
Posted April 22, 2010 to Digital, Media Appearances
Kristine Rusch writes in her article about social networking about how she found me, the site, and my social network:
If you haven’t read last week’s post on Online Networking, double back and do so now. With the help of writer Ryan Viergutz, I explained how people use the internet to network and to gather information. In private e-mails, a few of you expressed concern that I was confusing networking with marketing in that post. But I didn’t: as you’ll see in the next few posts, online networking and marketing go hand-in-hand.
I think this is best summed up by Sarah Wendell who, along with Candy Tan, writes a marvelous blog about romance novels called Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Smart Bitch Sarah, as she signed her letter to me, also has her own blog, sbsarah.com.
She wrote, “I network on the internet by talking to people who share my interest or by answering questions from those who are curious. It helps my business, but then, my business is creating a space for conversations about romance novels.”
I found her via Twitter, but I found her blog because of a review of a book she and Candy Tan wrote called Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels. (It’s in my Recommended Reading list. Check it out here.) What I like about Sarah’s Tweets are the fact that they maintain the same attitude as her blog, but they also provide a link to the romance community online, since she forwards other people’s tweets (called retweeting, for those of you not on Twitter) and she often has links to good blog posts elsewhere.
In other words, her networking isn’t just me, me, me. It’s useful and fascinating and opens doors to other worlds.
Ok, that’s about one of the finest compliments I’ve ever received, especially since I was absolutely dumbfounded by Twitter when I first signed on. “What are YOU doing?” “I’m drinking an import and watching the market returns!” Thank you, Kris!
Tags: awesomesauce, blog

Posted April 07, 2010 to Digital, Media Appearances
MSN and Hachette have a new women’s network called GLO, and my article from Tango Mag is part of today’s issue: Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover: Why Romance Novels are Smarter Than You Think.
I had no idea until Genevieve from Tango emailed me – but I LOVE the intro from GLO :
While we’re guilty-as-charged chick-lit aficionados, we haven’t dappled in romance novels much beyond the Twilight series. Yet, we were so enamored by this defense of the genre that we’ve added a few to our spring reading list. Check out the slideshow of Harlequin romances, left.
Yay! More curious readers? Win!
Tags: awesomesauce, pop culture, tango

Posted April 01, 2010 to Digital, Media Appearances
I was interviewed alongside intellectual masterminds Jane Litte and Angela James for The Big Money’s article on digital publishing: : How the world’s most famous romance publisher fell for e-books.
It’s mostly a look at Carina Press and Harlequin, with a discussion of why they are as digitally-centered as they are:
But those readers—women from 31 to 49, in a romantic relationship—are still handling most of the nation’s child care, and that’s without even mentioning professional responsibilities. So e-books are quicker to buy and read on the go.
Online communities of readers are also pressing loudly for more digital options. Two voices have emerged to lead the online chorus for e-books: Sarah Wendell, the co-founder of SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com, and Jane Litte, the proprietor of DearAuthor.com. Both juggle careers and Web sites, as well as raising young children, and they’ve turned to digital formats for ease. “It’s a form of reading so attuned to a woman’s lifestyle right now,” says Wendell.
I think this is my favorite part of the article though: “So while the bulk of Harlequin’s revenue will still come from print, Carina could attract new customers. Most mainstream publishers won’t jilt their blockbuster authors to dally with new talents in the digital space. But they could learn a move or two.”
Tags: awesomesauce, Big Money, Slate