How To

Phobias, Crazy Research, and a Favorite Astronaut: Authors’ Answers on Goodreads

Rebecca Joines Schinsky

Chief of Staff

Rebecca Joines Schinsky is the executive director of product and ecommerce at Riot New Media Group. She co-hosts All the Books! and the Book Riot Podcast. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccaschinsky.

Ask the Author ImageIf you could ask your favorite author anything at all, what would it be? Favorite drink while writing? Hardest thing to write about? Words of advice you’d give your 20-year-old self?

This is where Ask the Author on Goodreads comes in. Authors like Lauren Oliver, R.L. Stine, and Roxane Gay have already answered thousands of questions from their fans.

In this post sponsored by Goodreads, we present to you just a sample of that goodness with these five awesome author responses:

N.K. Jemisin

Jef VanderMeer

Margaret Atwood

Andy Weir

Lena Dunham

Want to get in on the fun? Here’s step one: search for your favorite authors on Goodreads. On their author pages, you’ll see if they are currently taking questions.

OPTION A:  They are taking questions. Rejoice! Fill in the question box on the author page. If the author chooses to answer it, you’ll be notified so you can read the response and claim the sweet, sweet bragging rights. And make sure that you follow the author to get updates from them about upcoming books.

OPTION B:  They are either a) currently very busy writing that book you are (im)patiently waiting for, b) on tour, or c) cleaning the house while trying desperately to figure out the next chapter, so they are not taking questions. In that case, just make sure that you are following the author on Goodreads and you’ll be notified as soon as they are open for questions.

While you are waiting, here’s a list of authors who are currently taking questions.

This is one time it’s great to let your curiosity get the better of you. So get to asking! And if you find any great answers your favorite authors have already given? Share those in the comments too!