NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Friday, June 17, 2011

Confessions of a Quasi Luddite

Carina Press turned a year old a few weeks ago. I was delighted to be among the “launch” authors with On Her Trail, my debut novella. And just this last month, almost a year later, The Shoeless Kid was released.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the changes that have taken place in my life between those two releases.

Before having On Her Trail accepted by Carina Press, I didn’t know about “blogs.” Not really. I certainly didn’t follow any and I’d never even heard of blog tours. I still don’t have a personal blog—frankly, I don’t see why anyone would want to read my ruminations on anything.

When I was told I really should be on Twitter, my first reaction was, “What the heck is a Twitter?” As for Facebook, that was for kids, wasn’t it? Kids who posted pictures of themselves that would embarrass them later in life?

The thought never even crossed my mind that I should have my own web site (even though as a writing workshop and conference organizer, I *detest* it when the writer I am trying to contact doesn’t have an online presence).

But I was an e-author now. I had to have an electronic presence, even if the thought terrified me. So I took every opportunity and seminar I could (thank you, Carina!) to learn about Twitter, Facebook and blogging. There were times I thought my head would explode. I begged my friend to design and set up a web site for me (remember the quasi Luddite part?). I still don’t understand half of what she did, but I can at least update it on my own.

So here I am a year later, blogging, Tweeting and Facebooking, and the proud owner of a web site. What I learned during this crazy year was that the road to social media is filled with friendly strangers willing to share their knowledge and help a recovering Luddite along the way.

So, thanks, eh. It’s been a heck of a year. Let’s hope my head stays on for the next one.

Marcelle

22 comments:

Toni Anderson said...

I am so proud of you, Marcelle! You rock. I am behind in some cyber things, I know it. But I keep trying, and I enjoy trying. It's fun to meet people online :)

Marcelle Dubé said...

Are you kidding me, Toni? Much of what I learned in this Brave New World I learned from you!

Karen Abrahamson said...

Marcelle, I totally understand what you mean about feeling like a luddite. I almost cried when I was told I had to be on twitter. That's why I'm doing my blogs on exactly this topic so that it forces me to learn something about various forms of social media.

Go you, for all all you've learned this past year.

Unknown said...

I know exactly what you mean, Marcelle.

I have all the cyber things in place and (more or less) know how to work them but I sometimes feel as if I'm juggling a dozen balls at once. And yes, sometimes the whole lot crashes around me. :)

I've met some amazing people online though and, really, I love it.

Rita said...

I love doing all the social media stuff but it is such a time sucker. To make it worse I’m a slow learner. Once I get it I’m okay. But gal– ee getting there is something else. I really want to know how to do everything and participate, but I really want to write and have a life. Some days I shut everything down and breathe deep. The very bestest part is all the people I meet. Gawd, I wouldn’t know most of them if I past them on the street, but I consider them friends. We are so lucky to be part of this and have friends around the globe.

Marcelle Dubé said...

Karen, I love your blog posts. I'm learning so much about indie publishing, not to mention your wonderful travel/writing posts. If anyone is curious, visit Karen's blog at http://www.karenlabrahamson.com/.

Anne Marie Becker said...

Marcelle, I hear you about the learning curve. After signing a contract, I had to learn twitter, update my website, etc., etc. At least I was already on Facebook!

Rita - boy, I needed to breathe deep this week. LOL And the people you cyber-meet - wow, I've met so many this way. Kept in touch with people and writers I would otherwise probably rarely see. Social media can be a great tool, for sure.

Elyse Mady said...

I'm with you, Marcelle. I blogged (about non-writing stuff) but didn't tweet. Until Angela J oh-so-gently told me I needed to twitter in order to promote my book effectively.

I signed up right away and really glad I did but my grammatical soul still recoils from prbly, yr, and u. 140 is not my favourite number, in other words! :)

Elise Warner said...

Marcelle, I can really identify with you. without Toni and Dee and several of the other Carina authors,I would be a social media mess. Put my Dell computer together myself but that was color coded. But as the song says, "We're Still Here."

Marcelle Dubé said...

I've met some wonderful people online, too, Shirley, so it's definitely been worth almost having my head explode.

Rita, I'm a slow learner, too. I flounder around forever trying to figure out exactly how I'm supposed to behave or respond. I still don't think I'm using Twitter or Facebook to best advantage, but at least they don't scare me anymore!

Marcelle Dubé said...

Anne Marie, this new world is not for the fraidy cats!

And Elyse M., I know exactly what you mean re Twitter and 140 characters. Let's just say I'm a little long-winded!

Elise W., if we can figure out Twitter/Facebook, we can call ourselves "social" creatures. Right?

Right??

Maureen A. Miller said...

I got all weepy-eyed reading this, Marcelle. (It could be sinuses too.) LOL

I'm so proud of you! Together we will figure out the #FF's of the world. :)

Marcelle Dubé said...

Oh Maureen. You're such a softie. :-)

Betsy Horvath said...

Boy, do I hear you, Marcelle. There's just so much that needs to be done. For me, my social media operations are taking on the proportions of a second (or third) job. And just when I thought I had my head wrapped around what I needed to do, here comes Goodreads! AHHHHHH!!!! Oh well, let us all join hands and race over the cliff together into the brave new world. :D

Marcelle Dubé said...

Oh dear. I forgot about Goodreads. I still have to figure out Goodreads. Oh no... my head...

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

You've accomplished so much in a year's time. The fearful thing about learning all the new stuff about promotion is it keeps evolving requiring continuing education. Congrats on your second book with Carina.

Marcelle Dubé said...

Thanks for the congrats, Susan. I keep telling myself that this continuing education is good for me, that my head really WON'T explode and that I'll be a better person for pushing past my comfort zone. And I almost believe it, too.

Clare London said...

Congratulations on your fabulous year! And what a great view of a trail we've all followed in the recent year(s). I didn't know anything about online marketing or presence 3 years ago - now I'm meant to be holding a mini seminar on it next month for fellow British authors LOL. And just like you say, it's been a real treat to meet so many lovely people, to join a community, and to learn even more ... even if I'm still learning what I *don't* know :).

Marcelle Dubé said...

Thanks, Clare. I feel like such a grownup now!

Bobbie (Sunny) Cole said...

Girl, I feel ya - lol. I so enjoy your posts. So much that I am tempted not to blog at ALL today here, just let yours ride a few more hours.

Health issues...have already missed the noon thing anyway. Will have Toni on me for sure. *wink*

Congrats. Way to go. And here's to another great year for you, Marcelle!!!

Toni Anderson said...

LOL--I'm starting to twitch, Bobbie. *Tick*

Marcelle Dubé said...

Thanks, Sunny and Toni, don't fail us now! Go take a nap. A drink. A bonbon...

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