Do I Need an Author Website?

And what should be on it?

If you are trying to sell a book, yes, you need a website. Even if you have never published anything before.

In your book proposal, query letter, and submission letters, you’re going to include a link to that site. It’s another chance for you to sell yourself and your concept to the agent or editor.

It also says, “I’m a serious writer.” You’ve taken the time to present a professional face to the world, and that shows that you’re going to devote the same care to publicizing your book.

How Do I Get a Site?

First, buy a domain name. Your name is usually the best option or some variation of it. You can buy this at places like Namecheap.com or Cloudflare.com.

Next, design your site. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be simple, but play around with colors and fonts to give yourself a custom look. Canva is great for this and has templates you can use.

Next, you need hosting. There are a few options. You can go to SiteGround.com and set it up there as a WordPress site. Or you can use SquareSpace.com.

What Goes on My Site?

If you have ever written published anything (including articles, blogs, Substacks, etc.) showcase those items on your site. If you can have a little graphic that goes with each one, that makes it nicer.

If you have never published anything, I suggest starting a Substack or a Medium account and putting some things up there so that you have some writing samples to include.

Include a great headshot of yourself and a bio. Talk about who you are, your experience, your interests, and your skills.

Include a short, compelling description of the book you’re trying to sell: “Coming Soon.” Make a cover for it. Use Canva if you are able, but if not, AI is your best friend for this. Tell it the name of the book and give it some idea of what you think should be on the cover. This is just a placeholder, but it will make the book feel real. This your chance to hype the book and highlight what’s special about it.

If you have social media accounts, include some links to them on your site as well.

It’s a good idea to put in a boilerplate privacy policy (ask AI to help you create one

Don’t forget to include a “Contact Me” button or include your email address. This is often overlooked, but is absolutely crucial!

Other Tips

Once you have a site, include the link to it in your email signature. Put it in your social media bios. Include it in every query letter you send, beneath your signature line.

Update it often. If you publish new things, add them. If you decide to write another book, include something about that as well. Adjust your bio as things change in your life.

In My World

I’ve been enjoying the gorgeous spring weather and am diving deeper into becoming a crazy bird person. We just put up an owl house, and I’m hoping some move in. I asked for one those birdhouses with a camera in it for Mother’s Day and am hoping I get that also. I have the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone. Last night on a walk, it identified 21 different birds which is the most it’s ever found on our walks.

I’m excite to share a new fun thing for writers that I’ve created. As an author and book coach, I know what it’s like to sit at your desk and feel uninspired, hopeless, and looking for direction. There’s a lot of research that shows that scent can inspire creativity and that linking specific scents to certain activities helps you be more productive.

With that in mind I’ve created a set of writer’s scent jars. There are three in the set, filled with botanicals and essential oils. Each one is geared to a different stage of the writing process: Deep (planning, thinking, outlining, plotting), Flow (putting the words on the page and trying to make them flow), and Polish (editing and perfecting your work). I hope you’ll check it out.

Obsessed With…

This is totally random and weird, but comedian and horror movie star Jamie Kennedy (who I only know of because he appears occasionally on a Sirius radio show I listen to), just bought a house in LA and discovered a giant hole (like 30 feet deep) under one of his driveway pavers. He’s been posting Instagram videos investigating the hole. He had a guy put a camera down as far they could and they think they saw a bone. I’m learning there is a huge system of tunnels under LA that people skate in. The whole thing is unhinged, but I’m waiting for the next post to see if they send someone down the hole, if they determine what it is actually for (a well?), and also what’s going to happen in terms of a lawsuit against the prior owner/builder. It’s the little weird things, people.

Good Goods

And on that theme of it’s the little things, I bought this little pot a couple years ago and I use it ALL the time for melting butter. I got fed up with butter exploding all over the microwave. This little Farberware pot is made just for that purpose and it’s super cute.

Note: Some of the links may provide me with a small referral fee.