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

[Ashy]

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.

Thanks, jonesy - I will check out both of these sites for pointers!

 

[Ashy]

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

Hurm...I think we have all of that, but perhaps not presented in a way that promotes this sort of linear progression through the site. This is good stuff, Thanee - thanks!

 

[Ashy]

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.

(Gets out checklist... can do, can do, check!, can do! and can do!)

Thanks a ton, sckeener!

 

[WayneLigon]

Stuff about the characters or world that perhaps had to be cut from the book, especially any visual aids.
A publication schedule, if you have more than one book or are working on another book.

 

[Ashy]

Stuff about the characters or world that perhaps had to be cut from the book, especially any visual aids.
A publication schedule, if you have more than one book or are working on another book.

Thanks, WayneLigon - we do, in fact, have character and world info, as well as images. I'm working on a production schedule currently!

Thanks for all the input, please keep it comin!

 

[Aus_Snow]

Hm.

I don't often look at writers' websites. When I do, it's usually to find out what else they might have done, or might be doing (or about to do.) So, IOW, this is at the point where I have already read one or more of their books, and liked it/them.

Very rarely, I might check out a site to find out more about the writer as a person. But, as Thanee said, there's always Google, Wikipedia, etc. for that.

 

[Ashy]

Hm.

I don't often look at writers' websites. When I do, it's usually to find out what else they might have done, or might be doing (or about to do.) So, IOW, this is at the point where I have already read one or more of their books, and liked it/them.

Very rarely, I might check out a site to find out more about the writer as a person. But, as Thanee said, there's always Google, Wikipedia, etc. for that.

nods...

gotcha.

 

[ssampier]

I rarely visit author's web pages. When I do is because I enjoyed their work and want to know more about them or their inspiration, etc. If I need need information about other works, Amazon does a good job of telling me.

George R.R. Martin has a pretty good site (even though I dislike the design)
http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

 

[Ashy]

I rarely visit author's web pages. When I do is because I enjoyed their work and want to know more about them or their inspiration, etc. If I need need information about other works, Amazon does a good job of telling me.

George R.R. Martin has a pretty good site (even though I dislike the design)
http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

So if you don't like the design, what is it about the site that you find appealing? Thanks for replying!

 

[ssampier]

Content is king, of course!