What is your network? Have you ever diagrammed it out? I have, using MS PowerPoint of course because I'm a total geek. It was an exercise I learned to do while getting my Change Leadership certification with Cornell University. Here is an example of a brief high-level network diagram:

Network Diagram
Understanding your network is understanding your realm of influence. Usually things cross over, and that's a good thing but it makes diagraming more difficult. For instance, Facebook groups like SWE Pacific Northwest Rainier Ramblings is in both the Social Media and Technical affiliations categories in the diagram above. Rainier Ramblings was a connection I made because I was in SWE and loved book clubs. If I hadn't reached out to this network, I wouldn't have been able to sit in on a book club review of my very own book. Meeting readers is awesome, as you can see from the photo below. My dog even loved it.
SWE Book Club Meeting: Cyborg Dreams

Knowing where these affiliations interconnect is good, but also knowing what contacts stand alone can lead to new possibilities. For instance, if you have a friend who is a librarian that is a great interconnect that could lead to your book in the local library collection. But, having a parent who is friends with a publisher is even better.

Not that I have friends at the library (I wish) but I just wanted to give a shout out to the wonderful people at Sno-Isles Library and King County Library. They will soon have eBook versions of both of my books. Sno-Isles is ordering two paperback copies of my first book, which will be available to check-out soon. King County Library just picked up five copies of my second book! So exciting!

I recently met the most entertaining individuals in a Northwest Science Fiction Society (NWSFS) meeting. It was a social/networking meeting over food and drink. Not only did they help me work out some issues I've been having with my third book involving cyborg owls, but they invited me to a mad scientist Halloween party. So cool!

I've been part of Lizzie Chantree's Book Group on Facebook, and have learned everything from marketing tips, to cover art design tips. Also, I've made a ton of Twitter friends from her #CreativeBizHour group as well. I was introduced to this group by my friend from SWE, Suzie Olsen. She's an author too and helps me out a ton. I met her at a SWE networking event years ago.

Speaking of art, the third book cover is going to be amazing! Again, I reached out to my network. I've harnessed the skills of my sister, who has a degree in advertising design, for much of my promotional artwork. However, I have a friend who specializing in creating the most amazing robotic-type monsters and men and he is working on something for my next cover. That is a good thing, because my concept art looked like this:
My Concept Art for Cyborg Dreams: The Awakening

The third book, and final in the Cyborg Dreams trilogy, will be out soon! Am hoping for an early December release so that the trilogy will be available for Christmas shoppers. It would make a great gift for young adults all the way through not-so-young adults. ;)