Writing to a kids author

February 4, 2024 9:40 AM

How does author fan mail work these days? Are the things I can do to increase the odds of getting something back?

My kid wants to write a letter to his favourite author. I’m very interested in facilitating this because I think my son would not have learned to read unless he had been so highly motivated to read the DogMan books.

I am not interested in following the social media links. He wants to actually write a real letter on paper, I think that’s fantastic . I think that it will highly motivate him to get something back, even if it is just a form letter with a prefab signature sent by an assistant. How can I guarantee this? I found a contact address through the Scholastic website to an ‘author fan mail’ department. What next? Do I include an envelope for them to reply? Do they even reply? What can I do to maximize my success in this non-paper age?

posted by ficbot to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

I'd stick a post-it note on the letter where you tell the author that your kid would LOVE a reply. And sure, make it easy enough. You can include a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope or even a postcard.
posted by hydra77 at 9:46 AM on February 4 [2 favorites]

If you can also do an email to the author, buttering them up a bit and then asking them to keep an eye out for the paper letter, that might help. In my experience, even well-known authors love enthusiastic fan mail, and especially those of any level of fame below Rowling, especially, are surprisingly likely to respond.
posted by The otter lady at 10:53 AM on February 4 [1 favorite]

This was a few years ago but Dav Pilkey signed a form letter back to my son (or someone did) and it came with a newsletter. It was via Scholastic. I think including an envelope would definitely help.

You might like to know that Pilkey had a hard time in school and learning to read (very old interview) and I bet he would love to hear that.
posted by warriorqueen at 1:03 PM on February 4 [1 favorite]

The address given is usually the publisher or agent. Send a short child-written letter, self-addressed, stamped return envelope and hope for the best.
posted by theora55 at 1:04 PM on February 4

It's great that your son wants to write to Dav Pilkey. I would totally encourage that. It's a great way for him to express his thanks and appreciation to a writer who has touched him.

Dav Pilkey strikes me as very real. He grew up with learning challenges, overcame, stayed true to his crazy self. If your son (or you) have some story, tell it!

I don't think there is any way to guarantee your son will get a response, and I wouldn't set him up with that expectation. The response should be a bonus. He should be totally cool with just using the letter to say "thanks". Then if an answer does come, he'll be all the more excited by it.

Dav Pilkey does sometimes do speaking tours. You could sign up for his website. If you (or someone you know) can go to one of those engagements, do that, tell them your story, and ask them, "could this kid write you a letter and would you write back to them? It would mean a lot." If you can get to him in person, that's the best chance of success.

Short of that, if you really want to work it, you could contact his agent. You are more likely to get a letter through to them. He is apparently represented by Writers House. I'm not sure who specifically. Ideally, find his actual agent (not just the organization), write to them, and say, "it would mean a lot to get a letter back from Dav," or something.

Good luck and have fun with this!

(p.s. I wrote to Lloyd Alexander as an adult, after rereading the Prydain books for about the fifth time. He wrote back. It meant a lot to me.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:09 PM on February 4 [4 favorites]