Who are you? (Who-oo? Who-oo?)
With apologies to The Who for the title of this post, let's talk about author bios.
The content of your bio will vary depending upon where it's published. If it's posted on your website, your bio can go on for as long as you want it to. On the backs of paperbacks or on sales listings, concision is the name of the game.
For your website, which is where journalists will go to learn about you, it's good to include the following information:
where you grew up and where you live now
your age range or year of birth
family situation, including pets
your education
professional accomplishments
list of books you've written
awards you've won
writing group memberships
sources of inspiration
interesting facts about yourself, including hobbies and quirks
Also include a high-resolution full-color photo of yourself, preferably with at least one of your books, that can be downloaded and printed in newspapers or other publications. Once your bio and photo are live, schedule reminders to come back and update the information every six or twelve months.
For sales bios, choose what's most important to communicate to your readers. The book blurb entices readers to choose your book while the author bio shows readers why they should read books by you. Across genres, readers tend to want to know who you are, your gender and relationship status, where you live, and your interests. If this is a scholarly book, then list your academic achievements. For a paranormal fantasy, talk about the gremlin you tamed as a child.
Pay attention to the tone you use in your bio. If your book is a memoir about surviving a tragedy, you don't want to be flippant or jokey in your bio. Similarly, if you're writing romantic comedies, a somber tone in your bio will be inappropriate.
While I encourage providing specifics on your website bio, be as vague as you want in your author bio. I've seen some terrific bios that really don't say anything. They've aligned with the book subject/genre/tone, though, so they worked well.
Once you have your bio composed, read it aloud to yourself or a willing listener. Make changes as necessary. Then send it to your professional copyeditor to polish it. Don't spare the expense. Your bios are marketing tools, just like book blurbs.
For discussion: What are some great bios you've come across, whether on sales listings or on websites? What bios have room for improvement? What do you like to see in bios, and what's important for you to include in yours?
If you need help to write your bios or you need your bios copyedited, send me an email to get on my schedule!
