As in, amazing it still works at all! Heh :P
Here’s the thing. Last week, I totally forgot to post my Tuesday blog here. You know why? I’ll tell you why. Because my brain is OVERWORKED and is MELTING! The Evil Day Job has reached hitherto unknown heights of evilness lately, there have been many many family obligations (fun, but time-consuming), the house still refuses to keep itself clean, we’re plunging into the college search with the girl-child, and I really have to exercize now and then or I’ll turn into pudding or something. Plus there are those pesky, pesky boys in my head wanting me to write them sex scenes and moments of angst-ridden revelation. And I’m on deadline for said angst and sex.
The point (yes, I do have one *g*) is that all this stuff to do equals a rather frazzled Ally. I have zero organizational skills, yet I have a zillion things to juggle. “So what?” you might say. “Join the freakin’ club.” And you’d be right. Everyone’s busy, too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Which is why I am now picking the hopefully non-melted and more organized brains of all you people out there. Smart, huh? So here goes:
What do you want to see from an author with lots of way-cool tales of manlove, but no time to properly pimp it all? Blogs, like this one? Chatting on Yahoo? Newsletters? Frequently updated websites? Do you want “just the facts,” information about the books without a lot of chatter? Or do you want to know about the people behind the books?
Help a girl get her s*** together here. Tell me what you want from moi, your humble provider of mansexiness! Because I know you don’t have time to waste either :D
Written by Ally Blue
Ally is a rich and famous author of hot gay manlove. She travels the world in her private jet, being waited on hand and foot by her team of pretty young men who bring her umbrella drinks and make out for her pleasure . . . Okay, so that's her dream life. Her novels of Manlove & Angst are mostly written in her living room, in between working at the Evil Day Job and doing Mom Stuff. Oh, the glamorous life of an author!
Visit The Author's Website
Cassie wrote,
I prefer newsletters or Yahoo chats. I forget to check websites for updates unless I am reminded somehow.
Link | July 31st, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Elaine wrote,
I rarely remember to check blogs or websites even when I WANT to! I don’t have the time so the loops with the availability to go to digest, announcements or individual e-mail is the best for me. I will occasionally hit a blog or 2 when I am reminded like today. LOL!
Organization? Oh please! Not in this life time. I can train my dogs with out instruction but will I do it? Nope, that is why I pay money so I can go to an organized class that forces me to train at least once a week… I like to try and fit reading in ocassionally as well as taking the spawn here and there on a regular basis. Any way the rambling? I like the loops for chat and announcements with me making the decision to have more or less.
Link | July 31st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Lidyah wrote,
Blogs - Blogger site I personally don’t like, unlike live-journal it doesn’t have a previous button and you end up getting lost. Most of the time authors forget about their blogs and never update.
Yahoo Groups - Tend to be filled with chatter and the actual news might get lost in tht sweep of 100’s of messages. Thus for people like me it becomes a chore to find out what the author has said initially. Also someone like me, tends to join a lot of Yahoo Groups and it’s mayhem sometimes.
Websites - Personally is the main source I go too, to see update to date news. However 9/10 times I have found is that some authors have horrid sites and makes navigation hard and just gives me a headache. Or - many don’t have a website.
I for one I’m not into knowing an author personally. Most of the time authors work behind alias’s and such. But I would like to know what gender I am speaking too. Most authors go behind a lot of pen names and such, and it’s too James Bond for me *grins*
I understand working a newsletter can be hard, but I personally am always interested in updates of potential releases, coming soon books, books authors are thinking about writing or adding to series and such. I would like to use ‘Jordan-Castillo-Price her wordpress blog as a fine example. The author talks about her progress with her books and is kind enough to reply to all comments posted (whenever you can) so it is both personal and professional at the same time.
As a reader I like the idea of a newsletter or a website that gives the following information.
1. I like to read about the progress on books the author is writing at the present time.
2. I like to read news on potential releases.
3. Coming soon books.
4. Authors own recommended reads.
5. Reviews that are given by a third party. Not a collegue on the same publishing site.
6. Books being released in print.
7. Might be asking a lot here but release dates. I know that is dependant on the publisher.
8. Art works on their books (i.e. Jet Mykles who posts art work/covers of books to show readers beforehand)
9. A full list of books published. Authors like Willa Okati have a lot of books written but her website doesn’t seem to cover all that she has written? (Unless I missed something).
10. m/m and m/f or other genres to be separated so people don’t need to look at books that don’t take their fancy.
I hope this helps, and doesn’t come of demanding. Just a personal way I’d like to view things myself. But as a reader going to a place that will always be updated is excellent for me.
Link | August 1st, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Billy Carmichael wrote,
8/1/07
Dear Ally,
I am very sorry that you are frazzled. I suggest that you try this poem/breathing exercise by Thich Nhat Hanh.
In, out.
Deep, slow.
Calm, ease.
Smile, release.
Present moment,
Wonderful moment.
Chatting on Yahoo and Yahoo group activity are 2 suggestions! Love is Blue is my favorite Yahoo group! Updates on your awesome website would be great! I love learning more about you! You are number 1 to me!
Love and Live in Peace,
Billy Carmichael
Portland, ME
Link | August 1st, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
BIG HUGE THANK YOUS to everyone for replying! It is SO helpful to me to know what’s most enjoyable and workable for you as readers! And no, no one is coming off as demanding *g*
Billy, that breathing excercize is really great, thank you!
Link | August 1st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Ines wrote,
Leaving the lurking mode, I must confess that I personally love reading blogs. Although in the end I focus on 4 blogs that I have on my favourite sites and which I visit every other day. I do not know, for me, being part of the creation process (as a spectator of course LOL) makes it better. I am part of some yahoo groups, that provide this as well as some laughs. And now and then I tend to visit the author web, but usually authors sites from whom I do not follow the blog and so on.
I do not know if I’ve helped, but my conclusion is : please, pretty please, find five minutes to share with us *pouts with angelic face*
Link | August 2nd, 2007 at 4:52 am
Chrissie wrote,
I really love reading blogs that are updated on a regular basis. There a several blogs including this one that i check every few days. I find i feel more connected with blogs. although I do belong to some yahoo groups as well. I especially enjoy blogs that make me laugh. There can never be enough laughter
Link | August 2nd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Ines wrote,
Hi Chrissie, it seems that we tend to go to the same blogs! LOL Looks like that we are the blogs cheerleaders *grin*
Link | August 3rd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
Ooooo, do y’all have those cute little skirts? And pom-poms?
*ggg*
It seems that blogs are very popular. I am thinking of biting the bullet and setting up a schedule of blogging. I mean I blog here on Tuesdays, and on Slash & Burn every other Sunday, but I have a LiveJournal blog and a MySpace one which are sadly neglected. Anyone have a preference when it comes to LJ vs MySpace?
Link | August 3rd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Lidyah wrote,
Ally,
Please use LJ (Okay so I have a personal hatred towards MS). But LJ would be great or hell if you have a blogger page. ♥
Link | August 4th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
I like LJ better myself. MySpace can be a real PITA. I’m gonna try to revive my LJ blog, I think.
Link | August 5th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Chrissie wrote,
Ines, we do seem to read the same blogs, I’m okay with the pom-poms but I’m not sure about the short skirts :)
Link | August 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am