*hey there, it's christa*

How 'Bout Some Information, Please?

So, I'm thinking the time has come to give my website a bit of a facelift. It's pretty much been the same, save for a few minor variations in color and content, since my first two novels released, and I'm ready to spruce things up a bit.

Now with that in mind, I have a few questions I'd love for y'all to weigh in on...

1)What components do you like seeing on your favorite authors' websites? What could I add that would make you want to visit regularly?

2)If you're a writer, would you enjoy reading a special section that gave specific tips about the craft, writing for publication, etc.?

3)Do you like websites that are basically the author's blog? Or a more of a standalone page like I have with links to everything else? Why?

4)Do you like receiving regular author e-newsletters? Why or why not? And if you like them, what makes one an absolute must-read?

5)Any other feedback/thoughts? Please don't hesitate to let me know...

In the meantime, thanks soooo much for your help, and be sure to look for the new website in the not-so-distant future! :)

List #6: 10 Websites That Qualify For My Coveted M.V. Status

Yeah, like everyone else on the planet these days, I participate in everyone's favorite form of procrastination social networking: Facebook and Twitter.

On any given day, Google also racks up plenty more pageviews thanks to silly ol' me (namely for driving directions since I'm a little challenged in that area and happen to live in a brand-new city), and I'd be an awful, awful freelance writer if I didn't check out the sites I write for, right? So everything from Crosswalk.com to GospelMusicChannel.com to Scribble Chicks gets some regular attention from my Web browser.

But aside from the aforementioned, I'd like to nominate 10 more websites for the coveted M.V. (that's must-visit) status. These are the places that are nothing but a pure joy to visit online and are rather helpful and insightful to boot—a formidable combination, no?

Food Network.com: It's no secret that I absolutely love to cook, and there's nothing more fun than dreaming up a recipe on the fly. But every once in a while when I find myself completely uninspired by the chicken I've defrosted for dinner, I go to Food Network.com and see if I can jazz things up a little, and it's never failed me yet. Plus, if you're like me and regularly watch the Food Network chefs like Ina, Giada, Paula, Sunny and Rachael, they always post whatever they've made that day for easy reference (and bookmarking).

Writeitsideways.com: Now that I've been a professional writer for a decade (yeah, I can't believe it's been that long either), one of the most frequently asked questions I get is whether I still love it, considering it's something I do every day, rain or shine, whether I'm feeling the Jerry Maguire, up-until-the-wee-hours-of-the-night level of inspired or the I-can't-possibly-dream-up-anything remotely-inspiring-to-say doldrums.

For the record, the answer is definitely yes. But from time to time, working as a full-time freelancer can feel a little isolating, so it's great to know there's people who absolutely, positively get that. And that's just one of the many reasons I like WriteItSideways. Not only do they offer great professional advice and helpful tips on grammar, beating writer's block, etc., but they totally understand what it's like to work with words.

HipParis.com: Yes, I've always dreamed of going to Paris, and that's actually happening in early 2011, meaning that all my reading up on the City of Love on HipParis.com hasn't been for naught. From fashion to restaurants to sightseeing off the beaten path, trust me, they've got it covered.

Sephora.com: Shopping at Sephora.com is almost as much fun as shopping at my favorite cosmetics purveyor itself—almost. The best thing is the web-only exclusives and your choice of free samples whenever you buy something. Yeah, you get to pick the samples!!!

Goodreads.com: 'Cause it's always fun to see what everyone's reading, right? Plus, I keep track of everything I've read, too, which is a nice reminder at the end of year when I wonder what I've done with all my spare time.

Chicklitisnotdead.com: Love the name, love the site, love the girls who run it. In fact, whenever I need a good laugh, it's my go-to webpage because Liz and Lisa not only do a fantastic job of spotlighting great female writing talent, but their blog posts seriously deliver the funny in that lovingly sarcastic way I adore so much.

Pandora.com: Yeah, I'm a little late to the game, I know. But when I don't feel like driving to Panera for Wi-Fi, their hazelnut coffee and classical music to write by, it's been my new best friend when I'm craving a good dose of Vivaldi, Chopin and Debussy.

ThePioneerWoman.com: While I'm pretty sure I'd never trade city living for a downhome country existence, I still love reading how Ree Drummond (a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman) does it. Plus, there's plenty of great home and cooking ideas all in one place...think HGTV meets chic hillbilly housewife.

Groupon.com: Awesome discounts on everything from entertainment to beauty services to restaurants. Yeah, I'm hooked.

Kayak.com: If you're like me and don't like searching for cheap airfare, car rentals and hotel rooms on a gazillion different travel websites, Kayak.com actually knows how to multi-task. I've not only found countless awesome deals on travel this way, but managed to save a little sanity in the process. Bonus!

Tweet, Baby, Tweet

Yes, I finally caved (even though I was positive I wouldn't succumb to the pressure) and officially entered the Twitterverse recently.

Apparently, a few people have joined me in this crazy adventure this year, since "Twitter" was the most frequently used word of 2009, huh?

While I'm still not sure about the lingo involved (tweeting, re-tweeting, etc.), I can definitely say this: That 140-character limit has really forced me to edit what I say (always a good exercise for writers like me, the ones who enjoy a good tangent).

While I'm still on the fence on whether I'm actually enjoying it or not (I mean, really it's just a glorified status update, right?), I love reading what everyone else deems tweet-worthy. It's like people-watching without even leaving the house.

By the way, I'm still working on what that means for me, so be patient. My contributions usually revolve around the movies I review, the music I'm listening to (by choice and otherwise), cooking and well, my need for caffeine, warmer weather and for the Packers, Vikings and Cowboys to win their games.

Guess that's a start. For now anyway...

Wanna follow or tell me what you find worthy of an update on Twitter? Check out @christabanister

Spring Has Sprung...

Spring has finally sprung here in Minnesota, so I thought it was the perfect time to give my website (www.christabanister.com) a mini makeover with brighter colors and a new floral-y motif. I'm also loving the font they're using with all the headers. It's fun—and not in a scary Comic Sans sort of way.

Whatcha think?

Does Anyone Still MySpace?

Yeah, I admit, Facebook is much, much cooler than MySpace...even if I was a little late to the game. I mean, you get to play Scrabble—I mean Lexulous—after all.

But just in case people still log on the ol' MySpace (you have to if you want to hear U2's new album before it releases tomorrow, right?), I gave my page a little facelift...with a little help from Van Gogh.

You likey?

Spring Cleaning—Cyber-style!

When it comes to my personal website, I've been a bit of a slacker. Back before I was writing novels, I always thought it was a little sad when I noticed that my favorite authors and bands' personal websites were rarely updated.

In fact, I haughtily remember thinking that "If I ever get my book published, I sooo will keep everything updated regularly—none of this outdated-for-months stuff."

Well, as you can imagine, it didn't take long for me to neglect my website either. There is just always something that seems to score higher priority—or at least it definitely seems that way.

But today, I finally got my act together and updated everything. So do me a favor, will you? Check out my new cyberdigs (and just to warn you, it's very homey, user-friendly and there's not even a hint of flash in sight).

I've added a new section appropriately called "Randomness" where you can read my ramblings, enter contests (yay for free stuff, right?) and leave comments, finally got my "Events" page up to date and have provided plenty of links to blogs I like, my freelance work and lots, lots more.

Also (if you haven't already) make sure to sign up for my new monthly e-newsletter where I will provide updates on my novel-writing progress, movie reviews and all kinds of good stuff for your Inbox.