Great Tweeting Writers
I've only been on Twitter for a few short weeks, and it's already changed my reading life. I'm always reading, and looking for new books to read, and new authors to discover, and new books and authors to recommend to my hundreds of reading students every year.
Pre-Twitter, I lurked on writing forums and paid special attention to the threads about books people can't wait to read. I spent hours in bookstores going through the aisles. (Always a real hardship, let me tell you.) I read The Book Review, a handful of book reviewer blogs that I'd found, and spent a lot of time on Goodreads. I still do these things, but now, now I feel as if I've found my secret weapon: Twitter.
If you aren't on Twitter, let me describe it for you: It's a perpetually updating feed of information and resources from people you choose to follow on the site. Sounds simple enough, right? Here is where it gets interesting: If you follow people wisely, their tweets will lead you to new people to follow, and new resources you never knew existed. And then, just a few weeks into your Twitter adventure, you will realize that you've been missing out on a world of Very Interesting People, and you'll ask yourself "What have I been waiting for?" (Or, for the grammarians among us: "For what have I been waiting?")
And then, you'll be me, right now, at this point in time. Overwhelmed by the awesomeness that is Twitter and all the people who use it to the point of proselytizing on your blog about how it is so amazing and everyone else should join.
Anyway, I've discovered or rediscovered some incredible writers through Twitter. Their generosity with writing tips, their insight into the world of authorship, their wit and humor, and most of all, their willingness to let readers peer into their world and get a glimpse of who they are as real people--these things have all left me awed and excited about reading their books. And of course, their tweets. And their blogs! Their blogs!!!! You really must check them all out.
I recently posted about the Winter Break Dreams we make as teachers. Here are thirteen Great Tweeting Writers and their books, which make up one of my favorite Winter Break Dreams of all: The books I shall read while curled up in my favorite reading chair with egg nog-spiked coffee during my time off.
In no particular order:
3.
5.
Writers--If you haven't been to Terrible Minds yet, go. Now. This post is so not worth your time. Get thee to Mr. Wendig's site ASAP.
11.
Going Bovine
@LibbaBray
Okay, if you haven't read the Gemma Doyle trilogy yet, please, go read it. You might as well buy all three at once because if you don't, you'll find yourself frantic the instant you finish the first one because you'll need to read the second immediately. Trust me, I've been there.
I can't believe I haven't read Going Bovine yet. Now is the time.
@LibbaBray
I can't believe I haven't read Going Bovine yet. Now is the time.
This is a very incomplete sample, of course. I'm currently following around 200 authors on Twitter, so I could list a new batch of 13 to follow every Thursday and be busy for quite a while.
So, what about you? Which books are in your To Read pile for winter break? Who are your favorite tweeting authors? Do share, please! And a big thank you to all of the tweeting authors out there! I can't tell you how much I enjoy following you on Twitter.
2 comments:
I'm currently reading the first Gemma Doyle. :)
When I get home from work tonight, I will have Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in my hands. I can hardly wait! I am hoping that Night Circus will arrive through ILL at the library before I go on break (it is currently in transit). If not, I may have to read the copy I bought for someone else for Christmas and get her another copy.
Gretchen--I have the second and third Gemma Doyles if you'd like to borrow them.
I cannot wait to hear what you think about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. That is definitely on my To Read list. My fingers get twitchy every time I see it on the bookshelves. Must. Read.
Crazy coincidence--I was out purchasing a copy of The Night Circus as you were posting this comment. It's yours to borrow as well, if you'd like!
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