Ann Patchett is the author of my favorite novel of last year, State of Wonder. She also opened an indie bookstore in her hometown when every other bookstore closed. Yesterday, she took on Amazon in her BEA speach:

http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2012-06-07/ann-patchett-takes-on-amazon-in-bookexpo-acceptance-speech/710658/1?csp=34life&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+UsatodaycomBooks-TopStories+(Life+-+Books+-+Top+Stories)&utm_content=Google+Reader 

From author Nathan Bransford’s blog about the imperfections but usefulness of social media:

3) There are benefits to using social media beyond sales

If you’re only using social media to sell books you are absolutely using it wrong.

Yes, it can sell books. But the sales benefits are far down on the list of benefits that you will accrue using social media the right way.

More likely: You are making friends, you are learning about what else is out there, you are exchanging knowledge, you are discovering, you are communicating, and opportunities will come your way as a result.

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/05/social-media-is-imperfect-sales-tool.html 

As I’m working today with the Rangers game on in the background, I especially appreciate Wending’s topical analogy in his “25 Ways to Earn Your Audience”

“Take more shots at the goal for greater likelihood of hitting the goal.” 

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2012/05/15/25-ways-to-earn-your-audience/

So I was just reading about an fantastic sounding debut novel called The Innocents by a writer named Francesca Segal. It’s a modern day re-telling of The Age of Innocence. I wanted to order it but it’s not on sale yet, so I started googling the author and apparently she is the daughter of the brilliant writer Erich Segal, author of Love Story. Anyway, here is her website:

http://www.francescasegal.com/Francescas_Website/About.html

I’m excerpting part of a great post by Courtney Maum via thetinhouse. I love the part by Heather Hartley and sadly relate:

“Writers, they’re just like us! They fret, they procrastinate, they fondle talismans, sometimes they even pray. This week, in the second part of “Super Sad True Habits of Highly Effective Writers,” we’ll get down and dirty with some seriously successful scribes”

Heather Hartley (Knock Knock, Paris Editor of Tin House): Nail Polish. OPI. The newest addition to my desk. In a rare moment of trying out a new routine of hand care, I bought a bottle of “Gettin’Miss Piggy with It!,” a glittery red holiday shade. Although more polish made it on my computer than my nails, after that first bottle, I just kept buying and trying. From “Don’t Touch My Tutu!” to “Hearts and Tarts” to “Pedal Faster Suzi!,” I got hooked on polish. Maybe it would help improve my writing in some sparkly way—or at least get me to sit longer at my desk while the third coat of “Gouda Gouda Two Shoes” dried.  I keep adding to the miniature parade of polish lining my desk—I like to think the little bottles somehow help me concentrate better. Next on my list: “You Callin’ Me a Lyre?”

This 2009 blog post by Colleen Lindsay is a must-read:

http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2009/02/self-promotion-or-warning-being.html