Amazing how lack of electrical power can give a person an idea for a blog.
On Friday this summer the power went off about six o’clock in the morning just as my husband was brushing his teeth. He goes to work early to avoid traffic and to concentrate on his deskwork before many other people get to work.
The phone rang once and the ABS on my Mac starting chirping, which woke me up. I try not to rise early in the morning, but both those sounds jerked might right out of bed. I decided to stay in bed. Soon the persistent bleeping of the ABS and the fact that I was just plain awake gave me an idea. Lack of electricity meant I couldn’t turn on my computer, but I could whip out my handy dandy AlphaSmart and write a blog!
Plus, it made me ponder the days before electricity (being a sometimes-historical-writer, I often ponder lack of electricity). It also made me cogitate on the technology we rely on as writers to promote our work. Most writers these days have websites, and we also blog, use MySpace, Facebook, Shelfari, and an array of other technology to stay current with the world.
Me? I have my website, I blog and this year I broke down and have a My Space page (sorry, I’m not doing the other pages...too much of a time suck for moi.) I’ve also contemplated a trailer for some up and coming books.
Plus, I have a song on my MySpace page called Darling Denise on My Space page by independent music artist Val Emmich. Val contacted me one day to say I could use the song on my website if I wanted. A great marketing tool for us both. (Hey, check out Val on UGLY BETTY. He’s got a recurring roll on there this season.)
So what do you think of technology? How does it help or hurt you? You’ll have two days to comment. I’ll pick one person to receive a trade paperback copy of MEANT TO BE, my contemporary romance from Cerridwen Press.
Thanks to Laurie for allowing me to stop by and say howdy. I invite you to stop by my website, and read all about my latest releases, INTIMATE MOMENTS and WITHIN HIS SIGHT and visit MySpace, and listen to Val Emmich’s song Darling Denise.
Here’s to technology!
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34 comments:
Mostly I'm thankful for it because without the internet I wouldn't have met my 2 best friends. One is in Texas and the other is in Utah. I would never have *met* Laurie! She's the best. I also wouldn't be able to call several of my favorite authors "Friends" without it.
Sometimes I think technology is a pain in the butt, too *looking around at the messy house*. :D LOL
My high speed internet can sometimes be a total time suck, but I would definitely hate to give it up. Plus cell phones and the computer let me stay in contact with my boys, and that I love.
Hi Cindy! Thanks for stopping by. I agree that meeting new people is a special plus about technology. I've met several fantastic friends through email and internet. Some I met AGES ago and haven't met in person yet, but some I have. And those friendships are extremely valuable. Ah, yes. Technology is like money, no? It can be used for good or evil. Sounds like a book plot, no? LOL. I think that plot has been used a lot lately. :)
Denise A. Agnew
Cathy,
We had one cell phone FOREVER until we decided that changing to another provider would be better. I like the phone I have now because it's much smaller and easier to use. It's a pretty simple phone, though I don't even use all of the bells and whistles on it.
Denise A. Agnew
Hi, Denise! Mostly I'm a fan, but I have to be convinced--I'm not one of those so-called early adopters :) Of course, I'm married to one, so he drags me (sometimes kicking and screaming) into the modern era ;) I remember not thinking we needed a digital camera, TiVo, or a new computer, but I have to say that I've taken a TON of pictures since then, and our TiVo is full of the kids' programs. Plus, how could I possibly surf without our computer :) (On the other hand, maybe I'd get more cleaning done...)
Thanks for visiting, and congrats on all your releases!
Finally! I've been trying to comment for about three hours and our internet connection here at work just wasn't having any part of it!
Thanks for being here, Denise! I hate to admit it but I would be lost without my cell phone and my computer. I truly think I could do without television - I would miss some shows, absolutely, but I like to think I'm not that dependent on it. Maybe I've just got myself fooled!
We shared one cell phone as a family for quite a while, but when our oldest daughter started driving, we insisted that she have one w/her always. Youngest daughter was always gadding out and about w/her friends so she soon had one too. Hubby was the last to cave - swearing that he didn't need a "damn phone" to take w/her. Guess who calls me the most from his cell phone? lol He loves it! Too funny.
Back to work for me - I hope everyone is having a terrific day! Thanks Cindy, Cathy and Fedora for stopping by! Great blog, Denise!
Like anything else, electicity and the technology dependent on it have both pluses and minuses, some of which have already been pointed out.
I'm like you, Denise, and have a lot of friends that I've met online doing various things and I wouldn't give them up for the world. I'm logged into my instant messenger the whole time I'm at work in case any of my friends pop on and I have a few minutes to chat - only because my boss doesn't mind.
As for my cell phone, I got my own my freshman year of college so that I would have a phone number to give to my friends instead of having them call my house and have to talk to either my parents or sister first. It's also been really convenient because I travel quite a bit and it's always nice to have a way to let my parents know that I've arrived safely without paying huge long distance charges.
But, aside from the computer and my cell phone I'm not a huge gadget person. I do have a digital camera because it's much easier to take it and a large memory card than to carry around a regular camera and tons of rolls of film. The only reason I have an mp3 player for my workouts is because my brother, who is definitely a techie and into all kinds of gadgets, bought it for me as a present.
As for television, I could definitely do without it. Most of my time at home is spent in a room without a TV so I can read or do other things. When I am in the room with the TV, I usually have it muted or turn it off completely.
So, it's a bit of a love/hate relationship because I do like the convenience and the feeling of being connected to people who aren't geographically close, but I also hate the dependency on it. *sigh*
I don't think I'll survive without technology. I check my email constantly. There was a recent poll on people's addiction to their Blackberry. More than half take their Blackberry to bed with them.
I find technology a big help, by and large. It's nice being able to send e-subs to publishers for shot stories- it's easier than having to get hold of American stamps for an SSAE when I want to send something to the States. I also love using forums and reading blogs. I agree re.
Myspace being a timesuck though, and I often wonder how much more work I'd get done if I didn't spend so much time checking my email, reading blogs etc.
By the way, I am not entering the competition as I live in Australia and postage would be a killer, but is it okay for me still to comment here?
Enjoyed the post Denise. I believe that technology can be essential depending on what it is. For me, high speed internet is worth every extra penny I have to pay. I would feel lost without it.
Good points, everyone - it looks like we all agree that we're hopelessly dependent on our computers and phones!
Evelyn - I LOVE having you here, please don't stop posting!
Just a heads up that Denise's WITHIN HIS SIGHT releases today from Liquid Silver Books. It looks amazing - I hope you'll check it out!
Have a great day and as always, thanks for stopping!
Fichen! Thanks for stopping by! :) I'm so glad my internet keeps me away from cleaning!!! And thanks much for the kudos on my stories. I very much appreciate that. :)
Denise A. Agnew
Laurie,
No problemo! I got caught up in doing some other things yesterday and didn't get over her as often as I wanted. As for a cell phone, in some ways I don't use it that often. Certainly not as often as most people do. :) Now TV, well I've got my favorite programs that I TiVo and man I love that TiVo!!! Genius!
Thanks again for having me at your blog! I so much appreciate this opportunity.
Denise A. Agnew
Karin,
I'm with you on the love/hate relationship with technology. LOL. When it works well it's great. And how did we ever live without this stuff before, eh? LOL. Of course, there are plenty of "young folk" out there who never have lived without it, so they don't have anything to compare to. I feel old sometimes because I can remember life before personal computers, before cell phones...hell, I even remember when we had a rotary dial phone. SNICKER.
Denise A. Agnew
Jane,
Take the Blackberry to bed with them!!! ARGHHHHHHHH!!! Well, that's why they call it Crackberry, right? LOL.
Denise A. Agnew
Evelyn,
Ah, yes! I certainly remember when the only way to submit to publishers was to print the whole manuscript off and put it in a box/big envelope and mail it! Oy!!!!
Denise A. Agnew
Evelyn,
Heck, yeah! Comment away. I have two editors in Australia, by the way. LOL. :)
Denise A. Agnew
Sometimes I wonder what I did with my time before internet, blogs, Myspace and cell phones.
Time-suck? Yes, of course.
Entertaining? Definately!
Is Val Emmich Betty's new guitar playing neighbor?
Cherie,
Oh, I am TOTALLY spoiled by high speed internet. Dang, I remember when the rate on my computer back in about '94 was 9600 or was it 9400 bpm. LOL!
Denise A. Agnew
Denise, I remember having a rotary phone at home when I was little. By the time I was a senior in high school we were doing all of our presentations using Powerpoint.
As for my cell phone, I don't use it all that often. Mostly it's calls between my parents and I, usually my mom checking when I'll be coming home for lunch. And, while most people text a lot now, the only person I text is a friend of mine who lives out of state and that's the easiest way we can connect.
Blackberry is definitely Crackberry. There's a reason I refuse to get one. My brother uses his all the time but made sure to leave it off when we were on our trip to Russia in August. He only brought it so we would have an alarm in the morning so we wouldn't miss our bus.
I love the internet to chat, enter contests, e-mail friends, meet new authors, etc.
I love the cell phone if one is stranded somewhere with no guy to help change a tire or get you out of a snowbank.
I love my MP3 to be able to listen to songs/music while doing other things,.
Sorry I'm taking so long to reply, guys. I'm fighting a bit of a bug today.
Denise A. Agnew
Angie-la! Hi there. :) To answer your question, Val Emmich is playing Ugly Betty's neighbor. He showed up in the last few minutes of the first episode of this season. Val's song Darling Denise is on my My Space page for those of you who didn't know...check it out! It's a neat song.
Denise A. Agnew
Hi Robyn,
I've had two MP3 players. My first one was a Rio. Boy is my iPod ten times better! I love it!
Denise A. Agnew
Karin,
My hubby has to have a Crackberry for his work, but thank goodness he's not addicted to it. Plenty of his co-workers are, though.
Denise A. Agnew
When technology works, it's the greatest thing in the world. When it's not working, it's the worst.
Arkiern,
I totally agree!
Denise A. Agnew
Hey guys, since I have some errands to run on Wednesday morning I thought I'd better post my winner late tonight! The winner of a paperback copy of MEANT TO BE is Karin!! Congratulations Karin!
Email me at danovelist@cox.net
Thanks much!
Denise A. Agnew
Again, a hearty thank you to Laurie for having me here as a guest blogger. I had a great time! Thanks to all of you who commented. Hope to see you again soon. :)
Hugs!
Denise A. Agnew
Step off the edge...
Into dark, delicious adventure...
www.deniseagnew.com
Denise,
Thanks so much for being here! Congrats to Karin on her win - you're gonna love MEANT TO BE!!
My daughters have a difficult time imagining that we had a "party line" until I was 14, meaning we shared a phone line with several other neighbors. I think I was about the same age when my parents bought our first color television -even harder for them to believe! Not to mention that we only had three channels, maybe four if PBS chose to come in clearly - no remote either! You had to actually get up to change the channel! We've come a long way, baby!
Robyn, I love my cell phone and text as much as I chat on it these days, but initially it was purchased for "emergencies" - thankfully there haven't been many in the 11 or so years we've had cell phones.
Angie-la, I definitely had more time for housework, crafts, etc. before the internet and all of the social (reading) circles I've gotten involved with - but I love them all so much that I don't know how I could go back to not having them.
Arkiern - you hit the nail on the head - we are absolutely lost at work if we don't have the power to run all of the wonderful technology we have! If it doesn't work, you're left practically helpless.
Thanks to everyone for stopping - I'm certain that you've all enjoyed Denise being here just as much as I have!
Yay, Karin! And thanks, Denise and Laurie--a very fun topic to discuss indeed! :)
I have to agree with flchen1, this was a fun topic to discuss. Thanks to Denise for bringing it up and thanks to Laurie for hosting it. :)
ive been dying wantig ot read that
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