get answers from their favorite authors. At Goodreads, we believe the relationship between authors and readers is very special. Authors tell stories and create worlds that spark the imaginations of their readers. Now readers can deepen that connection by asking questions about the new worlds, ideas, and people they've discovered in books.

Starting today, you can submit your questions directly to any of the 54 authors participating in the Ask the Author launch. (Full list below!) If an author answers your question you'll be notified, and every answer will be shared on the author's page so that other readers can enjoy them, too. In the coming weeks, all of the 100,000+ authors in the Goodreads Author program will be able to opt in to the feature. (To check whether an author is participating, visit his or her author profile and look for the "Ask the Author" section.)

We asked international bestselling author Dan Brown a question of our own about his thoughts on Ask the Author. His answer: "One of the most rewarding things about being an author is hearing from readers. I love engaging in dialogue with them, and I'm excited to have a brand-new way to stay truly connected with my fans. I'm looking forward to discussing writing, secret codes, ancient mysteries, and anything else that comes up with the Goodreads community. Then, of course, I will need to get back to writing because the most common reader question I get seems to be: 'When is the next book coming, Dan?'"

Reader Q&A

Of course, fellow readers are an endless source of book knowledge, too! So, we're also starting to roll out Reader Q&A over the coming weeks to provide our passionate, opinionated, and curious community with another way to connect over the love of books.

Reader Q&A for The Goldfinch


Reader Q&A for The Power of Habit


Reader Q&A for Night Film


Once Reader Q&A is activated for you, you'll find a new Reader Q&A section on every book page, just below your friends' reviews. When other readers start responding to a question, Goodreads members can click "like" on the answers they find most interesting, and the best ones will rise to the top.

To try out Reader Q&A, go to the book page for your favorite book or a book you've just read and submit a question for the Goodreads community. You can also look for questions to answer! If Reader Q&A is not yet showing for you, it will be coming shortly!

We'll be opening up Ask the Author to all Goodreads Authors in the coming weeks, but right now you can ask a question of any of the following authors:

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERS
Isabel Allende
Author of The House of Spirits
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Margaret Atwood
Author of The Handmaid's Tale
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Dan Brown
Author of The Da Vinci Code
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Deepak Chopra
Author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
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Khaled Hosseini
Author of The Kite Runner
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James Patterson
Author of Kiss the Girls
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FICTION
Michael Cunningham
Author of The Hours
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Kristin Hannah
Author of Firefly Lane
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James McBride
Author of The Color of Water
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Liane Moriarty
Author of What Alice Forgot
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Jojo Moyes
Author of Me Before You
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B.J. Novak
Author of One More Thing
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Robin Sloan
Author of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
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Jeff VanderMeer
Author of Annihilation
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Ayelet Waldman
Author of Red Hook Road
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Jesmyn Ward
Author of Salvage the Bones
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NONFICTION
Mark Bittman
Author of How to Cook Everything
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Geoff Dyer
Author of Another Great Day at Sea
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Tim Ferriss
Author of The 4-Hour Work Week
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Daniel Goleman
Author of Emotional Intelligence
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Arianna Huffington
Author of Third World America
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Anne Lamott
Author of Bird by Bird
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Frances Mayes
Author of Under the Tuscan Sun
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Michael Pollan
Author of The Omnivore's Dilemma
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Gretchen Rubin
Author of The Happiness Project
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YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN'S
Laurie Halse Anderson
Author of Speak
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Holly Black
Author of Tithe
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Sarah Dessen
Author of Just Listen
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Rebecca Donovan
Author of Reasons to Breathe
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Susan Ee
Author of Angelfall
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Gayle Forman
Author of If I Stay
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Jeff Kinney
Author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
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E. Lockhart
Author of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks
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MYSTERY & THRILLERS
David Baldacci
Author of Absolute Power
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Joseph Finder
Author of Paranoia
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Douglas Preston
Author of Relic
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S.J. Watson
Author of Before I Go to Sleep
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ROMANCE
Bella Andre
Author of The Look of Love
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Kresley Cole
Author of A Hunger Like No Other
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Sylvia Day
Author of Reflected in You
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Barbara Freethy
Author of Just the Way You Are
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Christina Lauren
Author of Beautiful Bastard
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FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION
Kevin J. Anderson
Author of Jedi Search
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Jim Butcher
Author of Storm Front
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Warren Ellis
Author of Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1
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Lev Grossman
Author of The Magicians
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Laurell K. Hamilton
Author of Guilty Pleasures
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Brian Herbert
Author of The Butlerian Jihad
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Hugh Howey
Author of Wool
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Sherrilyn Kenyon
Author of Styxx
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Bob Mayer
Author of Lost Girls
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Richelle Mead
Author of Vampire Academy
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John Scalzi
Author of Old Man's War
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Michael J. Sullivan
Author of Theft of Swords
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Is your favorite author missing from the list above? Let us know which author you'd like to ask a question of in the comments below and we'll pass on the message!


Comments Showing 251-300 of 320 (320 new)


message 251: by Gemma (new)

Gemma I'd really love to pick the brains of Emmy Laybourne or Allen Zadoff :-)


message 252: by Laurel (new)

Laurel Druce Helene Wecker - The Golem and the Jinni. That was one of the most unusual and beautiful books I've ever read.

Vanessa Diffenbaugh - The Language of Flowers - I look at flowers differently now.

Great new feature.


message 253: by Raven (new)

Raven I'd love to ask Trenton Lee Stewart (author of The mysterious Benedict Society) a question. He is an artist when it comes to writing and story telling. Trenton Lee StewartThe Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma


message 254: by Therese (new)

Therese I would love to speak with:

Cornelia Funke
and
Megan Whalen Turner


message 255: by Petra (new)

Petra G.R.R.M !!!


message 256: by Ihsan (new)

Ihsan Ibrahim Paulo Coelho and Meg Cabot please.


message 257: by Kyra (new)

Kyra Cassandra Clare
Markus Zusak
Rick Riordan


message 258: by Pallavi (new)

Pallavi Paulo Coelho
Jeffery Archer
JK Rowling


message 259: by Glacebel Kaye (new)

Glacebel Kaye Cello Sounds great especially that James Patterson is going to answer my questions! Im so waiting for this! :D


message 260: by Laurel (new)

Laurel Druce Has anyone suggested Daniel Silva, author of the Gabriel Allon series? I have lots of questions for him.


message 261: by Jeannette (new)

Jeannette Tollstrup Now this is a brilliant idea!! In addition to the authors above, please add Natasha Mostert. I loved Season of the Witch, The Midnight Side and Keeper of Light and Dust. Hope she's working on something new.


message 262: by Eli (last edited Jun 07, 2014 07:23PM) (new)

Eli Mandel I'd love to ask both George Saunders and Nathan Englander how they write so sparingly; do they start out by writing that way, or do they meander and then edit it down, like the rest of us mortals?


message 263: by Tibby (new)

Tibby Pepper Ben Hatke


message 264: by Marjorie (new)

Marjorie Rommel What a great resource for writers! I work with a group of teen writers, many of whom have already written at least one full-length novel and one whose novel has been published. They are going to so LOVE this direct communication opportunity!


message 265: by Ruty (new)

Ruty Where is J.K. Rowling?


message 266: by Marjorie (new)

Marjorie Rommel Where's Aprilynne whatsername who wrote WINGED, and three others in that wildly original series?


message 267: by emma (new)

emma Rebecca Stead
John Green
JK Rowling
Veronica Roth
Suzanne Colins
Rick Riordan
Thank you, this is AWESOME!


message 268: by Kim (new)

Kim Hamblin I haven't had time to read all the comments, but I haven't seen James Lee Burke on the list, nor have I seen Lee Child or Abraham Verghese, whose Cutting for Stone is the first book I ever recommend to anyone. Too bad Bryce Courtenay has left us.


message 269: by Marjorie (new)

Marjorie Rommel Colum McCann, a marvelous companion for Cormac McCarthy, and Martha Grimes, author of a whole bushel of English counryside murders written by an unrepentent American, though you'd never know. I just read her The Black Cat again -- this one's got a trio of murders (lots of high-class shoes involved here), a dog named Mungo, and a trio of black cats, one of whom is named Shroedinger. Mungo's favorite black cat is perfectly able to communicate with him, in surprisingly sophisticated language and ideas, but neither can figure out how to get detective Richard Jury's attention. Have I got questions? Ooooohhhh yeah!


message 270: by Margo R. (last edited Jun 10, 2014 07:34PM) (new)

Margo R. I would love to see Elin Hildebrand on Ask the Author. I can't get enough of her books!


message 271: by Natalia (new)

Natalia Jimenez Great!!!


message 272: by Faithwing (new)

Faithwing John Green pls..... and David Levithan


message 273: by Theresa (new)

Theresa Southam I'd like to ask Susan Powers, Louise Errich and Barbara Kingsolver questions.


message 274: by Oné (new)

Oné Pagán How do you use the "Word of mouth feature"? I set up a group to discuss my new popular science book and I would like to publicize it... Thanks!


message 275: by Lily (last edited Jun 18, 2014 10:26AM) (new)

Lily Rick Riordan
John Flanagan
Shannon Hale
E.D. Baker and
Jessica Day George
are all good authors to add.
Maybe even Justin Blaney.


message 276: by Ezra (new)

Ezra I would like to ask these authors question just to name a few.
John Green
Kiera Cass
Ally Condie
Suzanne Collins


message 277: by Julie (new)

Julie Gribble This is a fantastic feature - Good thinkin' Goodreads! ;-)


message 278: by Christel (new)

Christel Taylor Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Orson Scott Card to name a few. Sadly, I would have loved to have talked to Ray Bradbury (and others who are no longer with us).


message 279: by Romy (new)

Romy J. K. Rowling maybe!!?????


message 281: by vic (new)

vic I would like to have the opportunity to ask questions of the following young adult authors...

John Green
Veronica Roth
Cassandra Clare
JK Rowling
Rick Riordan
SE Hinton
Suzanne Collins
Kami Garcia
James Dashner
Pittacus Lore
Lauren Oliver


message 282: by Mary (new)

Mary I would like to ask questions to:
Rick Riordan ( wrong spelling)
Veronica Roth
J.K. Rowling
Stephanie Meyer
Meg Cabbot

This is just a few. I will add more soon so be warned!!!! ( jk but i will add more soon)


message 283: by Ashlyn (new)

Ashlyn Marissa Meyer
Lisa Tawn Bergren
Tui T Sutherland
Robin McKinley
Gail Carson Levine


message 284: by [deleted user] (new)

I would really like to see Rick Riodorion and the Erin Hunters please


message 285: by Megan (new)

Megan Rick Riordan!!!!!!!


message 286: by Tibby (new)

Tibby Pepper Rick Riordan
JK Rowling
John Green


message 287: by Kim (new)

Kim Hamblin Theresa wrote: "I'd like to ask Susan Powers, Louise Errich and Barbara Kingsolver questions." Yes on Barbara Kingsolver.


message 288: by Sohini (new)

Sohini Neil Gaiman, Stephan Chobsky, and JK Rowling to begin with.


message 289: by Julian (new)

Julian Kosacki I would love to ask James clavell a question!!


message 290: by Ketaki (new)

Ketaki JKRowling, Patrick Rothfuss, and George RR Martin, to name a few!


message 291: by Reyna (new)

Reyna I would just love to see the following authors included in the list:

- John Green
- Veronica Roth
- Ellen Hopkins
- Rainbow Rowell
- Suzanne Collins
- Rick Riordan

It would be extraordinary if I had the chance to ask these brilliant authors about their inspiring literature!


message 292: by Anindya Rachma (new)

Anindya Rachma Puspitasari Oh my gosh this is AMAZINGGG!! :D
Please let Meg Cabot, Brian Selznick, and Suzanne Collins join this awesome program :D


message 293: by Ann (new)

Ann Finally someone said Rick Riordan!!!


message 294: by Ann (new)

Ann Autumn wrote: "I would love some middle grade fantasy authors, such as Shannon Hale, Gail Carson Levine, Jessica Day George, E.D. Baker. I'd love to ask them some questions."

YES!!! just add Rick Riordan!!


message 295: by Dale (new)

Dale How about some more Christian authors such as Karen Kingsbury, Gilbert Morris, Tim LaHaye, Dr. Dobson, Joyce Meyer, Phillip Yancy, Bruce Wilkerson, or Mark Driscoll.


message 296: by Gloria (new)

Gloria Messenger Love is approachability your offering. Great work!
As an author and Goodreads member, please consider my book -A Mirroring Discovery with Angel Visitations! I would be delighted to take questions. I channelled this book from The Angels of The Light in just 33 days. Several more books in the works. warm regards - Gloria Messenger


message 297: by Sharmyn (new)

Sharmyn (Lumsden) Lilly I'd love to see Jodi Picoult added to the list! This is a great start already. Thank you, Goodreads!


message 298: by Ana (new)

Ana I've read all of Marie Donovan's books and haven't seen anything new by her lately. I would love to know what what is going on and if she's still writing.


message 299: by Alexa (new)

Alexa Bedolla Jennifer armentrout, taherhe mafi, Jamie McGuire, john green, Tammara Webber, and of course, Cassandra Clare although I think I missed that opportunity.


message 300: by Shea (new)

Shea Cassandra Clare and Michael Grant PLEASE!


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