When one decides to be a ‘writer’, there are many things to consider. I thought I needed to have a certain amount of literary skill, a creative mind and a disciplined personality. But that, dear friends, is not the half of what one needs to be a writer in today's world.  

I set up my workspace in my home and was grateful for a quiet place to work. Son Todd put the desk together and son Aaron put the chair together. Husband Larry built a beautiful bookshelf that accomodates a small printer and my writing resources.  He even built a footrest so the ankles wouldn’t swell too much.  With my laptop, steno pads, pens and a lamp, I was all set.  I began to write. 

I usually like to write historical fiction, so writing on my Word document, I have easy access to conduct internet searches of everything that pops into my head. It’s a built in Thesaurus and an encylopedia. What was the clothing like in 1880?  When did telephones, elevators and trains come to the Southwest?  What route would one take if traveling from New York to Tucson in 1881?  All kinds of things. When I was writing my first book, I researched USAID. How did it start and what was it’s mission? Trust me, nobody got rich. Larry told me he remembered the smell of the boiling bitumen that young Camboian women brushed over the highway, with their babies in slings draped over a nearby tree limb.  I looked up how that roadwork was done, with oxen moving slowly down the road as the women dipped their mops into caldrons of tar boiling over a coal fire.  

I learned a lot. And I wrote my books. I’m still writing and I hope I’ll keep on writing as long as I can type.  I learned about the publishing business. A lot! (Future blog topic.)  But one thing I didn’t give as much thought to as I should have. Technology. Yes, that fearful word that sends shivers up and down the spine. When I was working full-time, I was often the technology ‘fixer,’ not because I was educated and brilliant. I’m a person who refuses to be beat by a wayward copier, printer or computer. I learned the hard way. And I kept up with most of the required tips and tricks to keep an office running. But that was a long time ago and some things I never learned in the first place.  My friend Kathy was a godsend in that office. She knew the lingo and had the talent I lacked.  My beautiful daughter-in-law, Hannah, built my first author website and it was a wonderful thing to behold. But she’s a busy wife and mother with two teenagers in the house. Need I say more? 

So, when I embarked on my new and updated website, I found a platform that caters to we authors. Think of it! A user friendly platform that I can edit, add, and delete as simply as any Word document. Templates to choose from and everything one needs for a website. Except…

Have any of you heard of DNS? Me neither.  I needed to transfer my domain from one host to another. Then I needed to connect my domain to my new ESP (Email Service Provider) so I can collect subscriber information on the website and have an email account connected to my domain. I struggled through that, but what if I actually want to connect with those who like my books or my blog or my ‘brand’ and have been so kind as to sign up to my mailing list? I need an email service provider. That is where my technology skills hit a brick wall. 

I’ve spent hours of the past two days trying to ‘authenticate’ my domain email so I can reach out to the reading public. I’ve not admitted defeat yet. I’m calling or emailing these guys tomorrow and I will prevail. Wish me luck. 

By the way, that new domain email is: vcwmail@vcwilliamsauthor.com. It works, too!  And that URL code? I did that. But this one is just a picture. It's not activated.  I can make barcodes, too.  See what I mean?  Technology is taking over and we creative types have to get on board whether we like it or not.