Yahoo Image Search
Confession: I don’t really get a lot of fan reactions beyond reviews and private emails telling me what I did wrong. On the plus side, I still find out when some people reach the end of Prodigy of Rainbow Tower. For those that got to the end of that, you probably know what I’m getting yelled at for. Guess the emails count as Fan Mail. Anyway, it means I really don’t know too much about these special rewards. In truth, I see other authors get these and sit there wondering if it will ever happen to me. Not so much jealousy, but a ‘I hope get that one day’ mentality.
That brings me to this ‘reward’ that I rarely see and most times that I do it’s in regards to one specific author. Shannon A Thompson posts when someone on Twitter quotes one of her books. I don’t even know how to explain how this one would make me feel. Not a bad sensation, but I’ve rambled about connections and touching the reader during the other posts. This is something that doesn’t take as much time as the previous honors, but it is very smile-inducing.
It isn’t too hard to figure out why this would be such a great thing for an author. We see quotes by famous authors and characters all over the Internet. Many of those become immortal phrases, so joining those ranks feels like you’ve hit a hidden milestone. Part of your book made such an impact that somebody decided to share it. For some reason, this is a really big thing on Twitter where retweets are common. Especially if a celebrity does the initial quote.
I know this is an odd one since it’s so rare, but that might be what makes it even more special. Truthfully, I don’t know if this can work for everyone. I couldn’t think of any quote from my books that would fit in a 140 character system like Twitter. Maybe a few of the barbs that Nyx and the others throw at Luke when he’s doing something stupid . . . they really let him have it a few times in The Compass Key. Yet those fall out of context, which is important. So it’s really something special when this happens.
This happen to anyone else? Have you ever fallen in love with a quote from a book and used it?
Legends of Windemere 
I only use quotes from really old books myself. Not sure why…. AND you have gotten some really nice reviews, anyway. (I know, because I’ve read them!) . I always had the secret dream of people recognizing me, Like Nora Roberts. That will never happen, but then again, it won’t happen for most writers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. Most writers seem to remaining in a quiet niche, which is strange since people seem to think the majority are big names. Seriously, I don’t think a lot of people realize how many authors are actually out there.
LikeLike
All the time! Odd phrases to whole chunks… I doubt any reader can avoid it, and then, as a writer, it is those things that form the backbone of both inspiration and aspiration perhaps; to touch readers that way.
The first time anyone ever quoted something of mine ( and it doesn’t happen often!) I saw it online and remember sitting gawping like a goldfish, then wanting to bounce up and down like a child 🙂 It’s a weird feeling .. but a good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool. Maybe I’ll get that feeling one day. I don’t think my books are that quotable though.
LikeLike
You’d be surprised… odd things touch people and really mean something to them.. or spark a train of thought or understanding. I think the reblogs we get on here for the written pieces carry a similar feeling too.
LikeLike
well Put. Rock on!
Re: jAMES
LikeLike
I saw some quotes from my book in someone’s review of it. That made me feel good. That certain phrases were worthy of expounding upon. There is one line by Sybil that I have seen quoted more than once. It was a relationship break-up line: “The greatest gift we can give someone is the freedom to choose their own happiness.” Don’t see them often though. I can’t think of any other line worthy of quoting. I think it’s hard to quote anything that’s not written in first person POV.
LikeLike
I think I have a few quips in my books that can be used. Dialogue seems to be the easier thing to quote.
LikeLike
I used to use “and so it goes” from Kurt Vonnegut. Haven’t done it for a while.
LikeLike
I have a friend who uses that quote from time to time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t, but then again I am really terrible at remembering names, quotes and a host of other things. Wow, I hope this isn’t the beginning of something serious. 🙂
LikeLike
Same here. Even the quotes that I swear I’ll remember become a problem.
LikeLike
I’ve used quotes from books a lot. it is a nice affirmation for an author.
LikeLike
I’m getting that. Funny that I never really thought about quoting books for anything other than school assignments. Those don’t count.
LikeLike
Thank you for linking to my website and talking about this topic! I never thought anyone could take quotes from my novels either, but alas – they did. It will happen. :] And like another commenter said, it is a really strange but nice feeling. I’ve always been surprised at the quotes that stuck out to readers, but in a good way. Great post!
~SAT
LikeLike
You’re welcome. I’m always wowed when you post about it happening. Especially some of the high profile Twitter feeds that do it. Hope you get more of those because they’re really cool.
LikeLike
BTW, I just nominated you for the Lovely Blogger Award today on my FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonAThompson
~SAT
LikeLike
Thanks. I’m honored. Though I don’t do the blogger awards. Sorry about that.
LikeLike
That’s okay. I don’t really do them either (well, at least how you’re supposed to do them.) That’s why I post them on my FB page instead of my blog. :]
~SAT
LikeLike
I was wondering why I went there. 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Charles, can encouraging comments on here be counted as ‘fan mail’? I’ve yet to read your Windermere books but will be sure to write once they have arrived and been absorbed, I shall note any quote-worthy lines when I do so.
It is clear from some of the responses on your blog that you have fans in abundance, I for one, am a great admirer of yours, you have a compelling style and personable quality to your writing that makes you more accessible than most. I love your poems, enjoy most articles and am often delighted with your witty banter as well as the plethora of Windermere information (that I think of as appendices to your mythology).
There are many quotes fro a variety of literature that I note and occasionally use (one in particular, by Leo Tolstoy: ‘If you want to be happy: Be.’) and have an ongoing project (oh, so many projects!), like a miscellany, where I quote and then give my thoughts, either about the quote (or writer) itself or what may have been inspired by such (note to self, must get on with this, and start posting some too!).
Good post, Charles, much to ponder. Keep smiling and keep writing, hugs from your fan, Baldy!
LikeLike
Not sure about blog comments. That’s definitely something because it means people want to interact with you. Probably closer to having guests at a signing or convention appearance.
I really hope those books show up soon. It’s been months.
LikeLike
There’s a gazillion quotes on the goodreads blog
LikeLike
I do tweet about books that excite me, but I don’t use direct quotes for exactly the reason you give. And it would be pretty exciting if somebody tweeted about one of my books, for sure!
LikeLike
Maybe it’ll happen some day. Or Twitter will make it more than 140 characters. 🙂
LikeLike