Some Random Saturday Ramblings

So a couple of days ago, I got a really cool piece of fan email. It was actually from a woman I met a few years ago; we met when traveling on vacation with a group of couples. But I hadn't seen or talked to her since then. I opened my email Thursday to find a lovely note from her, telling me that a friend of a friend had told her about the "Best Ebook" contest (wow...don't you love the word of mouth that is the Internet?). She read my website, my blog, my excerpt, bought One Night in Boston, and was writing to say she was taking her first writing class next month:

"I have to admit, I am definitely inspired by you as a local writer..."

Isn't that cool? It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

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Ollie is one of my faithful readers. She's also one of those people who's WAY UP on all the online social networks, i.e., she has a Facebook account and is constantly sending me messages or writing on my Facebook Wall (not that I even know what that is) or inviting me to join her groups or play collaborative online games with her other Facebook friends. And then I feel really lame because the only thing on my account is, like, my name and maybe where I'm from. I haven't even uploaded a picture yet. Actually, Judy is a lot like Ollie too. She's invited me to all these different groups and Facebook happy hours and I haven't joined because I can't figure out what it all means. I keep feeling I should really get my butt in gear and update and try to look as though I actually have a Facebook presence. Sigh. I'll try, guys, really I will.

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Speaking of online communication, I've given in and created my very own author newsletter. I know, aren't you impressed? Over on the right sidebar is a place for you to sign up. The first issue goes out October 1, so make sure you're on my list!

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And finally, I'm excited to share the news that I'll be participating in the NYC Independent and Small Press Book Festival, on Saturday December 1. I'll be sharing space at the All Romance Ebooks with a group of other romance authors, and while I'm more than a little nervous about such a major location for my first public appearance, I still think it's a great opportunity. So mark your calendars for 12/1/07, if you're anywhere near Manhattan!