Social Media

Are the social media sites only for people with too much time on their hands? No, I don't think so, though they can certainly serve as a major time-sink. Why do people blog? Why have a profile on Facebook? Why on Twitter? Why on other sites (that I know less about)?

I've been blogging for upwards of almost four years on Blogger and had a blog on a private site for most of a year before that (got killed by spam). I've talked about all kinds of random things--farm, family, pets, camping, books, and my own writing. Being as not a lot of you comment, I'm not sure why you keep coming back, which of these areas interests you in my life.

I joined Facebook last fall (November?) on the advice of my kids. At first it was merely a way to share photos and *communicate lite* with them, especially when Joel and Jen headed to South America for several months. Then I discovered a lot of my writer friends there (some published, some not), and more recently, my high school class has been reconvening on FB. Great fun.

When I first heard of Twitter, I couldn't figure out why anyone would use it. But Holly Lisle is doing a huge giveaway over two weeks to folks who follow her on Twitter, so of course I had to sign up to see what all the twitter was about!

A couple weeks ago I read this blog post by Michael Hyatt, president and CEO of Thomas Nelson, a major Christian publishing house.

He talks about how quickly word travels in this digital age and believes that everyone who has a *brand to defend* needs to make sure they know what is being said online about their brand. He gives a list of seven ways to keep track, and here's his first one:

Build an online presence. The time to build an audience is before you need it. You need people for whom you add value, a small army of followers, if you will, who can help you when you need it. This is why every CEO, brand manager, and department leader should create a blog, a Facebook page, and get active on Twitter.

It’s really not that difficult, even for the technically challenged. If you really don’t have a clue, enlist the help of a co-worker—or perhaps even your children!

If I had to select one place to start, I would pick Twitter. Then I would create a Facebook page. Finally, I would start a blog. I don’t think there’s a less expensive way to create brand equity than by using these three tools.

I'm guessing that a lot of my reader here are not CEOs (grin), but it seems his advice might still be valid. Build an audience before you need it. Why should I not find my old friends and make new contacts now, before I have something to sell them? Wouldn't you rather hear from someone you lost contact with now, while they are on their journey to publishing? We once had an old friend look us up that we hadn't seen in probably 12 years and within half an hour he was trying to involve us in his marketing scheme. It seemed that was the only reason we'd been rediscovered. When we didn't jump in, the contact drifted away.

Seriously, I care about people. I genuinely like my friends. I try to be true to myself online, and try to be very aware of everything I say. The world wide web holds information over our heads forever, and I don't want something I said to come back and bite me. Yes, I hope that one day my novels will sell, and I truly hope no one ever thinks I've befriended them just to make a sale. It's the people I care about...and sales will be nice, someday. If people want to buy my stuff.

On the advice of Randy Ingermanson, I plan to move my blog over to my website sometime within the next few months, as my daughter has time to finish redesigning the entire thing. I do have the website somewhat updated this week, though.

If you're a writer and you're not currently following Holly Lisle on her blog, in her classes, or on Twitter, I highly recommend that you do so. She's a multi-published author with a lot of material available on how to write. She's opened her writing class How to Think Sideways to new members this week. Go have a look! And if you follow her on Twitter, you might WIN a scholarship to this class. FOR SURE you will qualify for one of her e-clinics on Monday. Don't delay! Follow her on Twitter today! And you can follow me by clicking the link in my sidebar. Or look me up on FB.

DragonKeeper Chronicles Day 3

Yesterday I blogged about the third book in the DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul. I forgot to say that I think DragonKnight was my favorite of the four I've read so far. On Facebook, I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 while the first two earned 3s. Once again, the tour is all about DragonLight, which I haven't read yet, but I'm getting closer! I actually started it Monday evening. But today I want to talk about the fourth book, DragonFire. Sadly, this was my least favorite (2.5).

As a series develops and the characters age, they should change. And if you start with them as young teens, then progress them to young adults, it seems that they ought to become more mature. Of course they won't be perfect, but moving forward would be good. Because I read the first two books in the series two years ago, and the third book was mostly Bardon's story, I may have forgotten Kale's personality. But in the fourth book, I found her to be petulant and whiny. I didn't much like her, and I have a sneaking suspicion that if she'd had the same attitudes in the first book, I wouldn't have been as willing to keep reading.

DragonFire takes place seven years after the first book. I'd've liked to see a more mature Kale fighting personality battles a little more suited to a 20-year-old than the 13-year-old she was. (Actually, I don't remember the exact ages, but I think I'm close!) Did Mrs. Paul make the choice she did because the series are for young adults and this way, they could identify more closely? I don't know.

I'm hoping to see a more mature Kale close out the series in DragonLight. Check back in a couple weeks and see what I think once I've read the book.

Meanwhile, some of you may recall my excitement last year that four Christian fantasy authors (Sharon Hinck, Wayne Thomas Batson, Chrisopher Hopper, and Bryan Davis) toured the east coast of the USA in July. This year, for an encore, the tour has been doubled to eight authors and is on the west coast in October. I'll let you know more about it as it gets closer, but if you live anywhere from San Diego to Seattle, you'll want to keep this in mind.

Why am I mentioning it here, today? Well, Donita K Paul is one of the four additional authors for this year's tour, called Motiv8. In fact, more than half of the authors are YA authors, so if you have kids that like fantasy, you really need to plan to attend one or more of their booksignings. They put on a good show last year, and this year should be double the fun.

Social Networking

My friend David Bridger has been researching Social Media and shares his new wisdom here.

If there's anything you want to know about Facebook, Shelfari, MySpace, Twitter, and a whole bunch of other social sites, some of which I'd never heard of--what the heck is *Plurk*?--check out David's review.

Oh, and feel free to friend me on Facebook if you haven't already. That's the only one I'm active on! Though David may be convincing me to spread out a little more. It's something to think about.

Marketing Novels

In case you wanted to know how to promote your new novel, should any of us be so lucky--here is the latest wisdom out there.



Oh, did I forget to mention you shouldn't be eating or drinking while watching this? I found this over at Pub Rants.

Random thoughts on marketing of Christian speculative fiction

I've been surfing the net, checking out blogs and reading the pulse. You may recall we toured about Trackers by Kathryn Mackel last week and discussed the fact that her publisher dropped the third book in what was scheduled to be a trilogy. This is happening/ CAN happen to authors in Christian publishing and elsewhere as we've seen by Holly Lisle's concerns about the remainder of her trilogy started by Talyn.

What can readers do?

Katie Hart shares an open letter to publishers about the frustration readers face with unfinished stories.

Rebecca Miller shares a two part study on what readers can do: Part one is here and here is the second part. The comments are worth reading as well...some interesting conversation happening out there.

Also, Rebecca posted at the group blog Speculative Faith with an interview with editor Nick Harrison from Harvest House regarding Christian spec fic.

Karen Hancock has a new book up her sleeve, but she's not giving out much for hints!

Any other thoughts?

The Business of Buying and Selling Books

I mentioned a few days ago here that Holly Lisle's great fantasy novel, Talyn is now available in paperback. I bullied my library into buying a hardcover when they came out, so I've read it.

In my small way, I want to support Holly's career and what she has done for thousands of aspiring writers. More than that, though, I LOVED Talyn.

So I ordered my own copy through my local independent bookstore on Saturday and recommended ordering additional copies. I don't have much hope, though. You have to imagine a store no bigger than most people's living room...and it includes a tiny coffee bar. The sff shelves total no more than 20 linear feet, if that. Jordan and Goodkind pretty much own the shelf space, and it doesn't show noticeable movement from visit to visit.

If you are curious about how bookstores order books--indeed, how the whole publishing gamut works--check out this post by Holly Lisle, and the intelligent questions and answers in the comments section. Then follow the link over to this post at Bookseller Chick. Very interesting, and very educational.