Social Media Monday: Becki Reiser

Good morning and welcome to another edition of Social Media Monday!

Today I get to introduce you to Becki Resier. Becki and I met at the WFTS conference in February. Actually, we met AFTER the conference while we were both hanging out in the hotel lobby waiting for our late-flight shuttles to arrive. We spent that time visiting, getting to know each other, then sharing a shuttle van, going through airport security, grabbing a burger, and forming a friendship.

Weeks later Becki gifted me with a copy of a devotional book--Machiatto Moments--which she was a contributor for, and she invited me to write a devotional for the community website Our Circle of Friends. We keep in touch through facebook, though mostly I recall our conversations over airport Micky-D's when I think of Becki. She has offered a free copy of the devotional book Shared Hope to one lucky reader so check out the details at the end of the interview.

Please welcome her:

Hi I am Becki Reiser. A 51-year-old currently unemployed, empty nester. I live with my husband, Jeff, in a small town in Ohio. We live on the outskirts of the largest Amish community in the nation. I live on a farm, but I am not a farmer. I was a “city girl” most of my life. We moved to this farm eight years ago and I have fallen in love with living in the country!

Hi Becki! (everybody, wave to Becki!) Tell us what you write.

I am a true believer in you write what you know! I am writing a book called “Through My Tears” it is the story of the abduction and murder of our 17-year-old daughter, Liz, in May of 2000. I also have gone to the polar opposite of the sad story of our daughter, and am writing a book called “Hot Flashes With a Side of Garlic Bread” Yes, I do write from experience! I write devotionals too, and I am one of the featured authors in the give-away offered here!

For which we are very grateful!  Thank you! I know your personal story really touches my heart. It's such an appalling idea to entertain it's hard to wrap my mind around it, but to see you and get to know you reveals so much of the grace of our God. So which project are you working on right now?

Currently I am on the fifteenth re-write (and hopefully the last) of TMT, and hoping to get it published within the next year.

I hope so too, Becki! I always open up these relational interviews to anything fun my friends want to share. Any interesting stories or anecdotes about the two of us?

Yes, you bet! I met Michelle and instantly we bonded. We have writing in common and of course motherhood. (I could easily be her mother) We had the opportunity to spend several hours together while riding from the conference to the airport and waiting for our flights. I did have a very embarrassing experience while we were together. Before the shuttle arrived I checked with the front desk to be sure they would take either checks or credit and they assured me they did! Whew! Glad for that. I was safe. The shuttle arrived and we climbed in and talked non-stop all the way to the airport. After arriving, the driver unloaded our bags and I went to pay him. He looked at me as though I had three heads when I tried to pay him with a credit card. Uh-oh. Someone had his or her facts wrong! Not only did they NOT accept credit, they also didn’t take checks. I dug around in my wallet and came up $10.00 short of what it cost. I was mortified. So, my new friend came to the rescue and gave me the money. I was so very upset and said I would pay her back ASAP. She refused to let me pay her and said I would be stealing her blessing if I tried. OK, it’s hard to steal something like that.

Becki, now I'm laughing because that is so something that would happen to me! I was happy to help, no biggie. =) What's the most exciting thing that has happened this year, relating to your writing?

I had many publishers/editors/agents interested! I was so encouraged. I am hoping to get the “word” from one of them very soon that they are interested in partnering with me in publishing our story!

Oooh--keep me posted! OK, time for "the" question. How has social media affected your writing relationships and/or marketing strategy?

I have had some awesome opportunities to meet very special people (Michelle is one of them) [Aww, so sweet!] that have encouraged me and even helped me along this journey! Many suggestions from those folks have helped to make my writing better. I have only begun learning the rules and ins and outs of marketing. Having a platform is the biggest issue to deal with. It is not as difficult as I expected to get connected. Make lots of friends and don’t be afraid to comment or ask questions. It gets your name out there and opens doors of opportunity!

What advice would you give to other aspiring authors?

Never, never give up!

Strong advice that bears oft repeating! Why don't you share a snippet from your latest project before we go.

The funeral started without waiting for my official word. It gained a life of its own. It was as if a conductor of a grand orchestra seized the attention of all in attendance. Standing in front of the musicians of life, with arms at his side, suddenly, the audience grew peaceful. Eerily quiet it became. And without notice, the conductor raised his arms, baton in hand, and for an eternal moment, called all in attendance to see and to hear. Not yet a sound, but simply a call to attend. No tears, no weeping, just the anticipation of \a full house sensing something different was happening. This was not to be a normal funeral impregnated with despair, it was to become a celebration of life.

I can now see the instruments being held, and feel my anticipation for the awaited signal of the maestro to begin; a concert of heavenly glory.

Awesome, thank you for that peek, Becki. Readers, you can connect with Becki at these links:

 facebook , twitter , blog, website

Becki, I can't wait to see you at another conference, but social media works in the meantime. I pray God blesses your writing and your ministry!

Ladies (and gentlemen), leave a comment below to be entered in our drawing for Shared Hope.  Tweet or Facebook this link to be entered again. The winner will be announced on Thursday night.  Tell a friend!