Simon & Schuster Digital partnered with VYou.com to create Ask the Author, a digital venue for readers to interact with writers. On the new site, authors respond to reader-submitted questions through webcam videos.

Participating writers with Ask the Author pages include: Chris Cleave, Brad Thor, Chuck Klosterman, and Lisa McMann. What do you think about these short video interviews?

Here’s more from the press release: “Using VYou’s innovative technology and any computer that has a webcam, authors can record responses to individual messages or questions entered by their fans. The questions and answers are then organized into ‘conversations,’ giving the experience a live feel. Participating authors can spend as much or as little time as they want on their video, which they can record at any time.”