Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Reclusive authors

Did anyone see the story in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday about reclusive authors?

Sometimes I think I'm too public, other times not public enough.

What do you think? Are you more interested in authors whose lives are a secret, who don't tour, who are hard to find, or do you like authors who--ahem--have blogs, tour, go on radio, etc.?

Or is it ultimately about the writing anyway, so it matters not whether an author is reclusive or public?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Authors should be read - not heard.In most cases, writers' inaccessabilities are their best assets.

Anonymous said...

It's all about the writing. I'm interested in writers who are very private, and those are very public--as long as I like their writing, nothing else really matters to me.

But then, it's not often you see a writer behaving as badly in public as, say, Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan; I guess if that's my comparison point, no wonder I don't care!

Writergirl said...

I guess I have to say both. I like that some writers have websites and such, but I don't like the ones that are so out there you worry you're going to hear about their nightclub and rehab habits. Writers should stimulate the senses of their audiences, not be rock stars.

Gary L. Wade said...

I'm very interested in learning about authors such as yourself who list their ages as 250 years old! I ran across your blog amongst other Orange County, California, blogs and noticed it said you’re a 250 year old female Libra.

Anonymous said...

I'm an old soul, what can I say?

Carma Dutra said...

I think it is fine for an author to be reclusive as long as he or she is not rude.

Writers are mysterious and I think that is fine.

Anonymous said...

It's definitely all about the writing, but finding an author one likes that is also accessible (via tours, booksignings, blogs, etc) can certainly add to the enjoyment of their work!

Deborah said...

This sounds weird, I know but established authors (LeCarre, Roth, etc.) shouldn't do the promo tour - part of their attraction is their mystery. Those authors with personalities (you know who they are) are fun to listen to and watch. Then there are those who you just know are human mediums for strange spirits who possess them and they write it all down. Those folks should not got out in public.

Christina said...

It's about the art, not the artist (whether a writer, a singer, an actor, etc.). I can't understand our culture's obsession with famous people, wanting to know everything about their private lives. I do not, and I can't imagine the burden of being famous. Everyone deserves a private life -- even the well-known.