Facebook part 2

I said I'd given an update on Facebook, once I was on it for a while. I've discovered that unlike Twitter, which I remember to do about once a day, if that, I really enjoy Facebook. I'm on it two ways. One is my personal page, and the other is a page where anyone can be my fan, which is at this URL: http://tinyurl.com/r8hkd7

On my fan page I've got pictures of my book covers from other countries and a bunch of pictures not on my website. I talk about my books. On my personal page, I don't have that many pics and mostly I keep up with people and post stuff that might be relevant or interesting.

I'm having tons of fun with Facebook. Remember that statement that being friends with your exes is a bit strange? Well, I'm friends with my high school boyfriend and my first college boyfriend, and it's been cool to catch up with what's going on in their lives. I've found most of my college pals from UMSL.

Mostly, it's been a great way for me to keep track of my former students, a bunch of romance writer friends from all over the country and my journalism buddies. I'm up to date with all my best friends from high school. I'm up over 110 friends and if I added everyone I knew, I'd probably go insane, even though I have my feeds set up on lists. But I like to read everything. While I don't play mafia wards, do pillow fights, or take half those quizzes, it is rather fun to read everyone else's results. I'm enjoying viewing pics of my former student Ryan and his wife's trip to Alaska. I keep track of Peter, who is serving in Iraq.

The only downside is that Facebook is such a time suck. Being home for the summer, I check it several times a day for someone is always posting something and often chats pop up from people I haven't talked to in years, and we gab for a few minutes.

But what's been really fun is that I just wrote my first Facebook chat into Under Doctor's Orders, my latest Harlequin American Romance. Chandy talks to her brother Chase (hero in Bachelor CEO, coming in July) and then when he types something she doesn't like, she says she has to go and disconnects. I loved it. Texting and Facebook will play a role in this story, for that's the reality of how people communicate these days.

For example, I haven't talked to my best friend Susan, who only lives here in town, since she got back Friday night from her week-long adventure being at mom and me boy scout camp. But from Facebook I know she survived the bugs, the extreme heat, the torrential downpours, life in a tent and is now at home--which is quiet since her husband gave her a break and took her boys to his mother's for the weekend. I'll call her later in the week--and let her enjoy the silence and a nap in her own bed.

Facebook & Twitter

Feel free to be my fan on Facebook at www.tinyurl.com/r8hkd7 and at Twitter at www.twitter.com/micheledunaway

New title

My February 2010 release has officially been titled. It's now called BABY IN THE BOARDROOM.

New sale

Michele announces that she's sold another book to Harlequin American Romance. Tentatively titled Under Doctor's Orders, it will be published in 2010.

Facebook

I have recently discovered Facebook. I’ve been on it since 2006, when my daughter made me a page. But I never did anything with said page. That changed this week, when I finally got my yahoo email working again and my Facebook password changed. Suddenly, I was online.

Then I had decisions to make. Exactly what type of a page did I want? As writers, we put ourselves out there all the time, such as through our websites and blogging. I have followers on twitter that I don’t know; people who read about what I’m doing that day. I read over 150 emails a day in regards to my job and writing. So I decided to keep my Facebook page invite only and my profile private.

I figured it just made sense. When I looked at who had friend requests waiting for me, I discovered it was friends and former students and a few writer buddies. Then I looked at to whom I was sending friend invites. This could be my window to all those people whom I never seem to get a chance to talk as much as I’d like because life is so busy. I’m either teaching, writing or being a mom. While I love picking up the phone and hearing someone’s voice, there aren’t very many extra minutes in the day, and my friends are equally as busy. Now I can read my wall.

I’ve already reconnected with my best friends from high school who I get to see every so often and who send me all those fun emails. I miss them, and dedicated my March book to them. I’ve found former students. I haven’t befriended my prom date or ex boyfriends since that seems creepy, although my daughter tells me it’s quite common. As to making another Facebook page for my books and fans—that’s something to think about for another day.

So I’m in the modern world, but keeping it close. If you want to follow me, catch me on www.twitter.com/micheledunaway. Or keep reading my posts right here on this blog or twice a month at www.harauthors.blogspot.com or visit me on the forums at eharlequin. That’s me out there. Facebook’s me “in there”, my tiny window into what once was my world, and I’m liking it.

RT's Review of Twins for the Teacher

4 Stars


TWINS FOR THE TEACHER (4) by Michele Dunaway: A wary elementary school teacher, a sexy widower and sweetly rowdy twins make this a warmhearted family romance with adorable characters and a realistic plot. Widower Hank Friesen manages a new resort and enrolls his children in the local elementary school. While he's not looking for romance, he becomes enchanted with teacher Jolie Tomlinson. Jolie, still cautious after her bitter divorce and her own personal tragedy, finds herself falling for the kids and their very sexy daddy, but can she put her past behind her? —Pat Cooper

Rebecca Savage's Review of Twins for the Teacher

Michele Dunaway has captured the spirit of the classroom teacher and all her worries. Jolie has to deal with a principal who should tell her students, their parents, the faculty and staff to mind their own business, but instead the principal is a busy-body and worries about the wrong things in life, both personal and professional.

On top of that, Jolie has had a tragic past. She’s in her thirties, and Hank is in his forties, also a tragic past. They’ve moved on, or so they believe, but they’re only surviving, until they find each other. They realize they’ve been simply existing, and they want more. They want to come out of the darkness of their past sufferings.

Jolie is a teacher and wants to be a mother. Hank is a father and wants to be a husband, again. Can they put their past behind them and take their friendship to the next level? They think they can, but then the dark moment hits them right between the eyes, especially Jolie. But if anybody can fix it and make it better, it’s Hank Friesen, but does he want to…after what Jolie let happen to his son…

Michele does a great job with the book, these characters, and the setting and plot. Her book is a charming, easy read, and I found it quite relaxing, even if I am a teacher and at time I wanted to pummel the principalJ