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How to send a 'fan letter' these days!

(15 Posts)
schnackie Wed 11-Jul-18 10:51:53

I'm obviously having too much free time on my hands, but there are so-called famous people whose work I genuinely enjoy, and would like to write an old fashioned fan letter, letting them know. I'm thinking authors mostly. Does anyone know how a person goes about finding contact information these days? I guess it's all email, which is fine but I don't know if you go through a publisher, agent or what. I'm not keen on using Twitter.

grannyactivist Wed 11-Jul-18 10:56:59

Perhaps this will help?
contactanauthor.co.uk/

Eglantine21 Wed 11-Jul-18 11:00:43

A letter c/o the Publishers will get there, though not very quickly. They collate and send them on every month or so.

Be aware they will probably open and read it first, so as not to send on any abusive or upsetting mail.

Authors are writers! They will always enjoy a well written letter of appreciation 😁

DanniRae Wed 11-Jul-18 12:39:00

I sent a fan letter to Colin Firth after he was Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. My daughter had bought me a book on the making of the tv programme and I sent it via the publishers.
Much to my delight and amazement many months later I received a reply from him and a signed photo of him as Mr Darcy.
I still have them both and the photo is in a frame........I think I was a little bit obsessed by Colin (as I call him) and was certain that he lived near me and that I was going to bump into him in my local park. I'm over him now (well mostly wink)

schnackie Wed 11-Jul-18 15:47:39

Thanks!

Suki70 Wed 11-Jul-18 16:29:21

DanniRae my DiL was a background actor in the film The Mercy and chatted to Colin Firth between takes. She said he was friendly, pleasant and completely 'normal' with everyone. No need to be 'over him' just yet!

Melanieeastanglia Wed 11-Jul-18 18:09:27

I imagine that, if you sent a letter to the publishers, an author would receive it.

LiltingLyrics Wed 11-Jul-18 18:51:55

schnackie It's not indicative of having too much time. People, however famous, still like to know that their work is enjoyed. I'm sure I am not alone in being sad that the art of letter writing is dying out.

Many writers do have their own websites which will have contact details. Most ask to you write via an agent or publisher. Look at the sites for Joanne Harris, Joanna Trollope or Alexander McCall Smith for example.

Good luck.

Auntieflo Wed 11-Jul-18 20:07:40

When our youngest was at school and reading the Lucy Boston "Green Knowe" books, I also read and enjoyed them. I did write to Lucy Boston, and received a couple of lovely personalised cards back from her. Then I lost them, and to date still don't know what happened to them. But I can't remember whether I wrote via her publisher, or otherwise, it was a long time ago.

callgirl1 Wed 11-Jul-18 23:30:06

A few years ago, I read a couple of psychological thrillers by Sarah Rayne. I enjoyed them so much that I emailed Sarah via her website, and she sent me a very nice reply. I wrote again after another 2 books and again she replied. Sadly I didn`t read any more of her books after that, but this thread has put me in mind to read some more.

absent Thu 12-Jul-18 07:20:15

Send it via the publisher. They forward everything they receive for the author – vitriolic, questioning or approving.

DanniRae Thu 12-Jul-18 07:56:45

Hi Suki - It's good to know that Colin Firth is a good bloke in real life so thank you for your post.
I know I wouldn't be able to chat to him if we met - I would, for the first time in my life, be speechless!
BTW my husband always said that the photo was probably signed by his butler! (jealous? not him).

Jane10 Thu 12-Jul-18 08:00:26

Do write to an author if you'd like to.
I'm only a very small time author but I have had some lovely letters from readers which have really made my day.
In my turn I follow some favourite authors on Twitter and have had direct responses. Authors are real people with real concerns and worries and direct contact with people who have enjoyed your work is wonderful.

callgirl1 Thu 12-Jul-18 16:36:30

I wonder if I`ve read anything of yours Jane, suppose I`ll never know.

NanKate Thu 12-Jul-18 17:13:51

Schnackie if you re prepared for a long wait for a reply you can write a letter. I oversee the Fanmail sent to my son which is about 95% online via email.

Sometimes children write to him via his literary agent or publisher and by the time they get round to passing it on to him by hand or sending it to him sometimes many months have passed. I think it is so sad because children want a quick reply and 4 months later or more they have lost all the excitement. By email they get an immediate automatic reply saying their email has been received and will be replied to as soon as possible.

I oversee them in case a child needs something for a school project and that email is pushed to the front. My son then replies quickly to them.

I suggest if you go down the email route you put the author’s name in google plus contact details with a question mark. Or go on their Facebook website and ask for it there.

Hope that helps.

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