Another writer – Susana Imaginario – who I follow on X asked recently how much readers let their liking (or dislike) of an author affect their buying of the author’s books.

Now: I used to try and separate the artist from the artwork. I’ve given up. I didn’t like MZB – long before I knew the backstory. I found something about Piers Anthony was giving me the cald grue long before I heard any rumors… I found Harlan Ellison’s writing telling me I wouldn’t like him long before I heard anything about his personality at cons. Niel Gaiman was another I just couldn’t get into. On the other hand, having been lucky enough to meet David Weber, Lois Budjold, and Larry Niven… they were like their books. I like their books, and I could see where it came from.

So: my answer is ‘yes’, I would buy someone I knew and liked. Not everyone I know and like is a good writer. Why not? You ought to live up to my expectations. I know – in the technical sense – that some of those I have met or had dealings with online, that I did not like, are in fact pretty ‘good’. They are popular, successful – and I assume appeal to people who don’t feel they’re getting a character study of the writer when they read their books, or to whom the things that set me off are just fine. Hey that’s fine by me. I don’t like Brussel sprouts, but you are welcome to love them. In fact, you can have mine. I’m generous like that.

Maybe I’m the writer with the equivalent of written BO reflecting my natural simian bouquet, that no-one wants to tell that he smells… I have been told, with some amusement, that my books read… just like I was talking to you. The same bad jokes I assume. It’s a thin line between a Mary Sue and just some of your character, outlook on life, and experience leaking into a book.

I don’t know. Am I the sort of person you would expect to write the sort of books that I do write? And do you let the impression you have of the author (especially in these social media days) color your buying or your reading?