From newspaper interview to fun discovery

The other day I had a phone interview with a reporter from my long ago past. I lived in Chillicothe, Illinois eons ago, graduated from the high school, then moved on never to look back. Somehow this reporter heard about my two published books and wanted to do an article for the local paper. I sent her copies of Farm Girl and Uncut Diamonds, which she read and enjoyed. I liked hearing her refer to my old hometown as "Chilli." (Hadn't heard that in years, but it sure took me back!)

Eager to see if the interview was posted online yet, I googled myself this morning. Hadn't done that for awhile, not expecting anything new really, except maybe the interview. Couldn't find the interview, (since I really need to allow her to write it first lol!) but I did find this:


A man calling himself The Curmudgeonly Professor had photographed the books he had recently purchased with a $50 Amazon gift certificate. And there's Farm Girl front and center! (Well, sort of front and slightly to the left actually.)

I was so tickled by this that I emailed him straightaway and asked his permission to use the photo on my blog, which he graciously gave.

This brings to mind the whole what-happens-when-you-google-yourself scenario. I've had thrilling little surprises like this one, and I've stumbled across mean-spirited reviews. The whole gamut, really. You never know what you'll run into when you google yourself or one of your books. Be prepared to have your day ruined, or to get a happy lift. Thanks to Dwight Blood, the curmudgeonly professor and his Amazon gift certificate, my day got a happy start to it.

How about it? Have you googled yourself lately?