I met my boyfriend of more than 2 years online. 

Recently I  confessed to him I have had a LOT of new opportunities to meet men.

Yes, hundreds of them are approaching me.  It seems everywhere I go men are coming up to me and starting a conversation.

I haven’t lost a lot of weight.  I haven’t changed my hair color to blonde.  I haven’t had plastic surgery of any kind.

No, all I did is buy a really cool suede jacket with SAINTS on the back of it and a fleur de lis emblem on the front.

You would not believe how much conversation this jacket has generated.

Granted, I am one of those persons who can accurately be described as “never having met a stranger.”

Still, since I bought this jacket, EVERYONE I meet is interested in knowing where I bought it.

 I knew it was beautiful.  In fact I bought three others to give as gifts during the holidays. The store where I got them says they originally ordered them in March and they ran out in December.  They are nowhere to be found now.

I was aware that I had good taste, but this jacket is the mother of all conversation starters.  I thought it would be a good topic for this blog because this is a great example of how ordinary things can help break the ice when you are looking for love.

It’s not JUST the jacket that provides opportunity to meet people. 

At 10:00 p.m. following the Saints win of their first ever NFC Championship game, thousands of people were standing in line to get their championship merchandise.  Thousands of people standing outside in the middle of the night for hours doing the same thing.  Waiting for a chance to spend money on an item of common interest.

This is just one example of where such opportunities present themselves.

When a new movie is premiering, there are similar long lines. People stand in those lines for hours with nothing better to do than chat with those standing (sitting) next to them.  Same is true at concerts, festivals, museum exhibits,  AND MARDI GRAS PARADES. 

People are not only sitting there with nothing to do, they are sitting there waiting to do something that YOU are waiting to do.  Again, this  means you have something in common.

So, next time you find yourself in such a line, talk to those around you.  Afterwards, go online and talk about it.  Tweet about it.  Put it on Facebook.  Update your online dating profile and talk about it and ask others if they have done similar waiting recently. 

Then, hopefully you won’t be waiting much longer for love!

E-book/Blog Relevant to Millions Searching for the ‘Perfect Stranger’ to Love

Dec 14, 2009 10:30 CET

I “met” Alan Dean, a Montgomery, Alabama graphics artist, through an online dating service. 

 He and I corresponded awhile and then came to the conclusion that we didn’t have much of a chance to develop the type of relationship we’d gone looking for in the first place.

 I lived several hundred miles away from him.  We both wanted to meet someone we could actually date in person. Besides that, Alan usually dated younger women and I don’t mean 3 months younger (like me).  Also, Alan is a lifelong athlete who is into fitness.  Let’s just say I’m not.

Once we’d gotten THAT out of the way, we began a great friendship and wrote lengthy e-mails to one another about what was going on in the dating departments.  Somewhere along the way, we realized we’d met someone we could REALLY talk to.  Sometimes fate (or the internet) brings someone to us that plays an unexpected and important role in our lives

When I met Alan I’d already begun writing WINKdotCOM.  He told me some pretty good tales of his own internet dating experiences–from a male point of view.  About the same time I met someone who lived closer by who I began to date exclusively, but he isn’t the kind of guy who thinks I can’t have male friends.  

Eventually Alan came to town to visit and the three of us hit it off. 

It was during this first (and thusfar only) visit, when we wandered into the New Orleans Artists Market.  I wanted Alan to see the really neat Mardi Gras masks made there. 

Ironically, it was ME who turned out to be most inspired by the masks.  It occurred to me that a winking masked figure would be the PERFECT cover for THE BOOK. 

When Alan offered to design that cover it became a special project.

Today Alan completed that project.  As soon as my blog masters can get to it, the new cover will be on the homepage of this site and will replace the temporary art on the actual e-book.  I know how to put the new art on a post like this myself, so here it is.

Please note the fleur de lis detail in the background of the book cover.  And the authentic look of the eyes.  I think this is is GREAT!

Alan will eventually re-do the art to make it more generic (no winking smiley faces) and we’ll offer it for sale as a limited edition, signed poster.  Look to future blog posts for an opportunity to buy it. 

I’m also doing a nationwide news release through PRWeb to let others know about WINKdotCOM.  This should be sent out within a week or so.  I’ll post the release on this site at that time.

The moral of this story is sometimes you join an online dating site and what you get is something else.  I got a great friend with TALENT.

 In New Orleans we call THAT langniappe (a little something extra)!

After they’ve finished writing a book, most new authors probably think they’ve completed the hard part.  WRONG!

When I first e-published THE BOOK, as I have called it for some time, I titled it WINK.COM.  It was the perfect name.   Until I realized that ANOTHER person or group owns that domain name.  This caused all sorts of conflicts. 

Initially I chose the title because some online dating sites have an option where subscribers can “wink” at a potential date instead of communicate with a real message.  This wink is an indication of interest.

  I met my boyfriend on a website which offered a wink option. 

One of the reasons I was impressed with him is that he did not choose to wink at me, but instead wrote me a sentence or two.  The very fact that he took the TIME to actually write to me was a plus.  Also, he mentioned something in his first e-mail to me that indicated he had bothered to look at my PROFILE.

I’ve discussed in this forum that doing something which indicates to a potential date you are INTERESTED in THEM is important in making a good first impression. 

Anyway, I thought WINK.COM was a good metaphor for the whole online dating thing.  I actually wrote one of my first blog posts about why this is true.

So why change the name of THE BOOK if it is so “perfect”?

 Again, I found out someone has the domain name registered, so no one else can legally use it.  My first solution to THIS problem was to call THE BOOK  “WINKcom”.  I used the winking smiley face picture instead of the DOT in DOT COM. 

 However, when you attempt to send a news release to publicize your book, most publications won’t use a piece of colored art just to say what the name of the book is. 

This leads to a very easy-to-understand conclusion:  Picking the name of a book is harder than writing 100 pages of same!

Another thing I have learned for sure in the past couple of months:  Finding a way for potential readers to find YOU once you have written a book is harder than picking the book’s name!

Did you know when you e-publish a book, you have to use “keywords” in your blog or website so that GOOGLE and YAHOO and other search engines will direct people searching for your topic to you?

For example, when I was doing this blog, I used the “keywords” profile writing a number of times.  I did so because those are the words most people seeking an online date put into the little Google or Yahoo search boxes at the top of their computer pages. 

When you put the words “second chance dating online book blog” in the search box, MY BLOG comes up FIRST among more than 800,000 websites or blogs on the topics related to those words. 

WOW! 

The only thing is, though, if people  see how many times I use the words “dating profile” in my blog, they think the book is JUST ANOTHER BORING HOW TO BOOK with tips on how to write a profile.  Honestly, I do offer a profile writing service–ON THE LAST PAGE of my book as AN APPENDIX.

Really, THE BOOK (which may be renamed soon for the reasons mentioned above) is NOT a SELF HELP BOOK AT ALL.  Instead, it is a funny look at a 50-something year old woman who has started dating again.  

THE BOOK relates actual, real life online dating adventure (?) stories.  These stories could be about anyone OF ANY AGE trying to date again after:

• he or she breaks up with a long time partner
• he or she gets divorced
• he or she is widowed
• he or she ventures into the dating world for the first time.

THE BOOK is also a great read for people who are NOT looking for someone to date!

This means if you are married or in a relationship you’ll like laughing about the dilemmas faced by those people who are NOT. 

You’ll end up thanking your lucky stars that you don’t have to go through these dramas anymore. 

THE BOOK may even make you grateful for your spouse or significant other again if you’re feeling a little bored with a steady relationship

FINALLY, to my many friends who have asked me the age old question:  “If I buy your book do you guarantee I will meet someone to love online?” the answer is. . .NO.

I CAN GUARANTEE:

• You will realize that EVERYONE looking for love is in the same boat;
• You will laugh at me and my dating experiences (and you might learn a few things TO DO or NOT);
• You will recognize a LOT of people that YOU know (although they may not recognize themselves);
• You won’t be sorry you bought the book (if you are there is a money-back guarantee).

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!

IF YOU POST SOME GREAT PHOTOS WITH YOUR ONLINE DATING PROFILE  PEOPLE WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO WRITE TO YOU ABOUT WHEN THEY FIRST CONTACT YOU!

How many profiles are carefully written to explain that the writer’s “friends would describe me as loyal, funny, trustworthy, compassionate, intelligent, fill-in-the-blanks” ? 

 How many people say they like to “go to movies, listen to live music, read, fish, camp, go to ballgames, draw, eat out, fill-in-the-blanks”?

If you answered EVERYONE’S PROFILES MENTION THESE THINGS, you are RIGHT! 

So how do you make YOUR profile different?  And how can you get the information about yourself in your profile without using up all your allotted words?

I’ll write another time about how to make those words interesting to others, but it occurs to me that interesting photos are a BETTER introduction in most cases.

First, a lot of people will not contact anyone who does not post a photo along with their online dating profile.  Secondly, most people will not appreciate it if your photo(s) are not CURRENT. 

 There are THOUSANDS (MILLIONS) of people who are using online dating sites.  If a few of them are not interested in you when they see YOUR photo, it’s nothing to worry about!  There are bound to be SOME that like you JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!

IT IS BETTER TO POST A NUMBER OF PHOTOS with your online dating profile. 

My own profile photo was taken at a New Orleans Saints game in the New Orleans Superdome.  The field is in the background.  Of course my ticket was at the top of the Stadium making this photo opportunity available!  LOL  Anyway, the photo gives people the opportunity to know I like to go to such sporting events. It also gave a conversation opener for some guys who contacted me.

After Katrina, I had a photo taken of myself in front of a FUNNY sign at a local trailer park.  The sign read, “Welcome to Mid City Trailer Park, the VERY BEST IN ALUMINUM LIVING.”  Anyone living in a FEMA trailer got THAT.  Anyone NOT living in a FEMA trailer got THAT!

One of my male friends is a professional auto mechanic.  I asked him to help me fix my car and took his photo doing so.  He posted the photo on his Facebook Account and in his dating profile and tagged it “Doing a Favor for a Friend.”  This got TWO points across:  1.  He can fix a lady’s car; and, 2. He’s WILLING to fix a lady’s car.  TWO plusses.  Much more effective than just saying he is an auto mechanic.

My boyfriend had photos taken of himself standing next to a helicopter for use with his online dating profile.  He is a retired airline mechanic and currently works on helicopters!  Again, a great topic for conversation.

Photos taken at various music events or festivals or art events are also great ice breakers.  If you go to a concert, have a photo taken in front of the poster for the event before going into the place. Same for a museum. Whether or not your potential date likes the musician/artist you are patronizing, it’s a way to start a conversation.

My cousin recently attended a hot air balloon race in St. Louis.  Her friend was one of the balloon pilots and I have photos of her in the basket with the balloon inflated.  Again, a conversation piece and unusual, too.

So, friends, use those photos.  Again, they are worth a THOUSAND WORDS!

Your SNEAK PREVIEW of my online dating book is at the end of this post.  If it encourages you to read the rest of the book, please click on one of the book cover links.  I appreciate your business! 

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BUY THE BOOK AT THIS TIME, I ask that you continue to read my blog posts.  You can read them all by clicking on my home page.  The links are at listed to the right.  ALSO, I ask that you please write a comment at the end of the post and give me some feedback.  I’m waiting to hear from you!

I met the artist who is designing the cover for “ WINKcom” when I was actively dating online. 

Alan , eventually featured in “ WINKcom” as BFF, lives in Montgomery, Alabama.  He and I realized early on that we weren’t going to date. Way too many miles between us and I was too old for him (though we are the same age, LOL).   So, instead of a romantic relationship we began a daily internet correspondence/friendship.

We soon realized we could “talk” about anything to one another.  We confided all of our worries and frustrations and our successes and goals.  This continued for about a year and a half.  All the while, I was writing away about my online dating experiences.  Eventually, he came to visit me in New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival. 

He and my found on the internet boyfriend Mike (”Peter Pan” in “ WINKcom”) are a lot alike and the three of us had a blast listening to music at the festival.  I work in the historic New Orleans French Market, right across the street from one of the festival music stands. 

BFF and Peter Pan are both musicians.  BFF is a talented graphics art designer.  Peter Pan is a native New Orleanian.  Before walking to the main music venue we entered the New Orleans Artists’ Market to take a look around.  There we saw them.  The best selection of handmade Mardi Gras masks in the city.  An artist’s dream.

THAT’S WHEN THE IDEA CAME TO ME FOR THE PERFECT “ WINKcom” COVER:  a masked face, one eye winking.  I already wrote an article about why a wink is so relevant to internet dating.  A mask is also pertinent to the book’s content but, in addition, emphasizes my NEW ORLEANS connection.

When I got home, I did a little more research.  Look at these definitions of mask:

• dissemble: hide under a false appearance, such as “I masked my disappointment.”
• put a mask on or cover with a mask, i.e., “I masked my children for Halloween.”
• a covering to disguise or conceal the face.
• to make unrecognizeable.
• activity that tries to conceal something:  “No mask could conceal his character; or, “they moved in a mask of friendship.”
• shield from light.
• a protective covering worn over the face.

ALL of these definitions apply to dating.  More specifically, all of  these surely apply to dating online.

For those of you who want a preview of  “ WINKcom” , here’s one of the chapters.  Please remember, the book is under copyright and cannot be used without my permission!  

Also, by way of explanation,  at the end of many of the chapters in “ WINKcom” I have a special section called  IN A WINK.  In the book this section is boxed and highlighted in Mardi Gras purple. 

 These sections are summaries designed for you to get a summary of the information very quickly (”in a wink”). 

When I use “ WINKcom” in quotes while writing for this blog, I am referring to the name of the book. 

When I use WINK or WINKcom without quotes in a chapter of the book, I am referring to the FICTIONAL internet dating site I am writing about!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“The Internet Delusion Syndrome”

I had to share some of the posts that people put up that are shall we say, brutally honest in what they want—or don’t—in a match.

 Take this one, from a lady who I am sure is only a little bit B-I-T-T-E-R. . .

 . . .Profile heading:  Are there any real men left?    

 This princess writes the following:

 “You guys are tough.  It seems that you’re either spineless or jerks.  I’m tired of the games and the crap.”

 Wow, if I were a guy, I’d want to run to the computer and immediately start a correspondence with this sweetheart?  How about you?

How about this darling’s age requirements for her future true love:

“Age 29-40.  Yes you did read correctly. 29/40 meaning 40 at the most.  Not 55 or even 48—I already had a father, thank you.”

 No worries here that she is looking to use some older man for his money.

Another profile I am particularly fond of explains, “average” size from the viewpoint of a man-who-is-all-that.

 “When I say I am looking for an average sized woman, I mean a woman who is size 6 or smaller.  I do not mean a size 8 or 10.”

 On what planet is an average sized woman a size 6?  Planet Anorexia?  Planet Purge?

 Good grief, Charlie Brown.  I wasn’t a size 6 when I was 13 years old, 5’10” and 125 pounds.    Did he not see skinny Oprah get into that size 10 Calvin Klein jean?  

 Whoever made you chief of the fashion police, anyway?

 Sorry.  It hit a nerve.

Does anybody think these people will find their dream matches on the internet? 

Most people , when asked why they use  WINKcom would tell you (tah dah). . .”To find someone to date.”

 That’s what I’d been thinking, too.

 Apparently those of us who thought that was the reason for joining were mistaken.

 See, people can BE whatever or whomever they want to be online.

 OR, sometimes, a person will pretend they can HAVE whatever or whomever he or she WANTS . 

 In other words, some people use  WINKcom as a means of LYING to themselves or to others.  LOL

I’d love to be proven wrong!  But one day I was looking at possible matches on the internet and up popped a picture of my FIRST COUSIN.  Now, my first cousin was born 7 years before me.  However, the age listed on his profile was 53, two years younger than me at the time.  You do the math.  I rest my case.

 By way of further example, it is amazing to me how many OLD men and women truly believe that someone in his or her 20s would be remotely interested in them romantically.

 In this particular instance, Rick would be right when he says, “Any 20-something year old woman (or man) who is talking seriously to a guy (or woman) in his (or her) late 50s is after his (or her) M-O-N-E-Y.

I certainly didn’t think my 27-year-old admirer was seriously interested in me.  I still hear from him, but only occasionally in the middle of the night.  Maybe he found out I didn’t have any M-O-N-E-Y to be after. 

Come to think of it, I think he wanted someone with experience.

Smart man, but, still, WAY TOO YOUNG.

My high school-aged daughter was looking over my shoulders one day while I was surfing the net.

Notice I said surfing the net.  That’s what you do when you look for matches on the internet.

 Don’t make the mistake of saying “cruising the net”.  I said that and was informed that cruising is what gay people do in the French Quarter when they are looking to find other gay people.

 Sorry. Back to my daughter.

 “Mom,” she said looking at a photo of a man WINK said would be a good match for me.  “He looks OLD.  Oh, he IS old,” she continued when she saw his age (which was about 5 years older than me). 

 I was relieved she thought he looked way too old for me because, in a roundabout way she was saying I don’t look my age. 

 Upon further glance this guy was looking for a woman in her late 20s. 

 See what I mean about lying to oneself?

Another example of what I would like to formally name “Internet Delusion” occurs when a very OVERWEIGHT person refuses to talk to anyone who is not SLENDER or ATHLETIC AND TONED.

And what about people who are, say, 54 and won’t date anyone aged 50 or older? I have to say, this is generally direction to men.

 What’s up with that?  Women outlive men and they SEXUALLY peak a lot later than men do. 

 You get the picture.

In some instances, I can’t figure out WHY people use online dating services. 

 I know why they SAY they are using WINK  but then, like Rick, all they do is spend their time looking—and little of their time doing anything to make something happen.

 Like actually e-mailing someone!

Some people I know say they continue to be on WINK because they are addicted to it. 

Let’s just say that it’s easy to run to the computer every time you enter the room to check if the WINK blinking eye logo is at the bottom of the screen. 

 If it is, YOU’VE GOT A MESSAGE!

IN A WINK:

 I reiterate! 

• Try to keep your sense of humor and have fun! 
• Recognize if you are getting addicted to sitting at the computer.
• Read this chapter and LAUGH! 
• No need to be bitter. No need to be judgmental! 

 Isn’t it great to realize the many things human beings have in common?

© 2008-2009, Rita Kranson Williams 

When I began writing “WINK com”, I had been “participating” in online dating for several months. 

However, prior to joining in the ”adventure” myself, I’d been helping a couple of my friends write their online dating profiles. I offered my help because THEY were intimidated and didn’t have a clue of where to begin.

First I began researching what others had been posting in THEIR profiles.

“I am looking for someone to complete me,” said one profile after another.

In “WINK com” I ask the following question:  “DID YOU KNOW THAT ‘YOU COMPLETE ME’  WAS RECENTLY THE ANSWER TO A PUZZLE ON Wheel of Fortune ?” 

I then go on to note: “When a line is so well-known as to be used as an answer to a puzzle on Wheel of Fortune, it is no longer useful as a pickup line.”

ONE THING I IMMEDIATELY KNEW FOR SURE, AN INTERNET DATING PROFILE NEEDS TO BE ORIGINAL TO YOU!

TO GET SOMEONE TO EVEN LOOK AT YOUR PROFILE, THOUGH, THEY FIRST HAVE TO GET PAST YOUR ONLINE DATING PROFILE HEADLINE.

I kept originality in mind when I wrote my OWN dating profile headline. 

Here’s how I came up with it:

You see, I used to have a teddy bear business called Fat Tuesday Bears, Inc. My teddy bear designer was one of the most famous  in the world.  (Who knew there WERE teddy bear designers?)

We’d been having production problems with a line of  little stuffed bears. They were supposed to be used as Mardi Gras throws. 

If the bears were not shipped by a certain time, they would not arrive until AFTER Mardi Gras. 

That’s when my designer, Sally Winey, said, “Rita, if it was easy, then everyone would do it!”

Fast forward five years later.  My cousin and I discussed at length her reluctance (refusal) to date online.  She didn’t like the idea of dating a “PERFECT STRANGER.”  LOL 

How appropriate was that? 

Everyone is looking through a list of strangers online and trying to find someone perfect.  No, I take that back.  Not perfect. . .perfect for THEM!

So, when I joined a dating site, my OWNline dating profile headline became: “IF PERFECT WAS EASY THEN EVERYONE WOULD DO IT.”

I was recently called upon to write another online dating profile and headline.

I had to talk with the client for awhile to write her profile, but HER perfect online dating profile HEADLINE came to me in about a second.

I am 5′11″ so I really notice height in people. Other people, of average height, don’t usually notice height as much.

However, Amy is about 4′10″ barefoot. 

The perfect online dating profile headline for her? 

“THE ONLY THING I’M SHORT OF IS HEIGHT.”

The short version of this advice?

• An online dating profile headline needs to be original TO YOU. 
• An online dating profile headline needs to be funny
• An online dating profile needs to be different
• An online dating profile should be written to elicit interest. 
• Later, once you’ve “met” someone (either online or in person) your headline can be a great icebreaker for conversation. 

From time to time I’ll post other hints on this blog.  If you want me to write your profile for you, go to that link on my home page and order.  I look forward to hearing from you either way.  Please post comments at the end of this page!  Thanks!

Don’t Be Intimidated by Internet Dating, Twitter, Facebook, Online Shopping

I’ve noticed a lot of people my age are needlessly (in my opinion) afraid of a using technology to function in today’s world.

For example,  I attended a conference in Illinois with my cousin Lori@thedatabasediva.com where she was the main speaker.  Those at the conference were professional women  who were members of the area’s Chamber of Commerce affiliated groups.

 About 150 were in attendance, representative of all types of professions (doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs, so to speak). 

Lori is an expert on social marketing and was explaining the Twitter and Facebook phenomenons sweeping our country. 

While most of the women were CURIOUS about Twitter and Facebook, some were very worried that they would be stalked or worse if they participated in these types of activities. 

Frankly, I was sort of amazed by their fears. 

I suppose this is because I’d been using the internet for all sorts of what some consider “risky” endeavors. 

For example, I found my boyfriend of two years through an online dating site.  I have been dedicating a good deal of my time writing “ WINKcom” to help ally some of those fears. 

I want to keep emphasizing that millions (billions) of people use Twitter and Facebook every day (multiple times).  Online shopping is growing everyday and is fast becoming the main shopping method for many consumers.  I predict that, in the not too distant future, online shopping will be the main source of shopping for the majority of Americans (or at least a major percentage of shoppers).

When I say shopping online, this, of course, includes TV shopping channels, EBAY, AMAZON, and, to be honest, Internet Dating sites!

Two days after the Illinois event, we attended a speech by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey at WEBster University in St. Louis. 

During Dorsey’s speech, NO ONE was worried about or intimidated by the use of cellphones and laptops to communicate their thoughts. 

In fact, the event was broadcast through the internet and Dorsey received 300,000 tweets (messages) during a ONE HOUR period.

It is truly a whole new world!

True enough, my teenaged daughter was shocked when I showed her my newest telephone.  Her comment?  “Do you really know how to use the features on that phone, mom?”  

YOU KNOW I DO!  Or, if I don’t now, I can and will learn how to do it! 

My point is, I am not too worried about someone stalking me if they meet me on Twitter, or Facebook or an INTERNET DATING SITE.  Nor am I concerned about using PayPal (A SECURE PAYMENT METHOD) to buy something online (again, the main method of shopping today).

If we don’t learn to keep up, we’ll be hopelessly left behind.  We have to start now in learning about what is new. 

 New is scary.  New is different.  New is unknown. 

If we learn now, though,  new won’t be new anymore.

Those of us who keep up will soon be afraid no more.

Why did I choose “ WINKcom” as the title of my book?

  I decided to use an “alias” for the quasi-fictional Internet dating site I was writing about to avoid getting sued by the real sites.  Did you know it costs a minimum $10,000 to advertise on one of the more famous such sites? 

 I’d already paid membership dues to join three of such online dating groups and I figured that was enough.  Anyway. . .

 Someone else already had the domain name with a real dot instead of the winking smiley face in it.  That’s one reason why my website name is not the name of THE BOOK.

 Anyone who’s used one of these sites will know why I chose the name WINK. For those of you who have not been FORTUNATE enough to resort to finding a date on the Internet, I’ll explain.

 When someone doesn’t want to spend the time to actually WRITE a SENTENCE OR TWO to a person who might possibly turn out to be his or her lifelong dream partner, they “WINK” instead.  This takes about TWO SECONDS of their valuable time. 

  Maybe that’s too cynical. 

 It might just be that they are scared and don’t know what to say.

 I should be thankful that’s the case, really. 

 That’s how I got introduced to the whole Internet scene myself.

 More on that when you read THE BOOK!

 Once the decision was made for the name of THE BOOK I began researching the actual definition of the term TO WINK.  It was SO COOL because winking is SO relevant to the whole internet dating thing. 

 Think about it.

 Do you think of a WINK as one eye opened or one eye shut?  How do we move into NEW RELATIONSHIPS?  Certainly it would be better to do so with BOTH eyes open, but we don’t.  More likely we shut our eyes to things we should be aware of before we meet PERFECT STRANGERS on the internet. 

 “ WINKcom” will give you clues of what to look for when you are meeting and dating people online. 

 Another definition of WINK is “ to avoid seeing it or to pretend not to see it or to be tolerant of it.”

 FOR EXAMPLE, sometimes we “wink” at bad behavior (such as “little white lies” or disrespectful treatment or even stretching legal limits). 

 “ WINKcom” reminds us not to fall into the same traps that made some of us single in the first place.

 A lot of us are online looking for love because we are recently out of another relationship that went wrong.

 I have found love a couple of times.  The first time I was in my teens. I found that one at college.  This time I am in my 50s. I found him online.  I don’t want to have to do this again when I’m in my 70s.  This time, I want to get my relationship right—don’t you?

 Online we use winks to convey a message, or to send a signal or suggestion. If you wink at someone online there’s a shared knowledge of intent.  BUT. . .

 . . . that’s one thing about internet dating—you can’t see someone’s expressions or body language online!

  “ WINKcom”  includes a lot of information about ROMANCE SCAMMERS.  Even if you can’t see them in person, we can help you spot these fakers in a WINK.

 We know when we send a wink into cyberspace it’s supposed to be a compliment and I have always responded accordingly. 

 I ALWAYS sent a response to someone who WINKed at me.  It’s an acknowledgement of the compliment.

 The first serious relationship I had as result of online dating occurred when someone WINKed at me.  I didn’t know until later that he’d sent 17 other WINKS out at the same time he sent one to me.  LOL 

 I also met my current boyfriend through an online dating site.  We’ve been together about two years.  He didn’t wink at me. 

 He took the time to write me a three paragraph e-mail.  This was impressive to me for two reasons:

   (1) The e-mail referenced something I had written in my  Online Dating Profile (which meant he spent time reading it); and,

   (2) He took the time to type something (which a lot of guys do using a 2 fingers method).

 One last thing—

 At the end of most every chapter of “ WINKcom” I include a short summary of some of the major points made in the chapter.

 I call these sections (what else?) “IN A WINK”   Of course the phrase IN A WINK describes a short period of time, or, implies “in an instant.” 

  I added the IN A WINK sections because YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE.  There are more points made in the chapters themselves, but, if you’d just like a very few online dating tips to start with, go to those sections first!

More than just a “how to” book.  Informative, insightful and hilarious. . .

“My sister (brother, cousin, friend, grandmother, grandfather, daughter, son)met his/her (wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, significant other) online.” 

   “I tried internet dating and this is what happened to me. . .”

“I’d be afraid to try internet dating, but I don’t want to meet someone in a bar either.  I’ve given up on dating at all! 

 If you’ve had any of these thoughts/conversations/questions about online dating or dating again, THIS is the book for you!

In a world where there are hundreds on internet dating sites and where just ONE of these sites boasts 20,000 NEW members DAILY, WINKcom is relevant for millions of people who are looking for someone to love (or just date)! 

With its FUNNY, real-life examples, warnings, suggestions and observations, WINKcom is thought-provoking and full of “aha” moments throughout.

WINKcom shows that, from traditional dating ages on up, people are the same.  The trick is to learn the FIRST time how to get a relationship right!

Join “Elizabeth” and her friends as she takes you down the road to dating–AGAIN.