Wednesday, September 17, 2008

BBAW Guest: Kathleen Kent


(consider this a shout out to you awesome historical bloggers!)

Forays into Facebook

Until a few weeks ago the sum total of my technological expertise was to turn on my laptop in order to write. I did have email, but I usually checked it once a day and that was that. All the “twitters”, chat rooms and IM’s belonged to that far off universe known as teen-dom.

As the publication date of my first book approached, I began to learn more and more about various book and media related websites, blogs, and social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. I was profoundly apprehensive about my ability to navigate this new world, but luckily I had a team of online experts at Little, Brown to help steer me through the waters.

My novel, “The Heretic’s Daughter”, is based on the story of my ancestor Martha Carrier, one of the first women hanged as a witch during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. When the web site for the book launched with a link to my family tree, people who were also descended from Martha Carrier immediately began contacting me. Legends of the Carrier family that I was unaware of, which were also passed down through generations of other branches on the family tree, started to appear in my email in-box and on blogger’s websites. These stories, I believe, will prove invaluable in my research for the next book, but they have also given me a sense of being a part of a larger family.

I spent five years researching “The Heretic’s Daughter” but, until I was connected more fully through the web, I had very little contact with these distant relatives. Now my extended family is growing into the dozens and perhaps, as word spreads, into the hundreds. It has given me a renewed sense of awe and wonder to know that Martha and Thomas Carrier’s words and deeds are still alive and well through the magic of virtual reality.

One of the most amazing aspects of these web services is how quickly opinions and comments from readers and reviewers have spread about “The Heretic’s Daughter”. Where once only the views of “professional” readers were widely circulated, now book lovers who have access to the internet gain instant access to the opinions and expressions of fellow readers world-wide.

Kathleen Kent lives in Dallas with her husband and son. THE HERETIC'S DAUGHTER is her first novel. Read more about it at www.thehereticsdaughter.com .

Hachette is giving away two copies of this book! I'm jealous, it looks awesome and the perfect read for fall. As with all Hachette giveaways, you need a United States or Canadian mailing address. Leave a comment telling me your favorite facebook application. If you don't use facebook, tell me why not!
Open until Friday.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

I consider myself pretty computer savy, but don't use Facebook. Maybe because my teenage is on the computer all evening? I guess I just think of Facebook as being for the teen/college years. I see all the hours my girls spend (waste?) on the site and don't want to spend all those hours too. I'd rather read!

shell688[at]aol[dot]com

Serena said...

My favorite Facebook applications are Pokey and The Lil' Green Patch. If you haven't checked them out, you should.

Mari said...

I loved Scrabulous until they pulled it, now I like Scramble.
Word games. Who would of thunk it? hehe.

Nicola O. said...

I like the word games too, go figure!

I'm also addicted to the Flair application. Those little buttons just make me smile-- funny, touching, or snarky as heck. Love 'em!

asdfjkl; said...

My favorite facebook app is the Flair. So many of them make me laugh!

Please enter me into the drawing.

TheBookworm
emailthebookworm(at)yahoo(dot)com

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

I'm not on Facebook, but I do have a MySpace account. The only reason for THAT is that I follow some bands (The High Kings, anyone?!) and I love getting their updates. I really don't use it for much else ... my blog is all the networking that I need! ~LOL~

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty new to facebook, but I also like the Pieces of Flair application. Too funny!

sj3girls(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I don't use Facebook - I guess I'm too old for it. It would just seem weird to be on there when I have a son in college.

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

I use Facebook and many of the apps, but the most useful thing for me is the basic wall app. It is such a great way to get messages to friends and family or just an easy way to say Hi.

Alyce said...

I have signed up for Facebook, but my account there is very basic. The only thing that I have added to it is a map that shows the places in the world where I have visited. I thought it was pretty neat. I probably use myspace more than facebook, but that is only because more of my relatives and friends use myspace.

darbyscloset said...

Ugh, now I feel old.....I don't use facebook or myspace or _____. I work out of the house and not on a computer during the day so in the evenings I'm doing good to keep up with my email and my book blogs!!!
Darby
darbyscloset (at) yahoo (dot) com

Ladytink_534 said...

I've had a myspace account for a couple of years and just stopped using it so I never bothered with a facebook. I might decide to make one though but instead of about me have it feature my blogs and do the same thing with a new Myspace account too.

Mindy Withrow said...

I'm a writer and reader, and new to Amy's blog. Hello, Amy! You can look me up on Facebook or at my website: mindywithrow.com.

I didn't think I would get much out of Facebook, but now that I've been on it for upwards of a year, I have to tear myself away to get any writing done. My favorite application is the Books ap, where I keep track of my reading lists: To Read, Currently Reading, Already Read, and Favorites. Not only can I rate and review my books, I can also view what my friends are reading.

The Bookworm said...

I dont use Facebook, I really dont know why not...lol. I just never signed up for it.

This book sounds so good!
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
naidascrochetATyahoo.com

Dina said...

I do have a Facebook acct, but it goes extremely slow for me, so I don't use it alot. I like al the fun stuff on it, but that is the only dislike about it.

Dina said...

oop, forgot my email addy:

dlsmilad(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jill said...

I don't use Facebook because I use MySpace. I realize there are differences between the two, but the general concept is the same.

Between MySpace, Livejournal, LibraryThing, and my Yahoo groups, I feel like my Web experience is pretty well-rounded.

I wonder which is better: Facebook or MySpace?

Jill
http://mrstreme.livejournal.com
jillceleste ATTTT hotmail

CherryBlossomMJ said...

Welcome Kathleen to the wonderful *addicting* world of blogging and Facebook. *grin* I just got my copy of your book, and snuck it to the upper part of my TBR pile. I cannot wait to read it and get a review out there.

*I do not need to win a copy* But in case you wish to email me: cherryblossommj (at) gmail [dot] com.

I do use Facebook, but at the same time I try to avoid it. The main things that I'm addicted to are blogs and Twitter. :)

Anonymous said...

I don't do Facebook. It seems far too...personal, too all about me and my 'stuff', and too many strangers! Of course my blog is intensely public, and often about me, but Facebook just seems strange to me. Besides - I'm way too busy blogging ;).

cindysloveofbooks said...

I have facebook and the application I love is the fairy one. My friend is part of it.

cindysloveofbooksarc AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

It's silly but Likeness is lots of fun.

doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

My favorite Facebook application hands down is Scramble (aka, in the real world, as Boggle). So much fun!

hannah DOT free AT gmail DOT com

Susan said...

I guess I don't use Facebook because it's just one more thing. I'm already so busy with just 2 blogs - and Goodreads and Library Thing, and Book Blogs, and Blog Catalog - I'm tired just trying to remember them all :)

Anonymous said...

Wait, wait, how can people /not/ be on Facebook? Or did you mean you're not on Facebook /more/ than three times a day?

Oh, did I just show my addiction?

So it's not really an app (my fav is probably wordscraper, but I'm newly addicted to Kidnap, too), but I LOVE love love love the new Facebook. I know that everyone's up in arms, but it just makes so much more sense to me.....

Aerin
Aerinblogs AT aol DOT com

Amanda said...

I like the (Lil) Green Patch application because every time you use it you save some rainforest land and the Visual Bookshelf because you can showcase books you have, are reading, want to read, etc. awalworth19(at)gmail(dot)com.

Nise' said...

I don't use Facebook because I just barely know what I am doing blogging and my kids said I can't be there cause they are! LOL

Anonymous said...

I've never used Facebook because I'm afraid lol. I'm 27 years old and I've only been on MySpace for about a year now. I tried Facebook once but it wasn't what I was used to and I sort of got lost and said forget it. I haven't tried again....maybe I will now!

Anonymous said...

I don't use Facebook (or My Space) or anything else. I don't really have a reason, except maybe lack of interest, probably due to lack of knowledge.

Unknown said...

I don't do FaceBook, MySpace or any of those other sites, mainly because I feel I'm too old (46), but mostly because I don't have an interest. I enjoy blogs much more!

Tarasview said...

I love the "growing gifts" application on facebook... I just think it is fun.

tanabata said...

I have a Facebook account but I think I've only signed in briefly 3 or 4 times in the last 6 months, never mind adding applications. It seems like another huge time vacuum, and since I'm always behind on blogging as it is I just don't bother. The reason I signed up in the first place was because a couple friends who aren't readers were on it and convinced me but as you can tell it's not working all that great for keeping in touch. Good old email or chatting with skype is frankly better, for me anyway.

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

It used to be Scrabulous before they had to shut it down. I miss Scrabulous. :-(

Tammy said...

Confession: I've never even looked at Facebook. Don't know the first thing about it. Why not? I guess I assumed it was primarily for teenagers and 20-somethings (of which I am neither). I am curious, though, so maybe I'll drop in just to see what all the hoopla is about.

Jen Forbus said...

I have Goodreads attached to my Facebook, but I have to come clean and say that Dogbook is my actual favorite - I get a chance to show off my babies!

Anonymous said...

I am a real novice at all things computer. I don't know much of anything about facebook so that's why I don't use it. I feel like I'm really making headway when I can move around from reading blog to reading blog. Just give me time.

Rebekah (monkeygirlsmama) said...

I think this book sounds really great. I've always been interested in the Salem witches, so this would be right up my alley.

As far as MySpace and Facebook are concerned, I prefer MySpace. However, I do use Facebook sometimes. I'd probably say my favorite app there is the one where you can give creatures that hatch after a few days. I think it's cute.

RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net

CA Verstraete said...

This book sounds fascinating! I was reading some actual witch trial transcripts I'd found online before (have to find them again) to get perspective as to what was happening during the time of my Belgian ancestors. Fascinating stuff! chris AT cverstraete.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite Facebook app is the Flair. So much fun!

Anonymous said...

I don't have a Facebook account. I've always thought of it as a social networking site for college athletes. Maybe it started as that originally. Now LibraryThing, Ning and LiveJournal are enough for me.

Lindsey said...

I have a Facebook but I'm not on there enough to know what's going on. Plus, I hate the "new" Facebook. lol I guess my favorite/most used application would be the photos. :-) Thanks for this giveaway!

Lindsey
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
www.kindredthought.blogspot.com

Anna said...

I don't use facebook, mainly because it's a challenge to update my blog on a daily basis sometimes, so I don't want to overload myself. I'm not opposed to signing up in the future, I just don't have time to maintain a page there right now.

I'd love to read this book!

--Anna (Diary of an Eccentric)
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com

Ronnica said...

My favorite facebook app was Scabulous. I try not to be bitter. Now my favorite is Flair!

Book Sp(l)ot said...

I technically use Facebook, but only to leave my friends messages/comments and find out where people are now...So, sadly, I don't have a favorite app...

(and I really don't know why my other computer won't let me comment...)
-Lucile

Anita Yancey said...

I don't use Facebook or My Space or any of those sites, I just don't trust it or feel safe using them. My husband is a police detective, and I have heard enough horror stories from him about these sites.
ayancey@dishmail.net

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