And two Facebook groups - oh my! I might have to wander over there……

Also just so you know there are already two Facebook groups devoted to your writing.

I agree - blatant and shameless self-promotion is a danger. I’ve only used the bulletins once, when Magic Study came out in trade paperback. I also like to use my photo instead of my book cover - I think it’s more personal and more about connecting with people rather than having a book cover represent me. I do put the cover of my latest release in my first thanks for the invite comment, but after that I don’t.

Becky - you’ll want to read John’s “Kindred Spirit” that’s a good one! Glad you and your daughters have been enjoying my books.

Simon - decent of you not to laugh

FYI - Sarah Weir created my background for my Myspace page from my first book’s cover. She was my third Myspace friend - she’s been a wonderful source of Myspace knowledge - I owe her more than a couple cups of coffee

I’ve been pushing Myspace to other writers for a while now, because it’s a much better way to keep in touch with readers (and potential readers) than a blog. With a regular LJ you’re preaching to the masses and hoping some will comment, and it’s hard for someone to just stumble across your corner of the web.

With Myspace you’re much more involved - comments on other people’s profiles and bulletins being two bonuses - and if you participate in a group or two you’ll get invites. Adding people is much more hands on than with an LJ, and if you search for profiles where people have mentioned authors writing similar fiction to your own, you can easily send invites to people who are very likely to accept them. (Every now and then I go on an invite binge, searching for profiles with Terry Pratchett, Red Dwarf, Blackadder, HHG, etc, and then inviting a couple of dozen people. I haven’t done this for ages, but if you’re new to Myspace it’s a good conversation starter. I also avoid sending invites to teens, because it seems kind of creepy. If they invite me, fine.)

Oh, and be careful about leaving blatant ads in other people’s comment trails, and over-using bulletins. You only need a handful of people to mark your ‘informational post’ as spam, and your profile is history.

Mariah B Schneider… classic!

Have a lovely day!

As an avid reader and aspiring writer myself, I can’t say enough to all those yet to be addicted… errr.. converted to myspace authors about how important a resource websites like myspace are!! Myspace, facebook, yuwie, xanga… all of these and more are really great resources!
If you are struggling with marketing or building a fan base especially, you really should consider more networking and advertising of this type.
I have found several new authors to read this way, either through recommendation of other myspacers, from seeing what others are reading, or who they are friends with!