Changing the Way I Deal with Facebook

It's been an amazing week for me as a debut author. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for anything better. Hell, Oprah calling wasn't even as cool as this week has been for me. Thank you to everyone who retweeted, shared on facebook, or just dropped me a note to say hi.

The best part about this week has been hearing from readers. I've been blogging for a while and I've gotten notes or comments on certain posts that were overly charged but I've never had a book out there before. So this week, I had to change the way I dealt with Facebook.

Facebook became a means of conversation for me. Honestly, I was surprised. My social network of choice is twitter. I can be sitting at traffic light, hop on, either see something and comment or drop in a smart ass remark and hop off, going about my day as an Army officer. I had been eschewing Facebook because it takes that all important thing that I don't have enough of: time.

But here's what I discovered this week. Readers are on Facebook. Readers use Facebook as a way of connecting not just with authors but with the people behind the book. This week, I had my first experience with readers who took the time to not only read something that I spent almost five years of my life working on but also who were touched by this book.

Jessica – I started reading Because of You last might. And despite my 4 yr old throwing up in our bed and despite the fact that I needed to get up at 5 am to get to work for a special meeting, I was compelled to read until 1 am. (I started at about 9;30 and I'm a slow reader.) I at chapter 12 and LOVING your story!! I'm so far from a military wife but goes to show that a well told story draws in a reader regardless of their situation. Keep up the great work — love the secondary characters by the way. They add an incredible depth that really moves the story along. Can't believe you're a first-time novelist!

I have never been a romance reader, but at the suggestion from a friend, I pre ordered your book. I have read it and loved it. I will happily read more of your books. Thank you.

I've also had breast cancer and disfiguring surgery, I can identify with her, but I was really impressed with the sensitivity the author displayed in dealing with the situation.

So I've learned that Facebook, too can be about conversation. The question is now what are you talking about?

Thanks so much to everyone who made this week an absolute blast for the release of BECAUSE OF YOU. It's been amazing and that's not because of anything I've done. That's all you.