I've had a couple of people ask me about my Goodreads account recently. I'm there, I check it every day, and I actively participate at Goodreads - I tag my TBR list, mark books I'm excited about, review the ones I've read and enjoyed, etc. I chat with people about reviews I've left on other books. There's a major caveat to my participation, though.

My books get reviews or ratings almost every day. As an author, I love this and find it terribly exciting. People love my stuff! (sometimes!) People are talking about my stuff! But I don't comment on any reviews or threads. I read the comments (even the unpleasant ones) and I NEVER, EVER, EVER PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MY OWN BOOKS.

The same thing goes for Amazon and B&N and review forums, etc. I poke around - absolutely. I'm nosy as hell. But I don't participate in the conversation. A couple of people have asked me why, so I thought I might explain.

If we chitchat on Twitter every now and then and you post a review of my book on your blog, I will probably pop over to thank you for reviewing it. If you comment on my journal or at Odd Shots, I do my best to answer your comment, I really do (and if I've missed you, I'm sorry!). But I don't participate on the Amazon forums or on Goodreads or anywhere else that they talk about my books.

Those reviews aren't for me. They're for other readers. NOT ME. And I believe that me showing up and commenting or trying to explain something about my books, or why I chose to do things a certain way...it influences the conversation. It makes some readers downright uncomfortable.

If it was me and I was talking constructively about a book, and the author stopped by to comment? I'd hate that. I'd clam up. I don't want to do that to other people. You should be free to talk about my stuff in public without fear that the Authorbeast shall descend upon you and Explain Her Book And Show You The Error Of Your Ways.

So that's why I don't participate in discussions on Goodreads (for those that asked). If someone point blank asks me something, I might respond, but it's just as easy to email me (my inbox is always open). It's something that I feel fairly strongly about -- and I know other authors don't necessarily agree with me. But that's how I feel. Maybe this will change later, but for now, I prefer that people have an author-free zone to discuss my stuff. And if it gets to the point that there's enough traffic to warrant a forum for fans (oh, what a glorious day that would be) I'd throw one up on the website.

But you are free of me on Goodreads and Amazon.