This week's topic is Auto-Buy Authors. If you've been around the blog a while, you know that this will be a very short list.
1. Dan Jones 
Jones is a British historian who writes primarily about the Plantagenets and has many books on the subject. It was in his book The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England that I first met Eleanor of Aquitaine. Basically, Dan Jones named my baby. He has also done a few television shows, and a series on British castles that I love. My favorite parts of the castle series was in each episode, he would ask the expert/guide questions about the castle, and then pretend it was brand new information.
Also, we are basically BFFs.
What that really means is that I occasionally harass him on Facebook and Twitter, and he occasionally likes/responds to my Tweets and comments. And he posted the link to my review of his Templars book on his Facebook page, and I died.
In September of 2017 he did a book tour for The Templars and the closest he came was St Louis, so you can bet your ass that my mom, Eleanor, and I drove down there and back in two days. Totally worth it because not only did I get to meet him and get pictures and my books signed, but we talked about Eleanor of Aquitaine afterwards, and I died again because it was A-MAY-ZING. These are the ones I owned at the time. My two faves (Templars and Plantagenets) were very personalized because they're extra special to me - The Plantagenets because as I said earlier, that is where I first learned about Eleanor of Aquitaine. The Templars is special because I actually won a limited edition autographed galley from Head of Zeus (UK publisher), and he personalized it at the book talk/signing. I jokingly asked him if he told the publisher to choose me, in the hopes that I would not bring my crazy on down to St Louis to meet him and he laughed, but said he had nothing to do with it.
Bonus, not going to lie, he is super hot. It really is not fair when someone is suuuuper intelligent AND suuuuper hot AND suuuuuper hilarious - all accompanied by a British accent.
Who are your auto-buy authors? Leave your answer below, or a link to your post, and I will be sure to check it out.
Told you it was a short list!
Wait... not Dan Jones??? :)
ReplyDeleteNope, never heard of the guy ;)
DeleteOoh I need to check out this author! My TTT
ReplyDeleteI whole-heartedly recommend all of his books. He writes in such a way that is intelligent but still accessible for those who might not have a lot of background knowledge on the subject. He doesn't dumb anything down. His book on The Plantagenets is my most favorite, but I think the Crusaders one he has coming out in the fall might give that one a run for its money!
DeleteDan Jones sounds like an amazing author. I love history.
ReplyDeleteHe is awesome! Both seasons of his British Castles series were on Netflix, though I saw somewhere the other day that one might have expired. It is a great series. I asked him in STL if he would do anymore and he said it basically is a money thing right now as to why the tv execs aren't doing it. I suppose it does cost a lot of money to move a crew around the UK, along with all their equipment and such.
DeleteLol! Sarah, you crack me up! :-D Yes, we watched the castles programme when it was on telly. Obviously being British myself the accent isn't as hot for me as it is (obviously) for you but I agree with the sexy brain and bod thing. I've got a little thing going for Brian Cox - he make space and science as sexy as hell.
ReplyDelete... sorry went all gooey there for a moment. ;-)
x
No worries, I get all googly over Jones, it is perfectly fine :)
DeleteI don't know this author, but I love seeing stories like this. I love when authors are so nice to fans and approachable! I will definitely check out these books!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://thebookdutchesses.com/2019/07/16/ttt-88-auto-buy-authors-part-2/
It really was just great. I could not stop smiling. In the weeks leading up to the event, I joked he should just cancel it so we could hang out and talk about Eleanor of Aquitaine. Obviously the canceling part didn't happen, but we talked for a good fifteen-twenty minutes afterwards. I hope you enjoy his books as much as I do - he's got a new one coming out this fall about the Crusades that I am super stoked for.
DeleteI was saying something about this recently on Judy's Blog: Keep The Wisdom. A few weeks ago I bought 'Now We Shall Be Entirely Free' by Andrew Miller based purely on the fact of reading his previous book 'Pure'. I saw an interesting cover, the author's name and I didn't need anything else. I only knew what it was about after I got home and started going through my purchases one by one. That's VERY rare for me.
ReplyDeleteI saw that on her blog! He is about the only author whose books I MUST buy - but this is a little deceptive because I do not typically keep books once I am done with them; I resell them to get new books. There are a couple authors who I always make a point to request the library purchase their books so I can read them - like Matthew Lewis, who writes a lot about Richard III and that era. He's got a new book coming out about Matilda and Stephen that I am really looking forward to.
DeleteI love this! It's totally a mini love letter to Dan Jones, and basically makes me want to read his books now. I love that Eleanor of Aquitane was the inspiration of your daughter's name as well.
ReplyDelete-Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads
Oh gosh, you should see the original post I made after I returned fro STL - that was a full-on love letter, haha. But really, it is always nice when someone, whether it is an author, actor, singer, etc., lives up to the idea you have of them in your head. He could've totally been like, nope you are crazy. Instead he started the conversation by asking me what I thought of Eleanor of Aquitaine and I lost the power of speech for about twenty seconds before saying, "She's extraordinary."
DeleteHah, I've been following your blog long enough to guess #1 correctly. :-D
ReplyDeleteI'd expect nothing less from you! :)
DeleteI'm going to have to look into his books, this is exactly the kind of thing I'd love.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Please do, he is such a fantastic writer. Start with The Plantagenets, it is the best, I think anyway. They're all so good though.
DeleteI have never heard of him but your story is hilarious, and a dream come true!!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://thewordyhabitat.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/my-top-ten-auto-buy-authors-top-ten-tuesday/
I am glad other people are amused by it, too. One of my friends describes my love for Dan Jones being about as subtle as Henry VIII's want of a male heir, haha. They're not wrong!
DeleteWell, I have my favorite authors of fiction and I read each of their novels as soon as I can get them from the library. Sometimes I buy if the wait is too long. I think I have more than ten!
ReplyDeleteThis list is a little deceptive because there are authors who, like you, I read their books as soon as I can get the from the library. I am really trying to not buy any books at all for the time being, even deals via BookBub. It is TOUGH!
DeleteAww! What a cool picture with your BFF!
ReplyDeleteRight?!?! A friend who was with me even snapped a few of us sitting down at the table and talking. He even said I could ask him if I had questions about any of my own research for my book! I've restrained myself and only asked like, three questions. It's really tough!!
DeleteHey, when you know what you like, this is not a bad thing! :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Agreed, 100%! There are other authors I enjoy of course, but very few - one, haha - that I will automatically pre-order when only barely knowing the title.
DeleteLOL. I've never heard of Dan Jones, but he seems like a very nice guy!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
I definitely think he is swell (obvious? haha), and whole-heartedly recommend his books to pretty much everyone. He definitely knows his stuff, but doesn't write about it in a way that makes people feel dumb for not knowing everything.
DeleteI would never have guessed Sarah! *giggles*
ReplyDeleteShocking, right?? I don't think ANYONE would have guessed this.
DeleteYou got me thinking about any author I would auto buy. I think I would buy anything Robert Caro wrote. I'm finishing up a book by him now and saw that he wrote another one and I know I'm going to read it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like half the fun with favorite authors is not knowing what their next book is about, but knowing you will buy it no matter what.
DeleteI love castle history! Are the TV programs available to watch somewhere on the internet? 🏰
ReplyDeleteCastle history is so interesting, I really love it. I have also been lucky enough to visit some amazing castles all over England, Scotland, and Ireland. I have seen a lot of clips of his shows on Youtube. You might also be able to find them on the History channel website. I only ever watched the castle shows on Netflix.
DeleteI don't think I've ever heard of the guy but I actually think I saw the castle tour show you were talking about on netflix the other day... I do love history and castles. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he was lovely when you met him.
Yes!! Dan Jones is seriously the coolest. When you watched, were both seasons still available? I heard that one of the seasons was going to be pulled soon but can't remember which one. He is a riot, and seriously nice. It was pretty much perfect!
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