Posts Tagged ‘twitter’
List: Authors and Novelists on Twitter
Looking for some authors to follow, chat with or send fan tweets to on Twitter? Of course you are.
Below are the names of authors/writers that I have come across so far on Twitter. The list below is comprised predominantly of authors of fiction, although some non-fiction writers have been included. Some are chatty, some not so much and you’ll find authors below for picture books, early readers, YA and a variety of fiction genres.
I’ll update the list as I come across new names and I’d love you to leave a comment with details for any authors I’ve missed.
A
- @RandaAFAuthor – Randa Abdel-Fattah
- @MaggieA – MaggieAlderson
- @KatApel – Kathryn Apel
- @MiscMum – Karen Andrews
- @Fleech – Felice Arena
- @MargaretAtwood – Margaret Atwood
B
- @TristanBancks – Tristan Bancks
- @GregoryBarron – Gregory Barron
- @JohnBirminghan – John Birmingham
- @DianneBlacklock – Dianne Blacklock
- @JudyBlume – Judy Blume
- @StephBowe – Steph Bowe
- @DavidBrin1 – David Brin
- @GabrielleBryden – GabrielleBryden
C
- @MegCabot – Meg Cabot
- @HelenCareyBooks – Helen Carey
- @LeeChildAuthor – Lee Child
- @PauloCoelho – Paula Coelho
- @EoinColfer – Eoin Colfer
- @JackieJCollins – Jackie Collins
- @KarenCollum – Karen Collum
- @ClaireCorbett – Claire Corbett
- @Lexxie_Couper – Lexxie Couper
- @CathCrowley – Cath Crowley
- @SophieC – Sophie Cunningham
D
- @AlaindeBotton – Alain de Botton
- @SarahDessen – Sarah Dessen
E
- @NickEarls – Nick Earls
- @MichelleDEvans – Michelle Dennis Evans
F
- @LizFielding – Liz Fielding
- @GayleForman – GayleForman
- @KateForsyth – Kate Forsyth
- @SaraJFoster – Sara Foster
- @MiaFreedman – Mia Freedman
- @StephenFry – Stephen Fry
- @Sandy Fussell – Sandy Fussell
G
- @Writer_DG – Diana Gabaldon
- @NeilHimself – Neil Gaiman
- @KatrinaGermein – Katrina Germein
- JulieGAuthor – Julie Griffin
- @AndyGBooks – Andy Griffiths
H
- @Wendy_Harmer – Wendy Harmer
- @PipHaz – Pip Harry
- @JacquelineHarve – Jacqueline Harvey
- @LisaHeidke – Lisa Heidke
- @AnitaHeiss – Anita Heiss
- @Monstroso – Charlie Higson
- @EllenHopkinsYA – Ellen Hopkins
- @JudyHoracek – Judy Horacek
- @KateLHunter – Kate Hunter
I
- @StephenMIrwin – Stephen M Irwin
J
- @Rebecca_James_ – Rebecca James
- @BelindaCJeffrey – Belinda Jeffrey
- @RachaelJohns – Rachael Johns
K
- @SueMonkKidd – Sue Monk Kidd
- @Eugenia_Kim – Eugenia Kim
- @HonMichaelKirby – Michael Kirby
- @WilliamKostakis – William Kostakis
L
- @Kylie_Ladd – Kylie Ladd
- @MargoLanagan – Margo Lanagan
- @JuliaLawrinson – Julia Lawrinson
- @Gayle Lemmon – Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- @PeterLerangis – Peter Lerangis
- @KathyLette – Kathy Lette
M
- @NicolaMarsh – Nicola Marsh
- @Toddric – Todd McCaffrey
- @TaniaMcCartney – Tania McCartney
- @AndrewMcDonald – Andrew McDonald
- @FleurMcDonald – Fleur McDonald
- @VondaNMcIntyre – Vonda N McIntyre
- @EbonyMcKenna – Ebony McKenna
- @RealPeterMoore – Peter Moore
- @ChrisMorphew – Chris Morphew
- @Tara_Moss – Tara Moss
- @SallyMurphy – Sally Murphy
N
- @MaggieNash – Maggie Nash
- @RichardNewsome – Richard Newsome
O
- @OliverBooks – Lauren Oliver
- @BenisonAnne – Benison O’Reilly
- @WendyOrr – Wendy Orr
- @OveringtonC – Caroline Overington
P
- @LindaSuePark – Linda Sue Park
- @TimPegler – Tim Pegler
- @RealJamesPhelan – James Phelan
- @JodiPicoult – Jodi Picoult
- @MichaelJPryor – Michael Pryor
R
- @PeterHReynolds – Peter Reynolds
- @LakeLady2282 – Debbie Robson
- @jk_rowling – J K Rowling
- @JamesRoy68 – James Roy
- @Jess_Rudd – Jessica Rudd
- @Allison_Rushby – Allison Rushby
- @SalmanRushdie – Salman Rushdie
S
- @KerriSackville – Kerri Sackville
- @SparksNicholas – Nicholas Sparks
- @RebeccaSparrow – Rebecca Sparrow
- @RL_Stine – R L Stine
- @SummersAnne – Anne Summers
T
- @AlTait – Allison Tait
- @MarloThomas – Marlo Thomas
W
- @GabrielleWang – Gabrielle Wang
- @DeeWhiteAuthor – Dee White
- @WhitfieldSophia – Sophia Whitfield
- @Charlotteshucks – Charlotte Wood
Y
- @SueYeap – Sue Yeap
Z
- @Markus_Zusak – Markus Zusak
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The Beauty of the Blogosphere
1The internet is riddled with creeps, perverts, stalkers and crazies, apparently. Venture online and you will regret it. Or so I’ve heard. I have many friends who regard Facebook with distrust and Twitter with disbelief. And blogs? What’s a blog and really, why would you bother?
What I have never been able to help them understand is that I’m not an isolated voice on the internet, speaking out into an empty, resounding void. Instead, I am a tiny part of a web of people, a network of women and men who share common interests or viewpoints, hobbies or philosophies that overlap with other networks to form a rich, vibrant community. A community that laughs out loud with staggering frequency, overuses emoticons and has an unhealthy obsession with kittehs it’s true, but also a community that offers amazing support and encouragement beyond what many would believe possible for a groups of ‘strangers’.
Tonight, via Twitter and blogs, the community is reaching out to enfold Lori (of Random Ramblings of a Stay-at-Home Mum) in their virtual arms. As Lori has faced a heart-rending tragedy over the past few days, Twitter has resounded with calls for prayer for her husband Tony and now, with his passing, for Lori and her children.
This love hasn’t been superficial virtual love, either. No flippant hashtag of #prayfortony and then no further thought. The blogging community that Lori is part of has reached out to ensure that she is constantly reminded that she is loved, cherished and supported. Most of us don’t know her, yet she has been in our thoughts and prayers for days. The blogging community at Aussie Mummy Bloggers made it possible for those that wished to support Lori financially to do so. Those living in the vicinity of Lori and her family offered to prepare meals and others started a candle group at gratefulness.org. Bloggers have rallied with words of support and comfort, reaching out to let Lori know that she isn’t alone.
This isn’t an isolated incident either. As many rant about the evils of the internet (yes, I’m not totally naive, I know that they exist), I find myself feeling humbled that I am part of a virtual network that is far more tangible and positive than many give it credit for.
Aussie Mummy Bloggers recently rallied to send gifts to refugee children held in detention centres as well as promoting the fundraising to support those affected by the devastating Queensland floods. On a more personal note, Jodie at Mummy Mayhem’s Bloggers Without Makeup idea had an unexpectedly profound impact, offering an opportunity for bloggers to reach out to each other with words of encouragement and affirmation. The Boombah Club offers daily encouragement and resources to those women trying to regain their health and fitness and simply looking for somewhere that they can be accountable and encouraged to pursue their health goals.
I could go on, because the list feels endless. Small comments and/or actions, random acts of kindness – I’ve experienced or witnessed these on a daily basis and I continue to marvel that I get to play my part in such a positive, vital, connected community. People I have jokingly referred to as e-friends in the past have become friends in truth. I have been blessed by numerous comments on Twitter and my blog and I look forward to continuing to play a part in this community that has such a heart for others.
Bless you, Lori, as you and your family face this difficult time. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I hope you know that you don’t face it alone. This community you are part of is reaching out to you in your pain and confusion and offering you loving support. We can’t imagine your pain, but we hold you in our thoughts and prayers.
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Do You Enjoy Poetry?
1
I’m rather unpredictable when it comes to poetry.
I enjoy many of the mainstream poetry ‘classics’ – Wordsworth, Keats, Donne, Coleridge for example. I loved studying them at school and have continued to read them periodically for pleasure. I still giggle at the bawdy humour of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and love the poetry of Shakespeare.
I enjoy some of the Australian classic poets as well – Banjo, of course, and others. I love the text and subtext present in many of their works.
Moving on to more modern poets, I’m a bit hit and miss. Maybe I’m just too superficial to appreciate the embedded meaning. One of my all time favourite poets is Dr Seuss, which probably gives a reasonably accurate indication of my level of poetic maturity. Tweetle Beetle Battle indeed.
So, imagine my surprise when a link to a poem titled ‘Sydney’s Siberia’ by Jason Nelson led me to something so amazing that I am actually blogging about it. Me. Blogging about poetry. The world really is a wild and unpredictable place.
According to the website A State of Writing,
Sydney’s Siberia is an infinitely zooming, mosaic generating, entirely interactive artwork that explores Newcastle through 121 poetic image tiles.
And to think that I simply described it as ‘awesome’. I am such a pleb.
Rather than have me describe the poem, you should visit Sydney’s Siberia and check it out for yourself. Keep clicking on the image to delve deeper and make sure you read the poetry as you go. The photos are images of Newcastle.
Re-tweeting the link to the poem led me into a discussion with author and poet Kat Apel, who invited me to join her Month of Poetry, challenging me to write a poem of some description every day for the month of January 2011. I’m not quite sure which one of us is crazier, her for asking or me for accepting, but if nothing else it looks like I will be starting the New Year with a creative challenge.
Do you enjoy poetry? Love it? Hate it? Dabble in the odd haiku behind closed doors? What do you think of Sydney’s Siberia?
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Feel Them Up Friday
1
Thanks to the wonderful Sarah (@SeraphimSP) and Carol (@CarolDuncan) the Twitterverse has united to raise awareness of a very important cause.
On Friday September 3rd, Carol and Sarah are asking tweeps to turn their avatars pink and join them in promoting breast self-examination.
Both Carol and Sarah know women that have been impacted by breast cancer (click on their names to go to their blog posts about #FeelThemUpFriday). In one of those co-incidences that happens so often in Newcastle, the young swim instructor that so inspired Carol is my cousin.
For me, breast cancer came a step closer last year when my mother was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ which resulted in two attempts at lumpectomy before my mother finally chose to have a complete mastectomy.
My mother’s cancer wasn’t clearly visible on mammography. She had to progress to fine needed biopsy before there was a clear diagnosis. If she hadn’t been aware of her own body and the changes that had occurred, her treatment might not have been so timely nor her prognosis as positive as it is.
Many years ago when I lived in Orange I went along to a women’s health talk where the guest speaker greeted us by handing around some ‘sample’ breasts and telling us all to ‘have a good feel’. Most of the demonstration breasts contained at least one lump and we were encouraged to see if we could find them. In the beginning we were a bit self-concious, but it didn’t take too long for people to relax and it was amazing as we chatted to discover that the only women who did check their breasts regularly were those who had close encounters with breast cancer through friends and/or family.
Breast self-examination is free and it could mean an early detection and diagnosis that could save your life. Why wouldn’t you check regularly?
Not sure what to do? The Breast Cancer Australia website has an easy to follow guide to breast self-examination.
Join the pink revolution on Twitter this week to help raise awareness of breast health. Follow the #FeelThemUpFriday chat on Friday. I’m sure it will be not only informative but highly entertaining and probably just a little bit naughty at times. Do yourself and others a favour by promoting breast health awareness.
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I Love You Twitter
1
I find myself mentioning Twitter more and more often in general conversation of late. After sitting mesmerised by my computer screen last night and again this morning as I watched #spill unfold, I went to be wondering how I ever managed without my Tweeps to keep me informed and entertained.
So, to avoiding writing a serious post about today’s political events, I’m going to list all the reasons I love Twitter.
Hashtag Discussions of Significant Events
Whether it’s #spill/#spillard, #WorldCup2010 or #JustinBieber, I get to supplement my meagre knowledge of politics, sport, celebrity or the event/crisis du jour by eavesdropping on more knowledgeable and/or entertaining people chat about it. Sometimes I add my own comments, other times I just watch and learn. (Disclaimer: I’ve never actually followed a discussion on Justin Bieber. I just want to make that clear. Not that I’m judging, but… well, actually, yes I am.)
Hashtag TV
Watching #Masterchef, #QandA #Greys, #Lost, #origin football? If you are, you can curl up on the lounge with your laptop/iPhone and chat with fellow tweeps watching the same show. If you can’t be bothered, you can simply follow the tweets to know how it all ends and save yourself some time. Win-Win.
No Virtual Reality Games
I know that Mafia Wars did temporarily infiltrate Twitter, but it was much easier to ignore than repeated gifts of a calf or sheaf of wheat for my farm in Farmville or invitations to dine at CafeWorld. You know I love you too, Facebook friends, but you do realise that your Farmville farm isn’t real, don’t you?
Following Followers (or not)
You want to follow me? Fine. Go ahead. I only need to follow the people I find interesting or entertaining (or both). Tweet about what you had on your toast for breakfast and I’ll leave you to it without cluttering my Twitter stream with your comments. If only I could filter all my social interactions this way.
Hashtag games
I rarely join in, but I’ve enjoyed many of the hashtag games that regularly do the Twitter rounds. #LesserMovies #GreaterNovels #SpillMovies #FishMovies – there are some seriously quick-witted people out there and I thank you all for the many laughs you’ve given me.
Brushing shoulders with Celebrity
On Twitter, I get to rub shoulders with ‘celebrity’. I’m not talking about being one of Oprah’s gazillion followers, but rather actually interacting with various public figures (authors, politicians, journalists etc) in a meaningful way, even if it is only a one-off tweet or comment.
Finding My Tribe
I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow the whole process of interacting on Twitter seems to draw together people with similar interests and complementary personalities. I’ve met people from all over Australia and all over the world with various backgrounds that have become friends – not e-friends, but genuine friends. I’ve been encouraged and supported, entertained, shared insights and information and simply had my world improved and made more interesting by some amazing people that I would never have met otherwise.
Do you love Twitter? Hate it? Don’t understand what all the fuss is about? Leave a comment and let me know why.
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Celebrating Brave Beautiful Bloggers
1
I came a little late to the Bloggers Without Makeup party yesterday. I didn’t post a picture of myself makeup-free until quite late in the day. Why the delay? Well, I was home alone all day and the self-portraits I attempted were quite tragic. I also felt like I was coming down with my son’s cold and was hardly feeling at my best, makeup or not.
I am so glad that I did finally take part. As I commented in my Bloggers Without Makeup Day post, the encouragement and affirmation being shared by bloggers and tweeps yesterday was amazing. So many women took the time to visit the blogs of those who took part and leave encouraging comments. Score one for positive power of the internet.
Beyond the love shared in the #BloggersWithoutMakeup tweet-fest, for me the highlight was reading the stories of women who had struggled with themselves to actually take a cosmetics-free photo. So many women bravely overcame self-consciousness and long-term habits of covering up real and imagined blemishes and flaws to step up and stand tall.
I regularly found myself getting teary as I read how women agonised over showing themselves without the protective veil of make-up. The most touching posts were those by mothers who overcame their fear so that they could live the messages that they were speaking into the lives of their children – messages that promoted a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, and an ability to value themselves for who they are and as they are.
I have been reading tweets about Jessica Watson sailing into Sydney Harbour today after seven months at sea. This intrepid teen has taken on a daunting challenge and demonstrated that courage and determination can triumph over adversity.
In my mind, many of the women who ‘bared all’ for Bloggers Without Makeup Day have been just as courageous and determined, bravely overcoming their insecurities to support a worthwhile project and, as a result, support numerous other women who also struggled to share images of themselves as they really are.
To Jodie Ansted, the initiator of Bloggers Without Makeup Day, I offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks. The past 36 hours has helped me to understand that I am part of a community of awesome women. I have found myself humbled, inspired, encouraged and blessed by the things I have read and I have met so many amazingly beautiful women.
If you haven’t already joined the Bloggers Without Makeup bandwagon, it’s not too late. Visit Jodie at Mummy Mayhem to include a link to your blog post when you’re done.
Related links:
- Bloggers Without Makeup Day 2010 article at Suite101
- Jodie Ansted’s BWM Day 2010 Thanks post at Mummy Mayhem
- Carol Duncan interviewing Jodie Anstead on ABC (radio) 1233 Newcastle
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Bloggers Without Makeup
1Jodie Anstead (@JodieAnstead) challenged bloggers and tweeps to join her on Friday, 14th May for a Bloggers Without Makeup Day. I could summarise her post on the inspiration for this day, but I’m feeling lazy and running late with my own BWM post, so you should probably just wander over to Jodie’s Mummy Mayhem blog and check out her post on Bloggers Without Makeup yourself.
Basically, Jodie has called us all to step out from behind the veil of cosmetics and photoshopping to celebrate ourselves in our natural glory.
I’m a bit late to the party since I tend to be the person behind the camera instead of in front of it. Finding a photo of me at all is difficult and sans makeup almost impossible. So, I’ve waited until my kids arrived home from school and asked my son to take a photo of me with my beautiful daughter. Not sure how wise this was, since she looks infinitely better without make-up than I do, but I like the photo so I’m going to use it.
Brace yourselves.
There, that wasn’t so painful, was it?
I love that this has been such a positive, community-building event. I have many friends who just look at me in confusion when I refer to other bloggers or twitter friends. They shy away from the internet as if it’s only purpose is as a tool for those with nefarious purposes seeking to prey on the weak and naive.
I think today proves them all wrong. While there are undeniably internet abusers, there is also a great deal of encouragement, support, friendship and empowerment to be gained from being able to connect with likeminded people all over the globe. Bloggers Without Makeup has been a wonderful event – women making themselves a little bit vulnerable and receiving support, encouragement, affirmation and affection from others for their effort. What’s not to love about that?
Congratulations Jodie for setting the Bloggers Without Makeup Day in motion. You are an inspiration, as are all the bloggers and tweeps that have taken part and encouraged each other with good will and humour.
It’s not too late to join in. Post a picture of yourself without makeup on your blog and/or change your twitter avatar to a makeup free image. Please visit the blogs of the brave ladies who have taken part today and offer them some encouragement as well. Search for #BloggersWithoutMakeup on twitter for a great selection of amazing women to support. Don’t forget to add your blog link on Jodie’s Bloggers Without Makeup Day post as well.
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13th July 2009 – Which? What? Who?
1Well, it’s taken me two weeks, but I have finally managed to get a Which? What? Who? post in on time. Yay me!
Book Discussions:
I have been greatly distracted over the past 4 days by a Twitter competition run by Penguin Books Australia. (@PenguinBooksAus) offering $2000 worth of Penguin book to the best answer for the question “Why did the penguin cross the road”.
There were some very creative answers (including some absolute winners from me, thank you very much) and I particularly enjoyed some of the photographic answers, particularly these from Jane Wills and James Tinniswood.
Sadly, Penguin Australia did not see the incredible wit of my replies and I didn’t even manage to score an honourable mention in the competition results. The experience was not a total loss however. I did create a Popular Penguins Reading Challenge thanks to the experience and am toying with the idea of a Penguin Classics Reading Challenge as well (but don’t tell Meredith or I will get a lecture on over-committing myself).
For those who missed out on the Penguin giveaway, you should visit Natasha at Maw Books, who is offering a signed copy of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. Full entry details are at her blog and entries close 23rd July 2009. I’ve got my fingers crossed.
Tree Swing Reading also has a great Christian Book Giveaway, offering copies of all the titles nominated for the Christy Award. Visit the blog to put your name in the draw for any titles that interest you (or all of them if you want). Entries close on the 30th July 2009.
I know it isn’t book related, but I just have to include a link to my post at Oh, the Thinks you can Think about the new ad campaign for Perfect Italiano. It works for me.
Fave Book Blogs this week:
In no particular order, these are some blogs that have caught my attention this week:
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Come to the Party? Don’t Mind if I do.
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Just wanted to give a big round of e-applause to Rebecca (@bookladysblog) at The Book Lady’s Blog for the fantastic #BEAtwittyparty she organised.
I hadn’t signed up to attend, since I hadn’t worked out what the time difference was and didn’t know what 8 – 10 pm Eastern time US translated to in Australia. Fortunately, I managed to get online for the final 45 minutes and had a fun time trying to keep up with the dizzying number of tweets.
Organised for those of us not fortunate enough to get to BEA (Book Expo America) in New York, #BEAtwittyparty gave book bloggers and book lovers on Twitter a chance to get together and share their recent favourite reads and general book chat.
The tweets came thick and fast and it was almost impossible to keep up. I’m sure it’s going to take me weeks to get time to check out all the new book blogs that I discovered while chatting with everyone.
There was talk of organising a Twitter bookclub for book bloggers as well, which sounds great. Heather (@highhiddenplace) of A High and Hidden Place seems to be taking on responsibility for co-ordinating that, so make sure you follow her at Twitter to keep up to date on what is happening with the Twitter book club.
For those who, like me, gatecrashed #BEAtwittyparty and want to follow up on some of the great bloggers who were there, Rebecca has a list of blog links and Twitter names for those who sent in their RSVP on time.
If you’ve written a post-#BEAtwittyparty post on your blog, make sure you add the link in the comments below.
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Amazon Fail?
1Only those who have been off camping in the wilderness of the Easter long-weekend and therefore far, far away from their computers could have missed the buzz about Amazon that has well and truly hit the internet fan over the weekend.
For those who are wondering what all the fuss is about, the short version is that Amazon has decided to de-rank titles that it considers to contain “adult” content, preventing them from appearing in searches and best-seller listings.
Unfortunately for Amazon and in another example of prejudicial treatment for the Gay and Lesbian community and their supporters, it appears that only gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender titles have been included in this de-ranking exercise. It didn’t include titles that contained bestiality and graphic heterosexual content.
I’ve found the following posts great for getting an overall view of what has been happening, so check them out for a more detailed account:
- Jacket Copy, the LA Times book blog by Carolyn Kellogg with these posts from the 12th April and 13th April.
- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books with their Amazon Rank and Amazon Fail posts.
- Persnickety Snark’s Amazon Fail Snarktake with some help from Jackson Pearce.
- Kat Meyer’s post at Follow the Reader about the power of the passionate online book community.
For me, I am totally dumbfounded that such as major internet entity could so totally underestimate the backlash from such targeted censorship. I am just as amazed that there wasn’t a very real Amazon presence on social networking sites like Twitter over the weekend to help to modify the heated response from readers.
Twitter has been inundated this weekend with comments about Amazon’s de-ranking process. Check out the #Amazonfail tag to follow the ongoing debate and comments.
It seems that book censorship has moved from small town school libraries into the blogosphere. Some are recommending boycotting Amazon services, others are planning internet retaliation.
What are your ideas on how best to send the message to Amazon that their censorship is neither needed or appropriate? What role do you see book bloggers and social networkers playing in this and future controversies of this nature?
