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The dark side of this is when my kiddo read a book by an author I have exchanged likes with, and when she said, "I didn't really like it, that genre isn't for me," my response was, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU MIGHT BE MY CHILD BUT THAT AUTHOR THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING I WROTE ONLINE FOR TWO WHOLE SECONDS!"

I mean, people think @stephengrahamjones.com and I are basically related for this reason. Even if he didn't tell me he changed his handle and it took a while to pop up.

The accompanying rule is that if you’ve argued with someone online, you’re obligated to point to their book and remark “ah, my nemesis” when you see it on a shelf.

Okay. I'm gonna do this.

"Oh yeah that author? We're Bluesky mutuals... I mean it's basically friends..."

Sorry @gregpak.net I’ve been slacking.

Several authors I have been fortunate enough to interact with via social media, or met in person, always get my word-of-mouth marketing when a friend or coworker asks, “reading anything good lately?” Because their work is that good & deserves to be enjoyed.

Same!

It's true.

As far as I know, I only have two bookstore-visible published authors among people I would call friends, like people I could call and say "let's hang out" and they would say sure and hang out with me. But I am absolutely happy to pretend otherwise for the sake of Bluesky rules :)

I couldn't love this more!

I didn't QUITE do that, but I dropped several book recs from an author acquaintance cause they ticked every single interest listed. I thought running around the store for a copy was OTT.

that is how it works!

My version: "We're Internet Pals!" But your post is 💯on. There needs to be a word for people you know of and are kindly-minded about them, that doesn't imply the feeling is reciprocal.

They liked my reply once? At the very least "I know the author"

I loved this book, it was stress-inducing in ways that made me want to fist fight legal concepts (but instead led me to seeing what I can do here in Tennessee)

that's right! ❤️

Just added to my TBR - thanks for the rec!

of course you did!!! LOL

Me, exploring the new local indie bookstore with my very definitively not online physical social group: “oh y’all look at all my friends! 😭💕”

I have discovered so many new authors and books just by following a couple of authors I was already familiar with. My reads are almost always wins now. I’ve become spoiled 😆

Oh, good, I'm not breaking any rules when I do this. ::whew:: Because, yeah, I do.

also applies to the library!

"support my friend. Check this out."

Me, literally every single time: HONEY LOOK IT'S MY FRIEND'S BOOK

This is true! It’s in the constitution

Bonus points if it actually becomes true at some point. I’ve gone from “I post comments on their blog occasionally” to “they ask me how my extended family’s doing, by name, when I see them at conventions and we hang out in the bar for two hours” a couple of times

I took my copy of To Catch A Fascist by @letsgomathias.bsky.social into my local SF anarchist bookstore to show/recommend it to the shop keeper and he looked at me like I was trying to rob the place 😆

YESSS, GOOD MOVE!

Just some of the authors of books I have bought and recommend because of following them here (or the other place in olden times): - Moose Allain - Joel Morris - Eileen Jones - Will Jennings - Ken Field - Randall Munroe

I'm going to have so many friends reading my books someday!

💓