Reminds me of another rather frumpy person who today, one week after she became a YouTube sensation, is a global star. Not that my website — or I — can claim to be mega-stars.

The web is abuzz, of course, with many many articles about Susan Boyle. About her appearance, our expectations, the hope and triumph, etc. I won’t bother adding links because unless you’ve been in a cave, you’ve seen this stuff out there. I do like the articles that take us to task as a society, however, for not expecting this kind of pure beauty in such a rather ordinary, even — alas — mockable, appearance.

With that in mind, I offer this song of Susan’s that is the only recorded song she’s ever done. Made for a charity CD, of which only 1000 copies were made. Click the link, close your eyes, and tell me this isn’t the voice of a sultry chanteuse. Gorgeous, gorgeous. I will most definitely be buying this woman’s first album when it comes out.

Sometimes, getting a makeover is about perception. In Susan’s case, it was the judges, the audience, and now the world who got the makeover.

And now back to MY makeover. Well, my site makeover. Leave a comment to win a copy of one of my absolute favorite makeover romances of all time: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Now, just as soon as I figure out my way around here, etc, I’ll be holding those celebratory giveaways I was talking about at the old blog. This has been a while in the making, but I’ve certainly learned that web design is no simple or quick matter. It takes time to build all this fabulosity — which makes my previous little homemade versions look like the small potatoes they were (because I know next to nothing about web design).

This site will grow over time, of course. There will be more content, more fun stuff as I think of things I want. For now, I have much to learn about this site.

I do hope you’ll have a look around. Let me know what you think! Leave a comment below and I’ll launch my first giveaway. Everyone who comments will be entered to win a $5 Starbucks card and a book from my stash. I’ll announce a winner next week.

More to come in the next few days….

Just the camaraderie of meeting with other writers, laughing and talking about things that concern us (and often only make sense to us) is worth losing a day of writing for. I head out around 10am, drive about 40 minutes, and stop for lunch at a local deli where a lot of the members gather beforehand. Then, after an hour of laughing and fun, we head to the museum that hosts our meetings. There, who knows what’ll happen. We start at noon and often don’t finish until between 2 and 3. After that, I can talk for hours with friends, sometimes even heading to a restaurant or bookstore to chat. It’s a great time, and it’s the kind of socializing that I definitely need.

I have other friends, of course, but so many times they don’t understand what it is I do and how it works. I can’t tell you the number of people who have asked my husband if he’s retiring when my book comes out. Other writers know how funny this is.

Publishing is a strange and hopeful business. You can make enough to live on; you can become very popular and make a lot of money; or you can barely get by and need to work a day job to make ends meet. You never know where on that scale you’ll end up, but we all hope we get option #2. Friends — writing friends — help keep you sane!

Okay, so I have some changes coming up in the next month or two! For one, I’m getting a new website and blog. I’ve found the perfect person to do my design work, and I’m so excited to be working with her. I’ll also be retooling the newsletter, and hopefully start sending out some regular news.

There will be contests; not sure what or when, but stay tuned so you don’t miss out on the goodies! I won’t stop talking about writing, but I need to talk more about reading. If you’re on MySpace, come friend me. Same with Facebook. I can be found on both — just type in Lynn Raye Harris. I’m also on Twitter (been there for a couple of months, but still haven’t figured out how to get my feed on the sidebar here). Follow me, and I’ll follow you.

Finally — what are you reading right now? I’m reading a delicious Harlequin Presents by Jennie Lucas and enjoying it very much. I love an arrogant Italian prince — in fact, I’m writing about one for the next book!

eHarlequin uses Twitter to update what’s going on — I like this because I know when there’s a blog I need to read. They also announced my Call on Twitter, and my guest blogs. Totally cool.

The posts are short, no more than 140 characters, and easy to do in the course of your day. A post is called a “tweet.” The setup is easy, and it’s easy to get going. Finding people is more difficult, or was for me anyway, because I refused to let Twitter access my email for addresses. Still, I’ve managed to find plenty of people, and they’ve found me.

If you decide to give Twitter a try, look for me. My user name is LynnRayeHarris. Follow me, and I’ll follow you. So far, it’s interesting. I don’t spend much time at it; I think the nature of the short tweets helps keep it manageable.

Do you use Twitter? Do you think all these networking sites are a waste of time? Did I mention you can send Tweets using your phone? And that an American graduate student Twittered his way out of a Middle Eastern jail this past spring? What’s next, hmm?

Congratulations again to Tami Brothers! She won the $25 Gift Card and will soon be shopping for books! Stay tuned for other giveaways in the future…..

1. Redesigned the website again. It was no longer an accurate reflection of all I’m writing. It is now more generic, though I warn you it will likely change again as I contemplate hiring a designer.

2. Started a Newsletter. You can sign up for it here:

Click to join lynnrayeharrisnews

Or scroll down and look for it on the sidebar (or at the newly revamped website…).

3. Did anyone else watch the premiere of Life last night? I loooove that show! So happy to see it come back on again. I was ticked that they canceled Moonlight, but at least they kept Life — and Pushing Daisies. That’s on tomorrow night.

Any shows you’re looking forward to? Any website redesigns? Anything?

Lately, I’ve been worried about how strongly my site is geared to my romantic suspenses. I have a dual writing personality now! I need to reflect the classic romance/Harlequin Presents side of me, and so I’ve been working on something that combines the two in a plain (for now) way.

I plan to pay someone to develop a site (or sites), but I can’t do it yet. There’s the issue of name, for one thing. What name will I write under? I am very flexible about this. I am open to the idea my name may not be the best for selling books, but it’s a bridge I plan to cross when I reach it.

Bottom line for me is that this is a career and I plan to do everything necessary to succeed at it. If separate names are the ticket, I’m there. If a completely different name from my own is best, I’m there. If I need to pay a web designer, I’m there. (Hubby, if you’re reading, quick, look over there! Is that a naked woman/iPhone/new TV — or something equally interesting to you I see? Quick, better click over!)

So, what are the best writer sites for you? Is there a site you like, either for the colors or the ease of use or the graphics? If you have a website, did you pay someone? Do you plan to pay someone eventually? What do you think about homemade sites with popular site builders? Does flash bug you (it does me)? What about music (ditto)? Anything I missed? Give me your thoughts!

Really.

But, when the brain is frozen in the same scene and the characters refuse to talk, I guess I can sneak away for a few moments. Just don’t tell my husband, the wonderful man who lets me stay home and write full-time. On the other hand, he won’t care, so long as the book gets done….