Dear Agony Editor, For a number of years, I’ve been an avid fan of a certain novelist. Recently, I started following her on social media. She has said some annoying things and I’m having a dificult time reconciling my love of her books and the person behind them. I don’t think I can enjoy her work the same way. I’d like to move past it, but I can’t. I feel like I’m in mourning and I don’t know what to do. Signed, Twitter Torn
Dear Torn, You know what they say about heroes. Stand too close to one and you’ll only see their blackheads. Okay, I don’t think anyone has actually ever said that before, but you get my drift.
I think many readers like to imagine what their favourite author’s life is like. Maybe they picture the writer wearing a turtleneck, banging away on a keyboard, an ice cube crackling in a glass of Scotch.