Author Websites: 7 Of The Best Writers' Sites (PHOTOS)

Authors: masters of language, but often not the web. Even some writers with massive Twitter followings and social media campaigns don't have useful websites. Does it matter? Depends on how you want to be perceived when people are searching for you. When we asked this week on Twitter and Facebook for the best author websites, we received the names of only a few that impressed us.

Nevertheless, we've pulled together some of the best of what you sent in. What do you think: Are these the best author websites out there? Which awesome sites did we leave out? Let us know. We'd love to highlight the really great ones.

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Kathy Reichs

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Kathy Reichs, author of the "Bones" series, has an informative and visually striking website, which features key facts about the writer and her books, as well as bonus content such as videos.

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Kathy Reichs, author of the "Bones" series, has an informative and visually striking website, which features key facts about the writer and her books, as well as bonus content such as videos.

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This Website

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

Terrible Nice!

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Comments

[Luis Lago]

11:10 PM on 11/22/2010

Interesting challenge.

[KenSmith]

11:30 AM on 11/20/2010

I'm mostly retired, living in the middle of Mexico. Helping friends develop web-based marketing campaigns for their books is a good way to stay in touch with the larger world.
I'm not going to argue here with the selection of these websites for successful authors. However, it seems to me that greater emphasis has been placed on the visual instead of words. The primary purpose of an author's website is to attract readers, not viewers. Readers buy books. Viewers watch television. To attract readers, it is best to have fresh content on the main page at least weekly -- and a good way to do this is to use a blog content management system.
Here are two websites that I have developed and maintain for friends. Both were over 60 when their first book was published. Both are expat Americans living in Mexico. Both received substantial advances from major publishers. Otherwise, they have little in common -- other than my using the same template for both of their websites.
Ellen Greene's "Remember the Sweet Things (HarperCollins), published last year, is a memoir, adventure, love story, sailing and travel narrative, and a tribute to her husband who died four years ago.
Here is Ellen's site:
http://www.ellengreene.org
Joe Bageant's "Deer Hunting with Jesus" (Random House) was published three years ago and was a NY Times best seller. Joe describes himself as a "redneck socialist", His book is about the American class system.
Here is Joe's site:
http://www.joebageant.com

[CinNYC]

07:10 PM on 11/20/2010

Couldn't agree more, I look for something I can read. I was able to get on those two websites and immediately come face to face with the distinct timbres of two different voices, without the bells and whistles.

[Queen Louise]

06:27 AM on 11/20/2010

I would like to offer Laurie Halse Anderson's newly overhauled website, www.madwomanintheforest.com. Not only is it simple to navigate and filled with tons of information, there is a section just for teachers who use Laurie's books in their classrooms. Please check it out!

[Fiona Place]

04:16 AM on 11/19/2010

omg - writing is so only a part of the business - my website is functional, easy on the eye but I think if these examples are the way forward - writers need to be visually literate - and to me while this is good - I like to think text can talk

[MikeyMike]

06:09 PM on 11/19/2010

JK Rowling spent, as I recall, about a million on her site, so don't feel bad. I heard a talk by the programmers. Their mission was to make the site fun, interactive, full of puzzles to solve, and it had to work for children of any ability, period. While not a favorite author of mine, she earned my respect!

[guytwelve]

07:32 PM on 11/18/2010

http://www.westofherethebook.com/

[slowrabbit]

07:57 PM on 11/18/2010

this is one of the best book websites i've seen. beautifully done.

[Jennie Hettrick]

11:13 AM on 11/19/2010

yes it is!

[RoseDD]

04:33 PM on 11/18/2010

As a designer, I think author websites are some of the most rewarding projects to work on--you really get to share the author's personality and bring their story to (virtual) life:

http://mashahamilton.com/the_camel_bookmobile/
http://thelastbridgenovel.com/

[01202009]

04:07 PM on 11/18/2010

I just learning with a blog about a book I'm working on and other random thoughts. Perhaps soon I'll be able to get a site of my own with all the toys.

http://tomorrowwilltakecareofitself.blogspot.com/?zx=1e8b61f654c9dee7

[MikeyMike]

03:09 PM on 11/18/2010

I think JK Rowling's interactive yet also fully accessible site deserves high praise. Wonderful bit of programming there.

http://www.jkrowling.com/

[HappierWithLess]

01:21 PM on 11/18/2010

I tried to make my website minimalistic. I quit my job, moved to Costa Rica, and wanted a site where people can read my adventures, enjoy the pictures, without a lot of unnecessary things on the page:
www.happierthanabillionaire.com

[JHCwriter]

12:30 PM on 11/18/2010

My website features a card catalogue device to highlight my novel, THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM OF LOVE. I've gotten a lot of kudos, but even more dates. Men seem to really get off on great web site design!

www.josephinecarr.com

[Ben Tripp]

10:12 AM on 11/18/2010

I'll jump in here. How can I resist? The website for my horror novel 'Rise Again' has been disproportionately popular because of the free downloads we provide. This approach to book promotion online even won us a Bookswim Springboard Author Award.

From alternate book jackets to sheets of print & stick zombie wounds, these freebies helped spread awareness of the book -- but better than that, they were a lot of fun to design.
http://www.riseagainthenovel.com/downloads.htm

We'll soon be rolling out a holiday package of zombie-themed cards, gift wrapping accessories, and papercraft ornaments, all of which can be printed at home.

The thing is, book and author sites don't have to be dry presentations of data. They can be reflections of the author's enthusiasms, a tip of the hat to fans, and a place to try out ideas. And those things help build awareness of the book. Rise Again has enjoyed great sales despite limited publicity budgets, and the website has been a major factor in that.