Shirley Damsgaard

Ever since WITCH WAY TO MURDER was released, I’ve debated with myself about starting a blog. (Yes, Joanna, I know, they’re a great way to stay in contact with readers!) Time, of course, has been a factor. I work full time, do my own marketing for the series, have a family (they’re all grown, but still do require some attention!), have all the other mundane details of life to handle–just like everyone else, and oh yeah, write a couple of books each year! I told myself I couldn’t possibly squeeze in a blog.

But I think the real reason I’ve resisted has been deeper than that. It’s the way I’ve seen blogs being used. I’ve seen them used as a forum to vent spleen and vitriol against others. Rumors, innuendos, and insults are posted, not as opinion, but as fact. Now living in a small town all of my life, I’ve been exposed to plenty of gossip—there’s always something going on that provides grist for the mill—but there seems to be a difference between hearing a nasty comment and seeing it in print on your computer screen. It’s as if because it’s written, it has more credence. If you hear something, you pass it off with a “consider the source,” but if you read it, it’s like “wow, wonder if that’s true?” Is it because we’re conditioned, contrary to the old adage, “don’t believe everything you read,” we do anyway? I don’t know, but these thoughts were one of the things that have held me back on starting my own blog.

So that said—here’s the deal—whatever you read here is strictly my opinion for whatever it’s worth. I’m not an expert; I’m just someone trying to pursue her dream. And I’ll really try and follow what my mother always told me when I was a kid—“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all!” (However I do believe a good whine every now and again is good for the soul!) And my sense of humor is somewhat off-kilter, so please take whatever I say with a grain of salt—I’m probably just joking around!

I’d love to hear your comments, questions, or any suggestions for topics that you’d like to see discussed.

Okay—let’s have some fun!

Shirley