I live in a great Bay Area city. Our libraries run a rockin' One City, One Book program every summer. Hundreds of people read the book, then in the Fall, there are discussions and related programs throughout the community.
"The MartIan" is this year's selection. We were really hoping to have a program with the author, as he lives about an hour or so from here. Alas, he declined our offer. Seems he's so behind on his next book deadline that he's refusing all requests.
Seems to me if you're an author and a whole city is reading your book, you wouldn't mind basking in a few hours of adulation. OTOH, once your book's been made into a successful movie starring Matt Damon, it might change things.
Still, we're not giving up hope that he will get caught up on his next book and change his mind. Hell, we'll send a car and buy him dinner. Oh well, we can dream, can't we?
If anyone knows him (you never know, perhaps he's a mustachian), we're still hoping he'll change his mind, even on short(-ish) notice.