Dear Reader,

I’ve been told people don’t care about author’s websites anymore; it’s all about our social media sites. I’ve also heard tons of tips about blogging. Do this. Don’t do that. None of it matters, though, if no one’s reading your blog. I admit, I rarely read blogs, but I do check out author’s websites. Especially when they’ve written a novel or short story that I like. Do I read their blogs? Not so much. I use my reading time to read the paper and fiction. It’s a nice balance, I think, of fact and fiction. When I check out an author’s website I want to see what they look like. Then I can hate them for penning a best-selling novel at twenty or commiserate with their years of banging-out award-winning novels no one’s ever heard of. I don’t care how many dogs they have, or what they like to eat for breakfast. Nor am I that interested in their tips about writing, which, I admit, I too like to write about, and have done as evidenced by my past blogs. But seriously? If you want to write, just do it. And read too. Critically. Why do you like a certain passage? Or book? Figure it out and put your own spin on it. That’s pretty much all there is to it.

That said, I’m not going to tell you about my cat. If you want that kind of info you’d best check out my Facebook page, which, I admit, I pretty much neglect. But when I do post things, they are either semi-personal in nature or what I like to think of as banging my little drum: Read my newest Novel! See my latest play! (If you’re lucky you’ll see a picture I’ve been tagged in, one of those horrible shots where I’ve just taken a bite out of a sandwich.) I hate it when other authors use their social media sites to promote their latest works, but what’s a girl to do? Publishing companies can only do so much. A writer friend of mine had her publicist say, “Get me one hundred tweets by Monday.” The reality of this just about made me lose my lunch. What is this world coming to?

So here’s a tip: If you really want to know about me, read my books. It’s about as close to me as you’re going to get. Unless you’re one of my friends. Or come to one of my improv classes. I put my heart and soul into every novel, and yes, they are all fiction, but what is fiction really but cleverly disguised truth?

I hope this doesn’t sound too cynical. I’m pretty sure that’s a no-no when it comes to blogs. I will ask a favor of you, if you happen to come across this blog, and read it all the way to the end, leave me a comment. I feel as if I’m casting a bottle out to sea. I’d like to know who’s there when it washes up on the giant cyber beach of the web.

Yours truly,

Clifford