Years ago, I created a portal site on Typepad. The idea was to have one place where I could send everyone to find links to my blogs, podcasts, resume, social networks and references.

Today, Flavors.me offers this service for free.

Unlike other sites that do something similar, Flavors.me is extremely simple; even the tech novice can figure it out. The pages are easy to generate. The clean lines make them easy to read.

When I first heard about the site, I was skeptical. Did I really need to add another online network to the overwhelming number I already belong to? Would it even add anything to my online branding campaign? My tech junkie curiosity would not let me simply ignore it, though. When I started using the service, I realized it has some terrific benefits:

• Authors who don't have Web sites can use it to connect social networks - including Facebook, WordPress, Twitter and Vimeo - to one page.
• Authors can upload photos of themselves or the cover art to their novels as the background.
• Premium members can have a specific domain for their page for about $20 per year, according to TechCrunch. That is a lot cheaper than monthly Web hosting. So, if you are just getting a Web presence, you could start with this until you can afford a Web site. (Don't count on this being here forever, though. The web changes FAST. Get a Web site as soon as possible.) Premium members can also include a contact page.

What is terrific about this is it is another way to increase your online brand . Basic accounts are free. 

One of my concerns: When you add social networks, your streams are live and shown within your Flavors page. If you have a network that you use only for private reasons, do NOT list it here.  Also, once you give Flavors.me permission to access your sites, that permission will override privacy settings.

You can find my basic page here: http://flavors.me/angelawilson. At post time, the Facebook stream was inactive.

Yum - apricots!

Good food makes great conversation.

No matter if you are out to dinner with friends, or skimming the best hors devours from the buffet at a party, food tends to bring out the conversationalist in most people.

Food is also terrific for marketing. I cannot tell you the number of times I've checked out a blog or Web site simply because the person shared a great recipe somewhere online. I'm not the only one; share a mouth-watering recipe on Twitter and see just how many hits you get on your site. I guarantee that even after the initial buzz you will nab more sustained hits or RSS subscribers.

This Saturday, Jan. 9, is National Apricot Day. Consider sharing your favorite apricot recipes with fans on blogs, or even posting on recipe Web sites, where you can sometimes include your Web site in your profile.

Below is an apricot recipe from my personal recipe library. Be sure to also check out how James Beard uses the sweet fruit in The Fireside Cookbook, a vintage tome reprinted by Simon & Schuster last year.

Easy Apricot Cake

When you have unexpected guests and need something sweet to go with coffee or tea, this is a terrifically easy recipe to pull together.

What you need:

1 can apricots, slightly drained

1 white or yellow cake mix

1 bar of butter (preferably real, salted)

Put the cake mix in a bowl. Use something to crumble the butter into the dry cake mix. Dump the can of apricots into a baking dish. Pour the cake mixture over the apricots. Bake until the top is slightly brown and the apricots are heated through.

This is fast and easy, and can be used with apple or cherry pie filling and peaches. Typically, most pantries have these items readily available, so it makes the perfect last-minute dish. I rarely have leftovers.

Market My Novel Tip: If you have special dietary needs - like gluten, wheat or dairy-free items - consider sharing these recipes in a special section on your blog or Web site. Trust me, there are many, many people searching for those. It is a specific niche, but could easily drive new traffic to your sites - and, perhaps, lead to sales.

On the Web:

National Apricot Day for Home Schoolers

Apricot Producers of California Recipe Box

Do you want to buy my book?!?!

Great advice, Angela! I wonder how you go about finding the right reader networks for your genre. I write YA fantasy, as yet unpubbed. What do you recommend? I want to be ready to build a reader network when I sell my novel. Thanks!

Coming up on Wednesday: Tips from authors on how to find your audience.

Twitter recently launched a lists function, which will help users separate followers into categories that other Tweeters can follow with the touch of a button.

Mashable wrote an article about Twitter lists (still in Beta) in mid-October. Twitter announced the move in a blog post in September.

When I first started exploring the lists function today, I thought it would be a terrific tool to meet new authors, publicists and publishers, and others who have similar political views as myself.

After working with it a while, though, I wasn't sure just how it would fit into my daily Twitter life. There are some highlights - and functionality that could help authors with Internet promotions. There are also some drawbacks.

Pros:

When I logged on today, I found myself already on 14 lists. By the end of the day, it was nearly 20. I went to each of the lists to see who thought I was cool enough to add. Then, I made sure I followed them. I also checked out the others on the list and added those I liked to my own network. I may not have found these contacts otherwise.

The most lists you are on, the broader your network. That means more people can find you. This works for me well, as I want to expand my network, particularly with authors and publicists.

It is terrific at sorting tweets. As with some third-party applications, you can group your followers into categories. You click on each category for a limited list of Tweets just from these folks. This is much more manageable than the current @replies system.

Lists have their own URL, so you can share these on your blogs and Web sites to direct readers to your favorite Twitter users. For example, a paranormal romance author could create a list of other authors in the genre and share it with readers.

On the flip side, you can see which other authors link to you in lists. This will give you a good idea of different readers to target with marketing efforts.

Cons:

As with most things new to Twitter, the function is not user-friendly. It takes a LONG time to add folks to one list. I don't have hours to create lists; I have minutes. Twitter needs to devise a way to make it easier to sort through followers and categorize them appropriately - especially those with several thousand.

If you already sort your followers on Twitter programs like TweetDeck, this may be too little, too late. However, it is worth a look if you visit the actual site daily, rather than access it via a third-party application.

It appears that you can be put on a list without actually following, or being followed. That could lead to some issues for authors who have a very strict genre brand.

As with anything, the most lists you have, the more Tweets you check. I have several lists already and, of course, will want to check them. I will also want to check out the new lists I am on, just to see who likes my stuff.

Have you used the new Twitter list function? If so, what are your thoughts? How does this function compare with those in third-party applications?

Get added to my list! If you would like to be part of my authors and books list, leave a comment with your Twitter handle. I will add you to my personal books list, as well as one for @marketmynovel. Thanks!

Authors who are trying to establish their expert credentials may want to check out Sourceables. This new site allows authors - and others - to set up accounts to showcase their expertise. Today Sourceables proprietor Rob Nissen talks about the benefits of the site.

Tell us about your new site, Sourceables.

Sourceables is an online community of authors and experts who are sharing their knowledge and insights in order to connect and communicate with the media and one another.

The purpose of Sourceables is to provide a platform to share your expertise, viewpoints, stories, and experiences so that members of the media can search for and connect with the right sources they need for the stories they are writing, their websites or blogs, or the shows they produce. Sourceables helps position authors as credible sources by demonstrating what they know, why they know it, and how well they can communicate their thoughts and ideas on today's news, topics, and trends.

This online resource is for experts in many fields. How can Sourceables be a marketing resource for authors?

Every author -- fiction or non-fiction -- is either an expert or very knowledgeable about the subject matter they write about. With book reviews and book coverage shrinking in magazines and newspapers, it has never been more important to promote your work by being a valuable source for media. Having a well-written book isn't enough to generate publicity. You also need to give media the insights and facts they need to help them write their stories or produce their programming. Sourceables gives authors the opportunity to share what they know while also providing the opportunity to offer links to their website, blog, news releases, book excerpts, and more.

Rob Nissen

What do Sourceables experts post and how often?

Anyone can post as little, or as often, as they like. Posts generally relate to what's happening in the news, current developments or trends in the author's field, or in some way adding insight into what's happening in the world.

Posts can also include a link to a news item, blog post, or any initiative an author is involved with that helps explain their views or work. For instance, an author who has written a funny novel on dating or a relationship expert might want to comment on a New York Times story dealing with online dating services. Providing a link to that article in their post helps others better understand their position. They can also add tags to their posts to further highlight the topic(s) they are discussing and to make their posts that much easier to find via the real time search function.

Is the site a better fit for nonfiction authors than fiction authors?

Not necessarily. While posts on Sourceables are generally (but not always) related to news, current events, or trends, fiction authors can also find ways to discuss their work. For example, a novel set in a particular historical period or geographic region would have to have been well researched by the author. Likewise a fictionalized account of real events or people. Many of today's thrillers are based on current events. Even an author of a love story or mystery can discuss their motivation, how they crafted their characters, or what they hope readers will take away from their work.

Who is the target audience of your site? How do you market Sourceables to them?

My audience is both the experts (sources) and the media. As a book publicist, I've always strived to find new ways to connect authors with media. Sourceables is a tool to make those connections by allowing authors to demonstrate their work and knowledge beyond their book and for media to find exactly the expert they need quickly and easily. And thanks to great blogs like this one, I hope more and more authors discover the site!

How does Sourceables compare to other sites like Authors and Experts?

Sourceables is completely free. There's no charge at all to create and maintain your account or to post your comments. It is also specifically designed for authors and experts to share what they know beyond a short bio or book summary. That's where the posts become invaluable to an author who is able to discuss current topics--especially those who can lend their insights to breaking news, stories, or trends that are making headlines. Sourceables also allows sources --and media -- to follow one another and share links and comments. In addition to being a great resource for media looking for qualified experts, I also want it to become a community where people can share their ideas with one another and hopefully make some great new connections.

Can publicists post for their clients?

Yes, absolutely. As long as they follow the same guidelines for posting. I hope publicists will take advantage of what I see as a great new tool for promoting their clients.

What else can you add?

As a book publicist I've seen many changes during the last decade in the way books and authors are promoted. Today, everyone wants to know how they can use social media and online outlets to better promote their work. Sourceables is a new, social media tool for doing just that. But it's also a tool that allows authors to share so much more of what they know in ways that can greatly improve their chances of being discovered by the media and by a community of fellow authors and experts. As I said above, I'm always looking for new ways to connect authors and media. Sourceables is a great, new avenue for authors in all genres to bring their work to a wider audience.

The website address is www.sourceables.com and email can be sent to: .

When I receive a half-hearted guest blog from an author for Book Addict, I get extremely frustrated.

Typically, our guests are booked at least two months in advance - with a few exceptions. Authors have plenty of time to write up something fun and fresh for our audience well before their blog date - and submit it on time.

I won't say that these authors are lazy - though on bad days the thought does cross my mind. (Hey, I'm human!) With virtual book tours, Facebook chats and other social media marketing ventures clamoring for an author's attention, some are simply too overbooked to do a good job at anything they do for marketing.

However, this is no excuse for the growing problems with guest blogs sent to book bloggers. There are some common mistakes I see from newbie and seasoned authors alike, on my blog as well as others. The guest posts are:

• Too short. Do you really think you can create an interesting, must-read piece in two paragraphs, three sentences each?
• Too long. Guest blogs are not novels. Stick to 1,500 words or less, unless your blog host gives you a word count.
• An extended synopsis. Readers don't want something they can easily find on your book jacket. Don't try to dress up your synopsis, either, by writing one or two sentences to make it look like you actually did some original work. Readers - and blog editors - see right through that.
• A sales pitch. People tune out sales pitches on radio, TV and the Internet. Do you really think they will want to read when they see a hard sell in your post? I certainly don't - and I refuse to post them at Book Addict. If anything this tactic will push some readers away from your book. It will also put you on the blacklist with bloggers.
• Poorly crafted. Misspellings, poorly-conceived ideas, random punctuation, ramblings and other problems abound in some posts. At least take the time to read it a second time before you send - or ask someone else to do it for you - especially if you are taking medication for an illness at the time. (Yes, I have had authors (and publicists) send me items while they are recovering from surgery. DON'T DO IT.)
• Unbefitting the blog. I read some very interesting posts that are complete misfits for certain blogs. Research the blog to get some ideas of correct content. Run your ideas by the blog host if you are uncertain what fits.
• Too personal. Readers love personal posts, but sometimes authors can over-share. Be sure your personal topic fits your audience at a particular blog, or ask the blog host if the topic would appeal.
• Not publicized by authors. Blogs always publicize to their readers, but it is always a good idea to promote your posts on your forums, chats, social networks and listservs. Your fans are devoted and will likely stop by - especially if you offer a prize for commenting.
• Late. There is nothing worse than an author sending a guest blog the day it is to post. Like many bloggers, I have a day job. I cannot just drop everything to post it - though my guilty conscious will valiantly get me to try. You should send your posts at least one week in advance - two if at all possible. Better yet, ask your host for a deadline. This not only helps your blog host, but you can easily rewrite it if the topic doesn't fit the blog.

Guest blogging is a terrific way to connect with fans and meet new readers on blogs. Avoid these common mistakes to earn a solid reputation with bloggers, who will be more likely to invite you back.

This week, Alice Hoffman didn't take too kindly to a lukewarm review of her latest, The Story Sisters, from Roberta Silman of the Boston Globe.

Hoffman fired off at the author, calling her a "moron" and an "idiot." She said she was angry that too much plot was given away, then criticized her hometown newspapers. She said as a woman, she had the right to act like a Twitter brat because someone just wasn't that into her writing. (Her Twitter account has been deleted, but Gawker.com was kind enough to take screen shots before someone deleted it.)

The worst part? Hoffman posted Silman's telephone number and e-mail address, and urged readers to call the reviewer and tell her she was stupid.

Obviously, Hoffman didn't read my May 25 post, How to Respond to Bad Reviews. Otherwise, she would have known such foolishness on a tight-knit, public network like Twitter would backfire. Her lack of understanding with how book reviews work today is evident in this tweet:

"Now any idiot can be a critic. Writers used to review writers. My second novel was reviewed by Ann Tyler. So who is Roberta Silman?"

Let me break this down into pieces:

1. Book reviewers come in all shapes and forms - including readers. Right now, her book has 18 reviews on Amazon - and seven of them aren't meant to flatter her ego. If you check these reviews with Silman's review, you will find several consistencies ion criticism. Alice, babe, sometimes reviewers just aren't that into you, or your work simply isn't up to the standard fans and reviewers expect.
2. Uhm, Alice, did you bother to figure out who Silman is BEFORE you posted? Based on this bio at RobertaSilman.com, I think she has some experience.
3. Writers many times don't want to review other writers. They don't want to have to give a bad review for crappy work for someone in their genre. It makes for bad business in the tight-knit publishing community. I don't blame them.
4. Why should I give a cat's patootie if Ann Tyler reviewed your second book? Who the heck is Ann Tyler? And how old is this book? Why should I can about the second novel, when all I want to know about is this one?

I'm not saying that Silman's review was the best written review I've ever seen - it isn't. But Hoffman's out-of-control response to lukewarm press was cyber road rage at its worst. Hoffman's thoughts were better shared with friends during a vent session at home or in a quiet room at the back of a restaurant. They were NOT appropriate for public viewing.

As a book reviewer, I was apalled and frustrated that an author of Hoffman's caliber would feel it necessary to publicly defame someone for not liking her work. I just wanted to sit down with Hoffman with a good cup of coffee and say, "Honey, Silman just wasn't that into you this time, but she did mention other books of yours she liked. Get. Over. It! And focus on your next book instead of creating a PR nightmare that could permanently damage your standing in the literary world."