Book lovers - what do you look for in an author's website?

[Ashy]

The subject says it all! I'm not sure if any of you know or not, but I've recently had a novel published by Dark Quest Games/Publishing and would love to know that from a book lover's perspective, what do you look for in an author's website?

 

[hafrogman]

Well, it may not be as important if it's your first book, but my number one desire/need is a list of the author's existing (and planned) works. I like them broken down by series and order and such forth.

Basically so if I find one book I like I can find out what other books you have and in what order I should read them.

Also nice is a small interview/FAQ kind of section where you might write something about your writing process, influences, plans for the future, etc.

That's all I can think of for now. Hmmm....

 

[Ashy]

Well, it may not be as important if it's your first book, but my number one desire/need is a list of the author's existing (and planned) works. I like them broken down by series and order and such forth.

Basically so if I find one book I like I can find out what other books you have and in what order I should read them.

Yea, not as big an issue at this point, but something to hope and aspire towards!

Also nice is a small interview/FAQ kind of section where you might write something about your writing process, influences, plans for the future, etc.

That's all I can think of for now. Hmmm....

Cool - thanks a lot - we have most of that already on the site (wanderingmen.com in the sig - and NO, I'm not just trolling for hits), but we don't have anything about our process or influences... I guess we can add that pretty easy.

Thanks!

 

[Thanee]

...what do you look for in an author's website?

When ADwD is done, what else!?

Seriously though, I do not really look at a whole lot of author websites... usually using Google/Wikipedia to find information, when looking for it (like what other books an author has written, when I found one I like).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Ashy]

When ADwD is done, what else!?

Sorry, I don't follow...ADwD?

Seriously though, I do not really look at a whole lot of author websites... usually using Google/Wikipedia to find information, when looking for it (like what other books an author has written, when I found one I like).

Bye
Thanee

Hurm...cool. We're trying to provide a website that appeals to the fans of the book - so we provide excerpts, (both written and audio), desktops, freebies - well, all sorts of things. Kinda like a gaming website mentality combined with an author's informative website.

Good idea? Bad idea? What?

 

[Starman]

Sorry, I don't follow...ADwD?

A Dance with Dragons, book five in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

 

[Ashy]

A Dance with Dragons, book five in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

Ah! Thanks!

 

[jonesy]

I visit authors websites to find out more about them themselves and what they like. And nobody does that better than these two of my favourites:

http://www.neilgaiman.com/

http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/

Gaimans journal keeps ending up on best blog of the year contests year after year, and Scalzi is the author I go to for book recommendations as he never fails to mention new finds.

 

[Thanee]

Hurm...cool. We're trying to provide a website that appeals to the fans of the book - so we provide excerpts, (both written and audio), desktops, freebies - well, all sorts of things.

Sounds good.

You basically need to provide something interesting for two specific crowds...

1) Those who somehow stumble upon your website without having read any of your book(s) yet.
2) Those who read your book and got interested enough to visit your website.

Bye
Thanee

 

[sckeener]

The sites I like have

• Glossaries
• Maps
• art -either covers or interior - and I don't mind fan art as long as the author is fine with the depiction
• list of their favorite authors

I also like to know the status on current works....i.e. if I'm going to have to wait forever and a day for the next book, I'd like to know it in advance.