Detail from the cover of Valente's book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Are you an author, artisan, or small business owner who wants to manage your virtual presence on that vast real estate, the internet? Do you often feel you’re awash in a digital sea without a compass? Then consider attending this three-hour workshop, organized by the Friends of the Peaks Island Branch Library.

Author, Peaks Island resident, and dynamite blogger, Catherynne Valente, will introduce up to 60 participants to some of the online tools available for building an audience and effectively marketing yourself. Topics will include:

*comparative merits of different blog sites (Catherynne will highlight Live Journal)

*tips for effective use of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter

*using your own YouTube channel

*strategies for how to integrate all of the above

Participants are: 1) expected to already have a comfort level with using email, word processing, and internet browsers; 2) encouraged to bring a laptop, if you have one (this is purely optional); and 3) have created a Facebook account prior to the workshop.

Author and workshop facilitator, Catherynne Valente

When? Saturday, January 9, 2010 9 a.m. to noon

Where? Douglas MacVane Community Center, Peaks Island

Donations of $2 to support the Friends of the Peaks Island Branch Library are encouraged, but not required.