When I started reading romance some twenty-*cough* years ago, there was no hopping on the internet to see what was next from my favorite author.  No website where I could find a quick list of the author’s backlist or read about her life with her husband, three crazy kids and two rambunctious dogs.  At the most I had a picture inside the back cover and the words between the pages as my only link to the source of the wonderful stories.

Today is very different.  Now it’s unheard of for an author not to have her own website.  Even a blog or bulletin board is necessary, and perhaps the most important tool for an author.  You see, I’ve found countless new authors through these public forums and in many cases, I was more moved to buy their work simply from their personality and generosity than through the blurb for their book. 

There are authors who make you laugh, authors who inspire you with their real life story, and authors who are just so dang nice you can’t help but root for them.  Even if the Captain hadn’t raved about Leslie Langtry, reading her blog would have convinced me to buy her books.  She is sarcastic, witty and funny as Hell.

 There’s Anna Campbell who wrote for 27 years (which makes her 29!) before selling her first book and what a book that was.  She’s now a double RITA nominee for her first two novels and I can think of no one more deserving of the honor.  So glad I’ll get to be there to cheer her on at the awards ceremony.  If you’re reading this Anna, I promise we won’t embarrass you TOO much.

Then there’s Toni Blake.  She’s one of those authors that is just so sweet and generous and always comes across as down to earth be it on blogs, bulletin boards or in email.  Even if you don’t like your romance hot enough to melt your bookmark, you want to buy her books just to support her.

But there can be a negative to all this.  You see, you can lose a reader just as quickly as you can gain ten.  I’ve had authors completely ignore me in a blog conversation and that’s enough for me not to buy or read their books.  I’ve seen an author leave a comment that seemed insulting or somehow condescending.  This is a deal breaker for me as well.

Anyone who has been communicating electronically for any period of time knows it’s a tricky business.  Tone doesn’t always convey in a few quick words typed on a screen.  The joke can be lost, the sarcasm not clear, or the response taken completely wrong.  It’s one thing when it’s two friends talking and it can eventually be cleared up.  It’s totally different when you’re an author and your virtual words mean just as much as the words you put in your books.

For you readers, do you get upset if your favorite author doesn’t have a website or doesn’t update their site very often?  Have you found authors in cyberspace you might not have picked up before?  Have you been turned off by an author based on something they did or didn’t do on a forum? (No names, please!)

For you as yet unpublished authors, do you have an internet presence (wenches – here’s your chance to promote your other web activities), are you counting on a web presence helping you sell both to an agent or editor and eventually to readers?  Published authors, what role does the internet play in your career and do you ever long for the days when all you had to do was write the books, make a couple of appearances and the occasional acceptance speech?

Disclaimer: There are countless authors I could have used in this blog including but not limited to the Original Squawkers (who gave us all the play book for this group blog thingy), the Romance Banditas, The Goddesses, and many more.  Special honorable mention goes out to Eloisa James who is solely responsible for getting me into this whole mess. *g*

With all the parties we throw around here, Bo the Bartender demanded I bring him in some kind of assistance.  I’m sure he meant get some of those tiny little waitresses in skimpy outfits.  But if he thinks that would ever happen, he’s smokin’ something.  In my all too generous way, I found two perfectly good, able bodied assistants for dear Bo.  Oh yeah…

Since you can never have too many margaritas, it was important to find someone to man the blender.  Brad here seems to have that well in hand.  Or maybe in lap.  Either way, the only problem I’ve found since adding Brad to the crew is the fight amongst the girls who gets to lick the pitcher.

With so many guests passing through the ship, I felt it important to provide really good room service.  I think it’s pretty obvious that Jason here is the man for the job.  Oh yeah, I’ll have a shot of Absolute….straight up.  As *ahem* talented as he is, I’m having a bit of trouble with how long it takes Jason to return to the Galley once he’s sent out on delivery.  For some reason, he’s often gone for hours.  The fact he’s usually found in my cabin means nothing.

We have such a great line up for the next two months.  First up, this Friday, we bring back one of our favorite guest bloggers and an honorary Pirate Wench Santa O’Byrne.  And I’m happy to say that Santa has agreed to help me send back updates from the RWA National Conference from San Francisco the first week of August.

On the schedule for June we have Toni Blake making a return visit on the 2^nd and my new best friend (at least until she sends back my pages with red slashes all over them) Loucinda McGary will be my first interview victi…err…..guest on Friday the 13th!  Loucinda is a regular at the Romance Bandits blog, has her own personal blog and is on a mission to hit every internet site she can possibly find before her debut book hits shelves Oct. 1.  Who are we to stand in the way of that?

July is going to be hot, hot, hot with Historical author Kimberly Killion on the 1^st, Erotica author Dee S. Knight on the 8^th and Contemporary Harlequin author Megan Kelly on the 15^th.  Clearly, RWR is the place to be this summer!

With Memorial Day (here in the US) only a week away being the unofficial signal that summer has begun, what kind of vacation/summer plans are in store for everyone?  Gas prices have you staying home?  Hitting the beach come Hell or $4 gas prices?  Or are you priming the AC and all set to hide in the house?