Why do they interview authors?

[The idea]

They do it to market the author's latest book. However, a book buyer typically gets just the book and not a personal visit from the author.

How about arranging debates involving people who have read the book and who have conflicting opinions about the book? Each debater could have a copy of the book and his or her own notes on hand to back up claims made or to refute an opponent's claims.

Are books ever marketed by means of such debates?

[SezMe]

Sure. There was the annual International Book Expo (not the exact title) in Los Angeles a couple of years ago. They had a panel of Molly Ivins, Al Franke, Bill O'Reilly and ... forget the last one. Each was flogging his own book.

That was the setting where O'Really lost his cool when he saw a very unflattering picture of himself on the cover of Franken's book. Classic moment on the Book Channel.

That is not exactly what you were looking for, but close enough for horseshoes and gernades.

[Piscivore]

Originally posted by The idea
How about arranging debates involving people who have read the book and who have conflicting opinions about the book? Each debater could have a copy of the book and his or her own notes on hand to back up claims made or to refute an opponent's claims.

Ideally, this would be a good idea, but realistically only about 2% of Americans have the attention span for something like this.

[athon]

I love meeting authors. But I hate mingling with other writers. Everybody wants to tell you about their ideas and how good their books are, and it borders on depressing.

I also hate hanging around other teachers. The last thing you want to do is discuss shop in off-hours.

Athon

[Soapy Sam]

I would imagine the danger in discussing each others' work is that five years hence you think up a plot idea only to find yourself sued by the guy who mentioned it in a discussion you were half listening to five years ago.

[Piscivore]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
I would imagine the danger in discussing each others' work is that five years hence you think up a plot idea only to find yourself sued by the guy who mentioned it in a discussion you were half listening to five years ago.

Unless the other guy writes the book first, he's SOL, because you cannot copyright an idea. It must exist in some media to be copyrightable.

Even then a plot idea can be implemented thousands of different ways. Look how many times the plot of "Seven Samurai" has been used.

I went to a book fair last summer at which Ursula K LeGuinn spoke. It was very interesting.