Hi, everyone. I’m Sarah Burr, and I’m celebrating the release of my cozy mystery #FollowMe for Murder. My main character Coco Cline introduced herself to me after I began toying with a fairly radical idea for the cozy mystery genre: what if a heroine embraced technology? Enter Coco, a blogger and social media influencer who knows how to use platforms like Instagram and Twitter better than she knows how to use a stove. When confronted with a dead body and PR nightmare, Coco decides to put her amateur detective skills to the test by using social media to delve into the victim’s life and track down a cunning killer.

I’ve always loved social media and how it connects us to the world. I grew up alongside it, witnessing firsthand how it took the world by storm. I joined Facebook back when it was only for college students. I remember waiting anxiously for my college letter just so that I could get on Facebook with all my other college-bound friends. Priorities of an eighteen-year-old, right?

My first memory of Twitter comes from watching an episode of Oprah with my mom. I was home from college at the time. Together, Mom and I watched as Oprah explained this new thing called “Twitter” to her audience and showed them how to set up an account. By the end of the episode, I’d launched my very first Twitter account thanks to Oprah, and she FOLLOWED me…and probably everyone else who set it up during the episode, LOL.

It would be a few years until I caved and joined Instagram. This fact may come as a surprise, as it’s no secret to my readers that Instagram is my favorite platform. However, that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning, I didn’t see why anyone would care about the pictures I posted. I didn’t live a glam life or anything – at the time, I worked in a tech support call center in a small town—and nothing exciting ever happened to me, so what pictures was I going to share? Answer: food. Oh yes, I was a total foodie. Once I was on Instagram, I posted basically every meal I ate. And people loved it. I got so many comments about what I was eating, what restaurant I was at, etc. Food photos were a thing back in those days (Both Coco and I like to think they still are). And once celebrities got wind of Instagram, all bets were off. I didn’t have to wait for an issue of Cosmo or People to see pictures and interviews featuring my favorite celebs. I didn’t have to sit around for the latest Perez Hilton Hollywood gossip post. With Instagram, celebs could communicate directly with their fanbase, sharing intimate insight into their fab lives. I would spend hours scrolling through accounts, absorbing even the most mundane details about them. I was obsessed, and my daily routine reflected this.

I got a harsh reality check when my phone began informing me how much time I was spending each day on my social media apps. It was completely eye-opening and overwhelming. But, once I realized how much of my life I was spending on social media, I knew I had to change my habits. So that year, I gave up social media for Lent, and ever since, my relationship with the online world has been healthier and more beneficial for me.

Why? I have my life back, and that means more time for writing! I try to limit my social media time to thirty minutes a day. I even deleted my personal profiles so I wouldn’t be tempted. Sorry, Oprah! Instead of Insta-stalking celebrities, I committed to cultivating a helpful, healthy community on my author accounts. I love the writing and reading communities I’ve found. I’ve learned so many new writing tips and tricks and discovered some fantastic books, all making me a better writer. #FollowMe for Murder would not be out in the world without the help of this community. That’s right – Coco got her big break because of Twitter!

My final task to enhance my online experience and make social media work for me? I cut out all celebrities I’d been following. I couldn’t justify investing my time in a famous stranger’s life anymore, no matter how fabulous they were. So, I went through my “following” list and gave all the celeb accounts the ax. I’m sure they were heartbroken. Well, except Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. My love for those two runs deep, and I could never say goodbye.

What is your favorite social media platform? Why?
Do you have any fun memories involving social media?
Leave a comment.

About The Book

Meet 28-year-old influencer and celebrity blogger Coco Cline, who has started her own social media consulting firm in her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware. Her new clients, Sean and Olivia Chen, are ten days away from the grand opening of their specialty consignment shop when Coco stumbles across their store clerk Stacy dead behind the register.

Worried that a cloud of suspicion will ruin their chances of a successful business launch, the Chens ask Coco to work alongside the inexperienced Central Shores police force to speed up the investigation. Using her celebrity status and social media savviness, Coco realizes Stacy’s seemingly ordinary life was all an act. Following a trail of cryptic online posts, confusing timelines, and muddied gossip, Coco and her friends discover Stacy’s questionable relationships just might be the reason for her untimely demise.

Murder is about to go viral in #FollowMe for Murder, a Trending Topic Mystery.

Purchase Link: Amazon

About the Author

Sarah E. Burr lives near New York City. Hailing from the small town of Appleton, Maine, she has been dreaming of being Nancy Drew since she was a little girl. Since Sarah wasn’t stumbling across any crime scenes in corporate America, she left her career in healthcare technology to write mysteries of her own.

Her novel #FollowMe for Murder, first in the Trending Topic Mysteries, shines the spotlight on a social media PR expert after she discovers a dead body in her clients’ store, forcing her to untangle a web of secrets in her small, beach-side town.

Sarah is also the author of the Court of Mystery series and the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, currently serving as the New York Tri-State Chapter’s social media guru. When she’s not spinning up new stories, Sarah is off seeing Broadway musicals, reading up a storm, video gaming, and enjoying walks with her dog, Eevee.

Author Links –

Webpage: https://www.saraheburr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsaraheburr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsaraheburr/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahEBurr
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/saraheburr
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah-e-burr
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorsarahebur
YouTube: https://bit.ly/bookstabundlesbooktrailers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsaraheburr/

1 Comment

Sarah Burr says:

March 2, 2022 at 9:07 am

What a beautiful post! I just love the graphics you create. Thank you for having Coco and me. It’s always so nice to visit!

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