Many authors have a "Contact me" page on their website. Check there for the best email to send fan mail to (or, sometimes, perhaps a posted letter). Many bigger authors will mute their notifications on social media, so tagging them there may not get noticed, but it can be an option, especially for newer/smaller authors...

I will say that as long as you 're reaching out to say how much you've enjoyed something, it will be appreciated. If you're reaching out to let someone know about a spelling error or how you think the story should have ended or anything like that, just don't...but genuine fan letters are welcomed. And from everything I've heard from authors, and other artists, it happens less often than you might think! Of course, a small handful of people get overwhelming attention, but the majority of authors aren't in that club...

I've personally written thank you notes to authors, musicians, actors, directors, set designers, and others through the years. I don't always get a reply, and that's fine. But I often do, even if it's probably a form response. And a few people I've connected with to the point that we regularly stay in touch.

So definitely go for it. All you're doing is putting a little kindness into the world, and that is a good thing!

Any time a male character is described as being ridiculously super handsome, I always think of Manny Jacintol and then get confused if/when later they refer to blond hair or whatever.

Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Winona Ryder as Jo March! I know there are other great versions of those stories, but they seem like separate/totally different things, if that makes sense (it probably doesn't, lol)

I was taught by my Literature professors that Russian novelists did it, at least in part, to make their books more timeless, as location names were known to change depending on who was ruling. Street names, buildings, etc would change also depending on if they were named after someone and how that person was perceived at the time...a well-known example would be St Petersburg, which was Petrograd and then Leningrad, then back to St Petersburg. Only on a pettier level of changing names...(I mean, I think there are probably multiple explanations. This is just one.)

There is a YA series where the font is red or green, depending on the character POV. I don't remember the title, and it may be a really good book, but it hurt my eyes too much. Generally, anything other than black doesn't work. And as I get older, white-white pages make my eyes more tired than creamier white pages...

And there have been a few books where the font didn't work well for me. I like ebooks because I can change font, size, background, etc. It definitely is better in that regard!

I don't think going through death registrations is necessarily scummy (its definitely less scummy, in my opinion, than birth registrations and then making public the details of babies whose parents have worked to keep private). I do think its sort of scummy to press family on making statements or revealing autopsy findings or things like that. The fact of the death might be relevant news but anything beyond that, I think, should remain private. (I understand many don't agree with that,though, and its not likely to happen!)

Bookshop.org is what I use, generally. They have sent one damaged item in all of the books I've gotten from them and they were super nice and efficient in getting it replaced, plus they sent me a discount code for my next order (in addition t9 fixing everything for me for free). That was pretty early on in their existence, so not sure if its the same now, but overall, I've been quite happy with them...you can designate a local bookstore to get a part of the sale, but I don't think its necessary. You can also order from a local bookstore directly, but I'd talk to them first. I have one local one that has zero problem doing it and one that prefers customers use Bookshop, just because getting special orders in/having to sort and repack them/get them to the post office/mailed out is a lot of extra work for their limited space and staff...

My "official" goal is 100 books for the year. It has happened once. I usually land somewhere in the 70s, which is fine! I don't really do it to be competitive or anything. Its more a mental thing to keep me reading. (I used to have a similar thing where I said I'd watch 50 movies a year. Without that mental goal, I think I've watched maybe 5 this year? It sounds silly, but even when its all in my head, its enough to motivate me!)

Sometimes, I'll give myself mini-challenges. A few years ago, I read the alphabet (books beginning A-Z). Once, I took a look at my massive TBR and decided I'd take a month and read books with Girl in the title. Things like that. I have thought about reading around the world or around the country, but not sure. I've also thought about wokring my way through winning titles of different literature prizes...

I have tried to say I won't read anything new or won't add to my TBR until I get things under control. But its never getting under control, lol. So now I have smaller, more realistic goals, like I will only pack books I own when I go on vacation or I will pick one book off my TBR per month. Things like that. Otherwise I'd never make any headway...

I work at a public library, so I use it literally daily. But I also buy books regularly. I try to buy from indie stores when I travel, as my souvenir, and I have a local indie that I order books from when I particularly want to support an author. Sometimes I order if the library doesn't get something and I don't want to wait for the interlibrary loan period (our ILL usually doesn't work with brand new books, and there is a standard 6 months wait). I also love used book stores. Finding long-forgotten treasures on dusty shelves is the best...so yeah. I do both (and also borrow from friends or use the Little Free Library boxes or peruse the swap shelf at the coffee shop). I just want books everywhere, lol

R/romancebooks is a very welcoming subreddit that likes to make recs for pretty much anything and is pretty good about including potential triggers. And if you look up past threads (or post a new one if its been awhile) about favorite subgenres within romance, it may help you kind of find your niche in the very large Romancelandia...like, if you want historical novels set in Ancient Greece that are light on spice, I'm prettt sure they'd be able to recommend a dozen. And if you list your favorites, I'm pretty sure they'd be able to say, "oh, obviously, you're a fan of comedic shapeshifter motorcycle romances, here are a bunch of others you'll like."

I think this is it. Jane intended for him to be commentary on a certain type of person. He's not really meant to be sympathetic or even fully-fleshed out. He's a stand-in for a type...I think if Mr Collins weren't so clearly meant to be striving for money and position in society, things like practicing a compliment could be read differently. But as is, I think he's just simply meant to be a man reaching for a grandeur his position and personality do not allow for.

If you're in the US, you may want to consider joining the American Bookseller Association or a regional bookseller chapter. It isn't absolutely necessary and there can be drawbacks, but there are definitely benefits. Membership allows you to take classes or go to conferences specifically about opening/running a bookstore. They can help connect you with reps from publishing houses. They host conferences that have vendors and authors and sessions and networking that are super helpful...there is also something called the Bookstore Training Group that people recommend. I know some who have actually gone to the in-person "bootcamp" and some who have done the books on their own, but it comes recommended by everyone I know who has done it...if none of those options appeal, try reaching out to bookstores for general advice. I have been loosely planning on opening a bookstore in the future, and when I travel, I email local indies ahead of time and ask if I can set up a meeting with an owner or manager. I always offer to pay for their time or take them to a meal afterwards. Sometimes they offer help but don't take payment. Other times we end up having a nice lunch somewhere. Some people say no. But it doesn't hurt to ask and booksellers in general have been super nice and accommodating and want to see others succeed!