Best Known For: Facebook Fairytales (2010)
Education: B.A. English Language & Literature, Smith College
Current Employment and Projects: Author & TV Personality. Working on second book (first novel) and third book (second novel) set to publish by Penguin in September 2013 and September 2014 respectively. “Type A Mommy” Parenting Expert for GalTime.
Favorite Facebook feature: News Feed—including status updates and photos—I’m a total voyeur.
Professional role model: Jennifer Weiner—brilliant writer with a wicked sense of humor, who speaks her mind on behalf of Women’s Fiction authors (and she live tweets The Bachelor!)
What do you think motivates someone to share a positive story with Facebook? Gratitude
Describe how Facebook has changed your social life in 140 characters or less: It’s a blessing to be able to feel like I’m part of everyone’s lives even though we may not have time to chat on the phone or go to dinner.
How has Facebook helped you professionally? Facebook has been an invaluable asset. I’ve made countless connections which have translated into business achievements. And, through my Facebook fan page, I can share links to articles written about me, articles I write, significant videos, and important news.
Facebook Fairytales begins with an interview with none other than Mark Zuckerberg. How was that arranged?
I was very fortunate in the fact that Facebook agreed to support my book by sharing amazing stories that had been sent in to them by users and by granting me the interview with Mark for the foreword. I could spend a lifetime picking Mark’s brain, but—as you might imagine—he’s a busy guy. So it’s the kind of interview where you need to get in and get out quickly with the information you really need.
How would you advise someone who wants to reconnect with a long-lost classmate or family member? What do you think is most essential for Facebook etiquette in that context?
With a long lost classmate, as long as there was nothing negative that caused you to lose touch, I’d say go ahead and send them a friend request. With a long lost family member, an introductory message is always a safe and appropriate way to make initial contact.
Who do you think benefits most from Facebook’s new Timeline format?
The Facebook Timeline is your story—that’s what’s so great about it. You don’t need to create or edit by doing anything other than posting important milestones and photos! It’s a benefit to friends and family who want “the big” picture of what’s been going on in your life. And it’s a personal benefit because it’s essentially a digital memoir.
What is the most inspirational Facebook-related story you’ve heard since publishing Facebook Fairytales?
23 years ago in Belleville, Illinois, Sherry Evans and Tim Foster were classmates—though not close friends—at Althoff Catholic High School. In 2010, they reconnected online. What Sherry didn’t know, at first, was how tough things had gotten for Tim. Through a series of circumstances, Tim had no job, no vehicle, and no home. His family (he, his wife, and their eight kids) was forced to move into a cheap motel. Sherry became determined to help her former classmate. She started a Facebook group called “Operation Ten Smiles.” The class of ’87 started donating items—a washer and dryer, furniture—another did laundry, one found a van. Then one day, the phone rang and Sherry said, “Tim, you’re not going to believe this but I got you a house.” Tim told me he’ll never look at Facebook the same way again.
