Kind eReader,

An interesting month was had by myself and my two daughters in August, a month that illustrates what fascinating opportunities the Internet can present.

As a romance reader, you’ve undoubtedly discovered all the great tools you can access via the Web, things like, well, eCataromance.com!  Online reviews help you, author websites provide plenty of info on your fave writers, you can read entire works for free right online, and of course online bookstores bring a vast selection of reading within your easy reach.

But as was brought home to our family this month, you never know what cool things the Internet can bring your way.

My older daughter, Katie, has long been a blogger.  But in August she finally decided to create a photoblog to showcase her photography hobby.  (You can check it out here.)  I was so impressed!  So, apparently, was a friend of hers, someone Katie didn’t even realize was a regular reader of her main blog.  This young lady does graphic work for a new restaurant franchise that is opening business here in Milwaukee, and her company was looking for a food photographer.  She brought Katie together with her bosses, and now she will be doing freelance photography for them!  Talk about the web bringing an opportunity right into your lap.

Meanwhile, my younger daughter, Amanda, noticed on Craig’s List a very interesting freelance opportunity.  (Sidebar:  If you haven’t checked out Craig’s List yet, do–it’s like a big national yellow pages/classifieds on steroids.)  Manda is a film buff, has a degree in it, and loves to do movie reviews.  She maintains a blog of film analysis and is writing a book on Hitchcock.  Well, this job was a part-time gig doing movie recommendations for a new website, requiring Manda’s exact skill set:  writing ability, film analysis, and an encyclopedic knowledge of movies.  She had a blast doing the application; we’re crossing our fingers she gets a call to interview!

Not to be outdone, I had my own awesome experience in August.  I love comics and graphic novels and have always wished I had the talent to create my own romance comics.  (At least I was able with my modest skills to do my character gallery of portraits and my Diana’s Deck Romance Fortune Telling Cards.)  Well, I expressed this wistful wish in my blog this month, and one of my fans, talented artist CC Rogers, contacted me about a collaboration!  I was thrilled!  This was her first shot at creating a comic.  We did a two-page spread of a scene from my story “As Commonplace as Rain,” and had the time of our lives.  For me it was a dream come true.  (Click HERE to see the finished product)

I tell you, sometimes I feel like the Internet makes every day like Christmas.  You just never know what exciting present it’s going to give you.  Some days it’s an email from someone who has just discovered my writing, some days it’s a new friend who learned of a mutual interest from my blog.  I’ve emailed celebrities and gotten thrilling replies.  I’ve discovered new sources of knowledge (this month, the Internet Broadway Database), or new sources of fun (just signed up for XM radio’s online listening, wow).  Some days my 82-year-old dad sends me a fun animated graphic (or six) that he found, some days my website tracking leads me to someone’s super-nice comment and link to my site.

So my advice to you:  Put yourself out there on the Web.  The more you share of yourself, the more you will get back.  And never stop exploring all the wonders the Internet has to offer.  Why not start with a visit to www.dianalaurence.com or my Erotica with Soul blog?  LOL

eRead on,

Diana

Diana Laurence is the author of the Soulful Sex anthologies of erotic romance fiction, and released her latest book “Bloodchained” in September 2007 (www.bloodchained.com). Diana’s works are published by Living Beyond Reality Press (www.livingbeyondreality.com). Visit her at www.dianalaurence.com or enjoy her blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com.

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