[Alain Gomez]

If you're part of the the goodreads author program (which I'm sure a lot of us are), you have the option of starting an author Q&A group.  Basically, a goodreads group that give people a chance to ask about your work.

I'm kind of torn here.  It sounds like a good idea in concept.  I've seen how goodreads groups can spread virally around there.  But at the same time, it seems a little pretentious to start one if you don't have any sort of fancy "NY Times Bestseller" type title to throw around.

Has anyone started one of these types of groups?  Any opinions?  Any success?  How was it received?

 

[Alain Gomez]

Pretentious for me, is what I meant.   Like it makes sense to me for James Patterson to have one.  He's a public figure of sorts.  But if the author is not a public figure, does that come across as strange?

Or is it more along the lines of people will think you know what you're doing if you act like it?

 

[Mel Comley]

I'd feel uncomfortable about starting one, I know a couple of authors who have though. I don't want to name names, maybe they'll joi in the thread and give you some answers. 

 

[Alain Gomez]

I'd feel uncomfortable about starting one,

Me too. But that's why I wanted to ask. Wasn't sure if it was just me being me and I was missing out on some great ad opportunity lol.

 

[miss_fletcher]

Same as you. Would be great to start one, in theory, but ... I don't feel as if I have a big enough presence on Goodreads to start one. Which negates the whole point of starting one to maybe get the attention of more readers. Vicious cycle ... or maybe I just need to grow a pair (as they say).

 

[Alain Gomez]

Same as you. Would be great to start one, in theory, but ... I don't feel as if I have a big enough presence on Goodreads to start one. Which negates the whole point of starting one to maybe get the attention of more readers. Vicious cycle ... or maybe I just need to grow a pair (as they say).

I dunno... I mean, if you made the group fun you could maybe attract people slowly. But at the same time, it's just a group about YOU. So that could turn off some folks....

 

[Alain Gomez]

This is actually kind of interesting in that it's leading to a different sub-question:

At what point does an author go from "unknown" to "known"?

You know? A unknown author making a group about him/herself would be accused of self-promotion. But a known author making a group would be praised for making a point of reaching out to his/her readers.

 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Be a bit sad if you started a group and no one joined 

 

[Alain Gomez]

Be a bit sad if you started a group and no one joined

I would be lol.