A website of one’s own…

March 10, 2010 by Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks)
Filed under: Digital publishing 

Claire Fogg blogYears ago when I was working for a publishing house that specialises in popular culture books, there was a story doing the rounds about one particular celebrity.

This singer, who was well past his pop prime (hence had time on his hands, we suspected), apparently ran his own fan club, and guarded his image so keenly that he wouldn’t license any content for inclusion in a bumper pop compendium.

At the time, his actions seemed odd (what self-respecting celeb didn’t have a PA to manage their fans at arm’s length?), mean spirited (why not allow us to print a biog?) and not a little self-obsessed. But actually, he was almost certainly on to something.

You can bet that this popstar is today running his own website – and the best websites are those where the subject goes to the trouble to have some personal input.

You must have felt that magic when the web puts you in close proximity of someone who you’d never normally have a chance to meet in the usual course of things. Sometimes that might mean you feel in contact with them emotionally (like when Marian Keyes went public with her depression), but more often it’s creatively.

The kind of author website I like is one that gives me an extra dimension, something that supplements my experience of reading their book. If you look at Armistead Maupin’s site for instance, you can go to an interactive San Francisco map that allows you to find the locations in his Tales of the City novels.

Or over at Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s site, you can read Top Tens of random things that cheer him up, and see if those things do the same for you.

Is there an author website that you especially like? If so, mention whose it is in the Comments below. I’d also like to hear what you would put on your own author website if time and money were no object, so be as creative as you like.

Best wishes,

Claire
(Publisher, Yearbooks)

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Comments

6 Comments on A website of one’s own…

  1. Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Mar 10, 2010 at 11:06am

    2. I really like Margaret Atwood’s blog – which always includes advice for the aspiring writer.

    A friend of mine is a committed fan (or should that be ‘need to be committed’ fan?) of a boy band – to spare her blushes I won’t mention which one. The band members have a very strong online presence, including Twitter and blogs, and general contact with their fans. Much more rewarding that hanging around outside a mansion in the pouring rain waiting for a quick glimpse!

    Cressida

  2. Phil G on Mar 10, 2010 at 18:10pm

    3. I think a website can be a useful way to help promote yourself to an agent or publisher (at least I hope so!). Why not try something other than the standard brochure site (bio, extracts, contact details)? I’ve tried to make my own website another creative exercise – it’s written in role by characters from the book, though it is also possible to read extracts and listen to audio clips. You can interact with characters in the forums. The novel – Juice – is about door to door sales, so that explains the cheesy look and feel of the website, and the slightly nauseous tone!

    If you’re interested, do take a look at http://www.juicebythat.com. I hope people don’t see this as a shameless plug (though it is in part!). I think having your own website is a way for us writers to control our own publicity and build a relationship with readers.

    Phil

  3. Authoright.com on Mar 12, 2010 at 12:42pm

    4. This absolutely right. A website is crucial these days, for any author.

    But, and it’s a big but, you have to get it right. Little design flaws, such as a ‘jumping’ image, outdated colour schemes and layout or inferior resolution images all make a site (and thus your book) look amateur.

    It’s worth getting a site designed properly – don’t be tempted to DIY your website. Equally you don’t have to spend a fortune, and don’t be tempted to get too clever with Flash images and moving design. Keeping it simple is key.

    Having a marketing professional as part of the design team is also important because you want to keep the branding consistent from book to domain name, from cover / genre / feel to design of the site.

  4. Tom Colohue on Mar 13, 2010 at 11:00am

    5. http://www.robinhobb.com/

    This is the website of my favourite author, coded by the woman herself.

    I am planning to put together my own website once I have the money to do so, but I’m also planning to add an extra element to it that’s actually similar to this one. I want to make an area that not only helps writers in the right direction, but enforces their knowledge of the discipline behind writing.

    That’s my intention anyway. Since I began writing I seem to have made a lot of new writing friends.

  5. Lanre on Mar 17, 2010 at 14:27pm

    6. Just joined here so thought to add my 2 cents. An internet presence is necessary in this day and age and yes some site have you captured that you can’t help but keep coming back.

    I am currently working on mine. I love Dorothy Koomson and Lola Jaye’s site

  6. Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Mar 18, 2010 at 11:34am

    7. Hi Phil, Tom and Lanre – I’ve just been checking out all these great sites and I hope others do too! Dorothy Koomson has lots of Top 5 writing tips from a range of authors – well worth a look.

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