First Word

Dear California Girl Chronicles Supporters, I want to thank so many of you who have been so gracious and supportive of my book in its early release. I am honored and thrilled to have so many Brea lovers. You are doing so many things to support my efforts: Girlfriends giving it as presents to other girlfriends; Facebook followers sending me pictures of the book in various poses; fans and friends of the book posting some 20 positive Amazon reviews; and so many others who have spoken to me or written me notes about Brea. You have embraced Brea as a good friend. This small and growing fan base is what will expand the book now and into the future. The TV show development is under way, and we truly expect some kind of deal in 2012. In the meantime, you all have touched my heart in so many ways. I thank each and every person who has reached out to help me. I am blessed to have so much love and support! With warm gratitude, Michelle

Authors whose books aren't selling need to get out an ax and shovel. Time to build from the ground and up. Your book (and this applies to products) requires a platform. What is a platform? Your business or book platform is your viewpoint or message. You build a platform using marketing and public relations practices. What do you include tactically? Your website , blog, social media, newsletters and mass media. Each effort ties to another effort. Your website ties to your blog; your blog ties to your website and newsletter; your newsletter ties to your blog and website; and everything in your media kit and press releases ties back to your website, which ties back to your blog, newsletter and social media. You see it's connected in a circle. Then you get to work. For my brand new book California Girl Chronicles just out on Amazon yesterday, here is what I am doing. 1. I went back to my pre-reviewers and asked them to post reviews on Amazon . The results were amazing and than...

Social media is a lot of work. I Tweeted that yesterday, but it is. I finally broke down and began to focus on my much-neglected Twitter account that had like two followers. I gradually over the last few days began to build up followers, and I imagine I will be working on that for the next few weeks. It wouldn't be so time consuming if I weren't also involved keeping my fan page going, sharing on Facebook, and occasionally accepting a new colleague on Linked-In. Lest we also forget that I'm blogging here and now I have Brea's blog going on Tumblr.com. It's madness I tell you. Yes, these accounts are linked (the first thing people say all of the time); but you can't simply link accounts and voile! Your time has been magically saved. Neglecting to follow people on Twitter only resulted in one thing -- no followers for me. Blogging is another task that you can't ignore. Heck! I blog every day and I'm still pining away over my lack of followers here (hint, h...

Outfit courtesy of White House Black Market Here is what I said at the California Girl Chronicles launch party: "You can't write a sexy book and then turn around and show up at your party and look like a frump." No, you can't wear a housecoat sorry friends. No curlers either. Oh, and forget the cigarette hanging out your mouth. Although in this day and age no cigarettes ever ... frump or not. No Wild Turkey in one hand either and a Tequila shot in the other. (Ugh can you imagine drinking those together?) Instead, you keep the image to match the book, and off you go to the likes of White House Black Market in the Roseville Fountains where Lynn Pearce's gang dressed me from head to toe. I wanted to be sexy but not slutty (wrong message too). It has to be believable that as the original "California Girl" from whom all the imagination and story comes from that you can honestly buy the idea that I know what I'm talking about. Your image is a part of...