No matter what type of novel a writer is working on, he can benefit greatly from having a strong online presence. While some publishers provide a website for a novel as part of the contract, some smaller houses or self-published authors do not have this luxury.
However, it is possibly to design a professional-looking author website for free with limited design or programming skills using a blog host such as Wordpress or Blogger. To successfully promote an author and his novels, a professional website should have a few separate pages.
Author Website Homepage
The homepage is the first page readers will see when they visit the website, and in many cases, it is the only page they will see. The homepage should include the most vital information, including:
- The author's full name (or pseudonym)
- A book cover image of the author's most recent published work, preferably as a link to Amazon or the publishing house where readers can purchase the book
- A jacket flap summary of the novel
- Contact information, either as a form or a link to the author's email address
Both Wordpress and Blogger offer templates with customizable headers which will appear on the homepage and subsequent pages. The color, font, and overall style of the template should reflect the type of books the author writes. For example, a children's picture book author website should be bright, colorful, and accessible to kids, while a horror novelist would have a darker theme.
About the Author Page
This page should feature a biography of the author, particularly focusing on the part relevant to her novels. Information about the author's literary agent and publishing house, as well as current projects, can be found on this page as well. Any other contact information the author wishes to share, such as a Facebook fanpage or Twitter page, should be on this page.
Published Novels Page
This page should feature all books published by the author to date. For the most professional look, an image of each cover should accompany the jacket flap blurb of the book, complete with a link to the books page on Amazon (or any other website where readers can order the book).
Events Page
All book signings, conferences and school visits an author will be attending can be noted on a calendar on this page. Any news, such as a new book deal or publication of a novel in another country, can also be included on this page.
Author Blog
While a blog is not a mandatory part of a website, authors can greatly benefit from starting a blog specifically about writing. The blog can be used to give writing advice to aspiring authors, provide breaking news on the author's work, or establish a more personal connection with the readers simply by sharing personal information.
Michelle Schusterman - Michelle is a musician and freelance writer just trying to see the world while doing what she loves for a living. After graduating from ...
