Darlings:

I'm very proud, excited, and happy (yup - happy) to say I am chairing an upcoming event for O'Reilly Media that is all about the Twitter. This particular event, the O'Reilly Twitter Boot Camp, will be focused on how Marketing, PR and Advertising professionals (and, for that matter, anyone who is interested in promoting their brand(s) and/or cultivating their user community) can best incorporate Twitter into their campaigns/efforts/strategies. Because, when it comes to identifying, listening to, and engaging with your customer/user base - Twitter is an incredibly simple and dynamic platform.

And it's FUN to boot!

Twitter is freaking awesome. Do I gush? I'm sorry. Please do forgive, but. um. I just seriously can't say enough good things about Twitter.

Twitter is my baby. I love Twitter, I adore Twitter, I believe in Twitter. In fact, I do not exaggerate (though I often do) when I say that Twitter has pretty much single-handedly restored my faith in marketing and publicity as a viable and worthwhile profession.

Cut to me, seven months ago. I was a sad, miserable, unchallenged and unmotivated individual. I was working at a "publishing" company where I truly did not belong. I was doing work that did not suit me and, because of this I was pretty much convinced that publishing sucked and that I needed to start again - maybe as a florist or a dental hygienist.

Only problem was, I still really loved books. I still really loved the ideal of publishing and bookselling. And I still wanted to believe that (even if was not me) someone, somewhere was happily publishing great books that mattered and/or bringing them to the marketplace and loving every minute of it. 

My semi-tangible little silver lining in all of this became Twitter. You see, (must have been about a year ago now) I found Twitter (thank you @katgautreaux). And, through Twitter I found a way to connect with some of the brightest, boldest, and coolest kids in the book world.

People that I had only ever before know from their frequent mentions in  Publishers Weekly were now TWEETING away before my eyes. I could tweet to THEM, and they were TWEETING BACK TO ME!

Understand, while I have been working in the field of book publishing (specifically the field of marketing books) for more than 20 years now, I am in Tucson. Sure, we have a few pockets of a vibrant little publishing community here, but it's not exactly the center of the publishing universe. Truth is, here in Tucson, you simply aren't likely to cross paths with the likes of a Tim O'Reilly or a Michael Hyatt.

So, to suddenly be on Twitter, where I was given direct access to the publishing people who were doing the publishing things I have been dreaming to do, was kind of life-changing. Via Twitter, I was now able to virtually sit in on coolest of cool publishing and marketing conferences, and sales meetings, and book launches, publicity campaign planning -- all in live time, and all in the spirit of "hey, what do YOU think about this?" It was (and is) an incredibly eye-opening, heart-warming, and truthfully - a career choice-affirming experience.

Because of Twitter, I started to think that maybe I really was in the right career after all. I was just in the wrong job. And, in addition to that, I felt like maybe, maybe this Twitter thing could be one of the best ways ever to help bring books and readers together.

Long story short - I was right. Twitter ROCKS . When it comes to bringing the right book to the right reader and vice versa, Twitter is one of the best platforms ever for the job. And Twitter and the book world are becoming fast friends.

So, I end my story there.

And, I begin my story there.

Via Twitter, I've met some of the coolest people in the world. I've become friends with them. I've found clients. I've helped friends find clients. I've helped clients find friends. Yes - it's not TWITTER that has made this happen, but Twitter has made this possible.

Twitter has made it possible to distill marketing to what it is at its best - guidance/communication/sharing of information WITH those who need it WHEN they need it, rather than interruption based messaging AT people who most likely do not want to be bothered.

And, Twitter made it possible for me to love book marketing again.

If you love or hate or just don't get Twitter - feel free to tell me about it. I caution you, I simply can not be swayed from my adoration of the Twitter. But, I am not silly enough to believe that everyone else in the world agrees with me.

And, if you are so inclined, you are hereby officially invited to the O'Reilly Twitter Boot Camp. There'll be some very smart, fun, and cool tweeps there. You'll no doubt learn more than I could ever begin to tell you (heck, I can't wait to learn what these people are going to share at this event). I'll be there - emcee-ing/hostessing (trying not to embarrass myself as I gush over the incredible line up of speakers we have on board) and you can find tons o' information about the fun that will be had here.

OH - AND you can get a whopping $50 off price of admission by using the codeword "kat" when you register. (how cool is that? code word KAT?)

So, Hope to see you in NYC at the O'Reilly Twitter Boot Camp

be there or be square-ish.

PS: added bonus -  if you come to the Twitter Boot Camp, you'll also get a free copy of :