Tag: author

Ballard authors event Oct. 19

More than 30 Ballard-area authors gather for an event about writing and publishing Oct. 19, 7-9 p.m., at the Sunset Hill Community Center.

More than 30 Ballard-area authors gather for an event about writing and publishing Oct. 19, 7-9 p.m., at the Sunset Hill Community Center. The event includes a panel on building an audience, “Author Bingo,” and book signings.

Authors include:

  • Nicole Aloni, food writer
  • Karen G. Anderson (that would be me), technology book author
  • Erica Bauermeister, novelist
  • Rita Bresnahan, essayist
  • Sandra J. Coffman, author of children’s books and books on mental health topics
  • Jay Craig, author of the Scottish Buddhist Cookbook
  • Lowen Clausen, crime fiction author
  • Laura Cooper, author of Fishes and Dishes
  • Carl Deuker, author of fiction for young adults
  • Janna Cawrse Esarey, author of The Motion of the Ocean
  • Kevin Emerson, author of the Oliver Nocturne books
  • Phil & Kaja Foglio, authors of comics including Girl Genius
  • Liz Gallagher, author of The Opposite of Invisible
  • Carol Hiltner, author of The Altai Chronicles
  • Donald Kentop, poet
  • Nina Laden, children’s book author
  • Kristine Leander, author of Norwegian Seattle
  • Carol Levin, poet
  • Corbin Lewars, nominee for a 2011 PNBA award for her memoir
  • Christy McDanold, owner of Secret Garden Books
  • Scott McCredie, journalist
  • Paul Michel, fiction writer
  • Julie Pheasant-Albright, author of historical non-fiction
  • Ingrid Ricks, journalist and memoir author
  • Julie Reinhardt, author of  She-Smoke: A Backyard Barbecue Book
  • Michael Schein, novelist, poet & playwright
  • Peggy Sturdivant, co-author of the new non-fiction title Out of Nowhere
  • Darrell Toland, producer of the web comic Stix and Bones
  • Marjorie Young, novelist
  • Allan Wenzel, historian and non-fiction author

OK! OK! I’ll blog

Do you think people see the term ‘author’ as more established, and ‘writer’ as more wannabe?

I’ve been roundly chided for neglecting my three blogs, but, I tell you, it’s discouraging to forge on in social media activities after this recent survey about Twitter success:

In Part I of “What Gets You Twitter Followers,” Andrew Chapman of Hatmandu.net analyzes the profiles of thousands of Twitterers.

The initial results are not surprising: People who provided a URL, use an avatar, and have a bio or description in their profile have more followers than those who don’t.

But then he began to look at the words used in the Twitters’ profile text. He reports: “The only words in the top 50 or so terms associated with above-average follower counts were: blogger (2323 – remember the average was 1449), artist (1692), girl (1711), fan (1712), author (3681), entrepreneur (2663), director (1683), marketer (2541), expert (4273) and singer (2300).”

What you may have noticed, as I did, is the absence of the word “writer.”

“Although author gets 3681, writer gets only 906 – maybe people see ‘author’ as more established, and writer as more wannabe?” Chapman muses.

The lack of glamour attached to the term “writer” reminded me of a comment made by a literary type I knew in college. We were walking down the street on a cold New England evening after having extricated another friend — an up-and-coming musician — from a crowd of admiring groupies. The aspiring writer was whining.

“It’s not like I can invite people over to my apartment to watch me write,” he fumed.

Now, back to work (blogging on behalf of clients). I promise to resume blogging here on a regular basis. Though if someone were to send a box of chocolates ’round to my dressing room, it might help…

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