Recognition out of Left Field

[Adrian]

I had a very pleasant experience yesterday.

Like (I'm guessing) most authors who engage on GR, I am no more more than moderately successful and maintain a day job to fund my writing habit. That said, I've had four novels published since 2010 and two of them were popular enough to make it into the airport book stores (which only happens to the chosen few in Australia).

But I'm still pretty obscure as a writer and when people ask what I do I always say lawyer, I never say writer.

Well, yesterday afternoon I was at a social gathering where I knew everyone except one couple. Upon being introduced, the male looked at me askance and said: "You wouldn't be Adrian Deans the writer, would you?"

"How on Earth did you know that?" I asked, amazed.

"I've read two of your books," he said. "I really enjoyed them."

Cue highly gratifying conversation...

So that's how it feels to be a famous writer! Now I just need a couple million more of such people and I'll be set.

Anyone else had that experience?

[Guy]

Not yet :-, but I can imagine that felt pretty darn good. Keep going brother.

[Nik]

Adrian wrote: "....."You wouldn't be Adrian Deans the writer, would you?"..."

That's how the fame starts :) Name recognizable by strangers is becoming a brand. Well done!

[Adrian]

Thanks Nik, and Guy.

Part of my trouble is that I'm a genre hopper. I've written three (unrelated) crime novels, a historical fiction novel, and I next have a sci-fi trilogy with the first to be published late this year.

Publishers and agents are always telling me to stick to crime to enhance my brand, but my interests are diverse and I'd like my brand to be just that - the genre hopper - like Kubrick.

The chap yesterday had read one crime novel plus my historical (which he read first). To my delight he expressed a lot of interest in the sci-fi trilogy so there ARE fans out there interested in reading different genres by single authors.

So that's my perspective - anyone else with some small experience of fame and glory?

[Nik]

Writing under a pen name, effectively derails being associated with Nik Krasno when meeting someone :)
Now a chance to meet someone who read and enjoyed my stuff would probably be in the same range as winning a lottery

[J.J.]

That alone tells you you're doing something right. Congratulations on the recognition.

[G.R.]

Part of my trouble is that I'm a genre hopper. I've written three (unrelated) crime novels, a historical fiction novel, and I next have a sci-fi trilogy with the first to be p..."

I'm a genre hopper, too. But a very, very slow one! At least you've been prolific with your hopping. Mine are still languishing on my hard drive, still evolving from legless tadpoles. Maybe one day they'll be able to stand on their own legs.

But congrats. That must be a great feeling. Makes you wonder if the ultra-successful writers get tired of it.

[Jim]

Since I routinely deposited the royalty checks sent to me from the publisher of my one and only novel in the local bank that serviced my checking and savings accounts, the teller servicing me at the time would often proclaim: "Here's our famous author!". That said; I do not believe that any of them actually purchased and read the book.

[Adrian]

Jim wrote: "Since I routinely deposited the royalty checks sent to me from the publisher of my one and only novel in the local bank that serviced my checking and savings accounts, the teller servicing me at the time would often proclaim: "Here's our famous author!". "

Oh I've been called that many times, but usually with a snigger afterwards...

[Adrian]

G.R. wrote: "But congrats. That must be a great feeling. Makes you wonder if the ultra-successful writers get tired of it."

I've often wondered about that. I never get sick of feedback and always respond to readers who track me down via PMs or through my website, but I can imagine how it might come to feel like a chore.

At this stage of my writing career, it is very far from a chore.

What would be a chore though? Reading and responding taking too much time? Having to cope with ignorant feedback?

One of my great delights is the occasional feedback or review which demonstrates the reader really got the book - penetrated its deeper textures. It almost makes up for the fact that I've earned about a cent per hour from my writing.

[G.R.]

Adrian wrote: "It almost makes up for the fact that I've earned about a cent per hour from my writing ..."

You must have rounded up! ;)

[Adrian]

At my age, I'm rounding out!