Sunday, January 9, 2011

That's What Friends -And Books - Are For by Malena Lott


I'd hate to think of a world without friends. In an age when friendships can be made without meeting face-to-face thanks to the shrinking world made possible by the Internet, it's easier than times past to reach out and help someone or reach out and get help. At least that's what I'd like to think.

In 2008, I joined Twitter, after my good friend, the funny Wichita photographer and detective, Ken Davis (@davis1862), told me how much fun it was. (Okay, not a direct quote, but something like that.) Back then, Twitter was a much smaller social club. Now it might be harder to get a response to a tweet because people are so busy and perhaps following so many people, but it has led to some great friendships for me and some great personal and professional growth. Facebook has grown even more intimate for me because I've reconnected with old friends that led to real-life coffees and martinis and I love getting to stay connected in my busy mommy world.

My favorite aspect of social networking is the "pass-it-on and pay-it-forward" qualities. Of course one can choose not to do these things, but RTs (retweets), sharing on FB and commenting on blogs and links helps spread the word about worthy causes, breaking news and niche interests. My niche interest, of course, is books and my blog Book End Babes has grown to include a dozen book bloggers (called bookettes), nearly a hundred guest authors, more than two hundred book give-aways and loads of connections between readers and authors and readers to great books.

In my third novel, FIXER UPPER, the politician's wife, Macy Baxter, figures out the life she really wants after the one she has is no longer working. Her ambitious husband is more concerned with getting elected to the U.S. Senate than saving their marriage and she has never worked outside the home, held a tool or really stood up for herself. All that changes when she heads home to evaluate her own broken home and see what it will take to renovate her life. Find out more about Fixer Upper, new contests, excerpt and more at www.malenalott.com or on Amazon or smashwords.com

9 comments:

Beth Hoffman said...

Terrific post, Malena. You were one of the very first writers I met on Twitter, and from the get-go we clicked. You are (and always will be) someone I consider to be a "girlfriend".

Rebecca Rasmussen said...

Good morning, Beth, honey. Thank you for stopping by to support Malena! You are a true girlfriend, too. We are all so lucky to have you ;) xox

Darlene said...

Great post! The internet has definitely made it so much easier to make friends from all over the world which is fantastic. I agree that FB, Twitter and book blogs are a terrific avenue for learning about all the great books and authors that are out there.

Unknown said...

Great post. We adapt so quickly, often in a no questions asked manner. It's good when one of us stops and notices. Then calls the rest of us to say "hey, look at this wondrous thing we've created!" My life is so much richer for having come to know people I've never met.

Unknown said...

Malena, a wonderful essay--girlfriends and friendships have been so much a theme for me these past few years, I really appreciated the post and I can't wait to read your book when it comes out in other formats--I'm jealous of the kindle folks!! LOL. XOXO

Doreen McGettigan said...

Yes a great post Malena! I love all of my new friendships and this wonderful new way to connect with people. It was brought to my attention this morning however that I had liked something on Facebook that I never would have liked and that has really scared me. So we must remember to be careful too.
Your book sounds fabulous...

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) said...

So true. I have met many wonderful people from all over the world on the internet. I don't know how I lived without it!

Malena Lott said...

Thanks for reading and commenting and thanks, Rebecca, for letting me visit The Bird Sisters today!

Beth, you are as 4D to me as anyone I've (n)ever met. lol.

Karin, the book is available on smashwords.com in other formats and is should be in the nook and iBookstore soon.

Unknown said...

Malena, so well-written and so informative. I am a twitter-virgin, but your post has convinced me that it's time to, well, you know --- tweet! Great to have met you here on charming Rebecca's site.

"These are the days when Birds come back/a very few/a Bird or two/to take a backward look."

"These are the days when Birds come back/a very few/a Bird or two/to take a backward look."