Link to Facebook Fan Page

Thanks to Vivs at Bears Quilt Shop in Garden Grove I can give you a link that will take you to my real fan page. Though I appreciate you all "liking" the Wikipedia page, it doesn't place you on a list where when I post on my fan page, it goes to your mailbox. The Wikipedia page (the one without my photo) is a community page that I have no control over or ability to post to.

So, here's the link: http//:www.facebook.com/pages/Earlene-Fowler/199826060040726

Thanks! I'll be announcing the winners of the contest April 15th and putting up another contest on that day. The next contest prizes have to do with Spider Web and are really special!

Happy Facebook Trails, Earlene

p.s. My book launch party will be at Bears on May 1st. Food, fun and prizes! Everyone is welcome!

Facebook - Phase II (And title of new book!)

Okay, this has gotten complicated which is what I was afraid was going to happen! Arggg! Bear with me, folks.

There is a Facebook page that has my name on it--no picture. I think that's one that Facebook put up on their own. It's just my Wikipedia information. I don't have any control over that and, though I think my publisher looks at it, they'd be more interested in my "real" fan page.

I set up a personal account which I need to do the chat, but there is no "like" button on there. I'm getting "friends" which is okay, except my publisher doesn't care about that so much because Facebook has a limit of 5000 "friends" and so it really doesn't show a true count of who might be interested in your "product." (The product would be me and my books :))

Some people have had trouble finding my fan page with the laughing picture, but some people have found it so there must be a way. Maybe scroll down and look at all the Earlene Fowler's (there are six, I think). I know it's on there because some people have found it.

So, the "like" count for my Wikipedia page has gone up so I know some of you found that. Hope you all can find the real fan page now. I won't monitor the fan page every day (have another administrator doing that), but I will be posting on it to keep you updated.

If you "friend" me, I'll accept, but like I said, I won't be currently posting on my personal Facebook page at least until I get further on this new book. Thanks so much for taking the time to help me on this new venture!

By the way, I forgot to tell you all the title of the sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife.

The Cattle Singer. More on that later. Back to work now!

Happy Trails, Earlene

Finally on Facebook (sort of)

Okay, my agent and publisher "encouraged" me get on Facebook (as in, for cryin' out loud, Earlene, will you stumble into the 21st century, already!) Actually, they were nicer than that and have been very understanding about my reluctance to dive into social media. I'm going to be doing a Facebook chat in May so, apparently, I needed an account to do that. That's where the "sort of" comes in. I'll be honest, I can't really chat with people. Why? Well, as many of you know, I LOVE to talk and there's nothing I love better than talking to you all. But, if I spend time on Facebook chatting with folks, guess what doesn't happen? Writing. So I'm dipping my toe in with great hesitation. I will let you know the time of the chat when it is finalized. And I will occasionally throw in a comment, but I will continue to mostly communicate via this blog. I like the fact that only you all see it, rather than the whole world. But, I guess I need to get over that. It is a new world, for sure.

So, can you all do me a favor? I'd really appreciate those of you on Facebook to go to my fan page (the one with the photo where I'm laughing...this photo was done by an incredible photographer, Sharon Kay, and was the LAST picture of our session...that's why I'm happy!) Anyway, if you do "like" me, can you please hit the like button? My publisher is probably going to be checking this page out and it makes me look good. They'll look at this one rather than my personal one. I think they're more concerned about how many likes a person gets rather than friends. Probably because there's no limit on likes.

What else is happening? Well, I'm trying to divide receipts for taxes (It's almost April? Say what?) and trying to write. I went on the quilt cruise to Mexico a few weeks ago and met a bunch of wonderful quilters. We all had a fun time getting to know each other. The buffets were fabulous, as was the wonderful service on Holland America. Allen and I both keep waiting for someone to bring us clean towels and make our bed. But, alas, back on dry land we have to fend for ourselves (though it occurred to me that Boo gets that kind of excellent service all the time--meals, clean beds, massages...wait a minute, what's this baloney about a dog's life?)

Other than that, everyone is fine though Allen and I are sneezing our heads off. Wonderful to have so much rain, but now we're paying for it with a super-sized allergy season. I did hear on the news that our governor officially declared the drought is over. A glass of cold water for everyone!

Looking forward to seeing some of you in May!

Happy Pollen-filled Trails, Earlene

Book Tour Dates and Swinging the Machete

First, I want to thank the nine women who took up the challenge and sent me detailed lists of the errors in State Fair. I wrote you all individually, but wanted to say thanks again. According to my agent, what you all did was called "crowdsourcing." Wow, are we with it or what? I just call it getting by with a little help from my friends! What was amazing is that each woman found many of the same errors, but also unique ones that no one else caught. No one person caught every error (and, likely, there are a few we all missed). Still, the paperback should be the most correct book in the series!

My book signing schedule is now on my website. Just check on the homepage under "appearances." As you'll see, I'm only going to Arizona, Southern California and the Central Coast. My publisher decided not to send me on book tour this year, so I'm doing this on my own. Times are pretty hard in publishing. If you've been listening to NPR or reading any of the news magazines, online or on paper, you probably have heard the rumblings. Borders going into Chapter 11 is serious stuff and the ebook phenomenon has really shaken up the industry. Where do I stand? Right now, I'm working on the sequel to The Saddlemaker's Wife and that's the last book on this particular contract. I have no idea what will happen after that. Though I try to keep up with what is happening in publishing, mostly I just try to write my pages every day and live my life. I only know for sure that Spider Web comes out in May and the book I'm working on now will possibly come out in 2013. If any of you can come out to a book signing and buy a book, well, I'll be real grateful. Can you believe this is the 15th Benni Harper book?

Daddy is finally settled into his new assisted living home. We moved him right after Thanksgiving and the adjustment wasn't as smooth as we hoped. But the people who own the homes were wonderful and worked with us. Daddy's finally feeling safe and good again. There were also many doctor's appointments which, thankfully, are almost done. I'm a little behind on my writing, but have faith I will catch up. It was surprisingly easy for me to get back into the minds of Lucas and Ruby. Like when I write about San Celina, writing about Cardinal felt like going back home. I have a working title which I'll announce on my next blog...because I haven't even told my editor yet! Allen's doing good and so is Boo. He'll be seven in April (Boo, not Allen). What happen to my little puppy?

I read this paragraph in a book by one of my favorite authors, Philip Yancey. (This particular book is called Reaching for the Invisible God).

"When I begin a book, I take up a machete and start hacking my way through the jungle, not to clear a trail for others, but rather to find a path through for myself. Will anyone follow? Have I lost my way? I never know the answers to those questions as I write; I just keep swinging the machete."

So, that's what I've been doing these last few months...with my father, my life and my writing. Just swinging that machete, trying to find my way. Really, that's all any of us can do, isn't it?

Happy Trails, Earlene