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.