Amazon Connect -- an interesting asset for the authors here.

From Amazon:

Amazon Connect is a program that enables authors to create an author profile page and communicate with their readers by blogging (posting customized messages) on the Amazon.com Web site. The most recent posts from an author's blog are featured prominently on an author's profile page or on a book's description page, along with a link to the author's full blog. Readers are also able to see new posts from authors of books they've purchased on their own Amazon customer home page. Amazon customers are able to comment on author posts, opening up the lines of communication between authors and their audience.

When you create your author profile page for Amazon Connect, you can upload images, link to your own Web site, provide your biography, and even offer lists of your favorite things, such as books, foods or movies—whatever you feel might interest your readers.

http://www.iuniverse.com/tips-for-autho ... onnect.htm

Here's an example of Amazon Connect in action:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Drink-You-Ea ... 0821257188

And here's an author's experience with the feature: http://www.dancohen.org/blog/posts/firs ... on_connect

Regards, Bob

Bob -- that is very interesting. Especially the idea of being able to communicate directly with purchasers of the book. Thanks for posting.

I'll never forget the thrill of buying a book about the Internet, seeing the author's email (he asked people to write) and getting an answer a few hours later. This changed the author-reader relationship forever!

I agree, Randy -- it is great fun corresponding with authors. Years ago I sent a book of his poems to Robert Frost with return postage, asked for an inscription and he not only replied, but wrote me a little poem all of my own:

From Robert Frost
To Robert Ross.

It is such fun corresponding with authors. Regards, Bob