Amazon Connect

An anonymous reader writes "The New York Times is reporting that Amazon is now providing the ability for authors to reach out to their fans via blogs in a program called Amazon Connect. So far, Amazon has recruited a group of about a dozen authors, including novelists, writers of child care manuals and experts on subjects as diverse as real estate investing, science, fishing and the lyrics of the Grateful Dead. Now the authors finally have the ability to respond back to comments!

Comments

The Amazon page

[JonN]

Can be found here with the little blurb Amazon Connect is a new program currently open to a select group of authors. This program allows authors to post messages directly to their readers on a wide variety of subjects. Currently, messages will appear on the detail page of an author's book as well as on her/his profile page. As part of the program, authors may create a profile page with personalized information.

Finally news!

[JonN]

I can't remember reading an article on /. that had such few Google matches as this one.

I shall dube thee "news"

Grateful Dead

[Anonymous Coward]

Amazon has recruited ... authors ... [of] the lyrics of the Grateful Dead

Fan: Dude
Author: Duuuude
Fan: Dude!

Rachael Ray

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

Dear Amazon, Please connect me with Rachael Ray ... Thank You

Reminds me of Asimov and Piers Anthony

[Com2Kid]

Issac Asimov had, and Piers Anthony still has, very detailed author's notes in their books, something that I have always loved. When reading them, I feel like I am joining up with a larger culture, there is no way I could possibly have attended the Hugo awards in the 1950s*, but from reading Asimov's writings about them, I sure felt like I was there.

Likewise with Piers Anthony, reading his books I also got to watch as his family grew up, be there when he moved from one house to another, and experience so many other things that drew me closer to the author.

Really these author's notes were the first sort of "blog", for all intents and purposes the authors are not some sort of famous celebrities (well outside of their circle of fans), and they live pretty typical lives. The only thing different is that they managed to convince their publisher to let stick a journal entry or two in an otherwise fictional book

Having read so much in Asimov's books about Spider Robinson being a young boy, I still have trouble reconciling the fact that he is in reality an old man!

*I think it was the 50s Hugos he wrote about, it has been awhile since I read his Hugo Awards series.