Writers and Websites

Posted by Rick

June 25, 2008

How is your novel coming? Almost done? Once you’re finished what do you plan to do next while you’re planning your next work? How about creating a site to showcase your work? Robert McCammon, Nick Hornby, Stephen King, and Joseph Nassise all have official websites. In researching I discovered that some of my favorites refuse to enjoy an online presence. Bentley Little doesn’t like computers so we will probably never see one from him. What makes a interesting author site? Let’s take a field trip over to Joseph Nassise’s excellent example to have a look.

It feels professional – Joe’s site is powered by Wordpress (to lend power to his blog) and sports a professional theme using iCompany. There are free themes out there that do the trick but some premium themes can’t be beat. The whole look and feel of the site is intuitive, easy to navigate and full of information.

Credentials – Joe’s “Meet Joe” page tells you why he is qualified to have your attention, and also why you should check out his books. Joe is a two time Bram Stoker award winner and author of an internationally best-selling series (The Templar Chronicles).

The Books – Joe’s books and writing portfolio are scattered throughout the website. The graphics are eye-catching but unpretentious and he provides convenient links to purchase.

Updates – Joe provides constant updates on his Blog page. Here he has the latest news on his activities and other items of interest. I had never heard of a “wovel” until reading his blog post spotlighting fellow author Kealan Patrick Burke’s latest venture.

Your site is your window. It is a place to showcase your talent and to make connections. In Joe’s words, “Writing can be a lonely and frustrating business”. Your own site can bring your work to a much wider audience.