What Makes a Good Author Bio?

There's all kinds of advice out there, but here's what I want to know---what do YOU want to know about the authors that you read or are thinking about reading?

Is it important to you where they grew up and where they currently live? Do you want to know about their family?  Their pets? What about their education? Do you like to know a little, a lot, or only those details pertinent to their writings?

What about their actual writing?  Do you care to know why they like to write and what they like to write? Would you be interested in learning something about their writing process or how they began writing?

What is the most interesting detail you remember ever reading in an author bio?

What kind of author bio details make your eyes glaze over?

Your help in this matter will be ever so much appreciated.

Comments

Karen Jones Gowen said…
Pets are great, of course, but in such a limited space is that the most relevant info for an author bio? I like to know where they live, a degree is pertinent info, their job, whether they write full time or not, and family status, like marriage & kids.

Good post idea! And I hope your 80's party is a huge success!
7/31/2010 11:32 AM
Roland D. Yeomans said…
It may be the George Carlin in me, but when I read : "I'm married to the most loving, gorgeous man in the world, and I have the three most adorable children in the world." -- I reach for my mental insulin.

Make me laugh. Make me care about the unique novel and the engaging characters about whom you've written.

That's what I would like to see in the profiles of authors. If an author's profile is filled with cliches, can their novel be filled with anything but?

You have a fun, engaging blog, Roland
7/31/2010 10:37 PM
fallen monkey said…
What makes my eyes glaze over are lists of achievements and accolades that are more braggy than giving real insight into an author. I'm more interested in what makes them tick, why they started to write, and, if room, what inspired this particular book. Something with soul that makes them relatable.
8/01/2010 5:53 AM
Nicki Elson said…
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Karen, Roland, and Monkey for your input. I feel like I have a thousand bios out there, and I've taken a different approach with each because I'm never sure which way to go. But it sounds like the best way to go is to let readers see a piece of who I am and give them a taste of what they can expect from my novel and its characters. I think I've got some profile revisions in my very near future...

And Roland, I am with you on the cliches, blech.
8/01/2010 8:30 PM
Nicki Elson said…
P.S. Karen - Thanks for the well wishes for my event!

P.P.S Roland - Thanks for describing my blog as fun and engaging! I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that.
8/01/2010 8:32 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bring on the Romance!

Image
Today is the launch of Cheri Colyer's debut Young Adult Paranormal Romance, Embrace . To celebrate, she's throwing and Embracing Change launch party and has written a fabulous guest post for my place.  Take it away, Cherie... Bring on the Romance by Cheri Colyer I love falling in love. That weak in the knees feeling you get when you meet that special someone. The wondering if he likes you too. Discovering everything there is to know about each other.  Romance novels let us do this over and over again. I’m not a big believer in love at first site. I think it’s more accurate to say that two people were instantly attracted to each other. It might be the way his lips tugged upward into a half smile when he was trying not to laugh or the hint of something untold when he glanced your way. Maybe it’s the way he is with other people or simply his Irish accent. Sometimes you aren’t even sure why you’re drawn to this person. In Embrace, Madison Riley feels a strong pull toward the n
Read more

In which I get rated R...eh, maybe NC 17...

Image
Before I start talking dirty, guess what happened---I hit 200 followers!   My 200th follower is Tony VanHelsing (who I'm going to assume is a descendent of you-know-who, and if anyone knows differently do not tell me).  To celebrate this milestone, how about I put Three Daves on sale for only 99 cents in Nook , eBook, ePub , and even Kindle until September 30th. ;) For today's feature post, visit Irish beauty Carol Oates .  This talented author and I discuss Adult versus Young Adult and where the line gets crossed.
Read more

80s TV Shows: Turbulent Tranquility

Image
thirtysomething 1987 - 1991 Click image to watch thirtysomething opening theme If it was "A" day, I guess I'd call this one Angsty Adults. As barely twentysomething during the tenure of this late 80s TV show, I didn't really get what they were all whining about.  Now that I'm a fortysomething...please God, let me be past all that. Quote: "I mean, Michael's cute and all, but how much fun can it be sitting at home watching him sulk night after night?" Trivia: This series was influenced by a 1983 movie that also featured an ensemble cast of baby boomer yuppies.  What move was it?  More info on thirtysomething and other 80s TV Shows
Read more