Marketing to the next generation

Last month for her birthday I gave my niece City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Mary loved it, and promptly demanded that her mom go out and buy book two. Then there was a discussion as to how many books were in the series, so she could make sure she read them all.

When I suggested checking the author's website, I was met with disbelief, and then glee as Mary realized that not only could she find out details on all the books and when the next one was coming out, but there was also a movie in the works.

Now mind you, Mary is internet savvy enough to bombard my inbox with cat memes and Chuck Norris jokes. But the idea that authors had websites where fans could interact with them had completely passed her by. And she's a prime target market--someone who buys and reads several books a month.