Before I became a writer, I almost never went to an author's website. It never even occurred to me. Now, I go to check out someone I might have met, or someone I might need to meet--but I never go as a reader. I guess I like my books pure: I don't want to know about the writer. It's just not part of the experience for me.

The number one thing I don't get about author sites is info/pictures of an author's kids/family. I worry about those kids being exposed to the Internet world, to thousands of strangers. I'm very uncomfortable with it.

I remember going long, long ago to see Sherrilyn Kenyon (sp?) speak about author websites. She told a story of how she was getting thousands--then millions!--of hits a month after she made her site more interactive. Oh, by the way, she designed video games for Disney as her day job. It was a real ah-ha moment for me: do what your expertise allows, and run with it. But don't sweat it if you can't go that way. That's why I keep my website super, super simple. I pay about $40 a year and design it myself and you know what--it's just fine.

http://dianaholquist.com

Or is it? What do you think?

So I will be very interested in people's responses. My husband does mine, and the first one we put up there pretty quickly because I just needed something there, and I think it's too much, and too floofy... I want the new one to be more spare, just professionally focused, not a lot of extras. However, I do want it to have more "movement" -- the blog will update there, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Color scheme is ending up being the stumbling block -- I can't find color combinations I am 100% happy with...

Diana, you are very right to be uncomfortable with that -- I think people should be very careful with what pictures they post on the web.

I don't check many author's website. Some. Almost never as a reader. Usually for professional reasons, like Cigars, to get an email, or whatnot.

Personally I don't care for the blank cover in any form. I think you can talk about the book and just post the cover when you have it... there's something about posting placekeepers for something that's not there that's annoying to me...

Sam

the websites I mean!
It's how I become acquainted with a newly discovered author.
My biggest peeve - if an author is going to have a site it should be updated. Otherwise, why have one? It makes readers think the author doesn't have anything new.
I've seen on one site where the blog was over two years old - remove it then. But the author only updated the home page.
I don't like cluttered home pages either. A simple home page with links to a booklist, contests, blog, etc. Less is more.
Extra elements - I know Deb Salonen is in the process to having a map of her Sentinel Pass series. I'm looking forward to that.
I like book trailers on the site or a link to them.
Keep the appearances page updated. If there isn't anything new - remove the old stuff. Again it makes the reader think the author isn't writing anymore.
Thanks!

I like that, Ellen! As for author websites, like you, I tend to go initially when I've read something I like or when I've heard some buzz and I want to find out more about her books/backlist, or I LOVED something and want to write. I don't tend to visit a site repeatedly except for book info, so I really like to be able to get all that info easily--current books, upcoming books, lists of titles by series, and ideally, all with blurbs and excerpts. (Lori Foster does a really nice job of this, I think.) I'm not sure I can think of anything that would immediately turn me off on a site--the main one would be if it wasn't easy to navigate or I couldn't find the info I wanted. I do confess that I also want it to be fairly easy to read--skip the frou-frou fonts for the text (headers are OK), and choose something easy on the eye :) I remember one site I visited used some horrible scripty thing that was clearly not meant for reading, and even though the content seemed interesting, I gave up. And although I like seeing some photos, it does make me a little nervous, given how easy it is to eliminate one's privacy these days.

I go to author's website for several reasons: I like to know something about the author, books written or coming up (I like to see the covers, what the book is about, is it part of a series and if it is what are the others in the series), I like to know how to contact the author, anything special to go with the books like the map that Deb keeps threatening to put up, maybe even a family chart for those who write a series about a family.
I most dislike those websites that use a black or very dark backgound because they are very hard for me to read and mess with my eyes.

I'm following this conversation with interest, too, because my webmaster/son has a new program and is ready to do some good with it--as soon as those pesky college classes quit getting in the way.

I do visit author sites as a reader. I like a clean home page. I go to some authors' pages and I can't find the info I want because the page is so cluttered with reviews, excerpts, upcoming, etc. all crammed into small spaces. I had a college geology prof who gave great pointers on presentation. For instance, if you put an acetate on an overhead projection, it should have five points/items on it. Max. Those five points/items (max) should be succinct and you should be able to read the words from a distance. I've used that advice for my entire teaching career. I also try to keep my website simple. I want the important info front and center. It's by no means perfect, but I feel that a visitor can see 1)my cover; 2) me (I'm always curious as to what authors look like); 3) brief description of the book; 4)a review excerpt; 5) the buy it now button. If people want more, they can navigate through the site.

That's my take. I want to work with my colors, my header, my font. I'd like a stripping cowboy (I learned to do this with photoshop, but have yet to nail down a cowboy to let me take photos of him as he strips.)

Jeannie

I do check author websites, especially if I've read a book that I really enjoyed and want to know what else is out there by that author. Beyond that, I don't do a lot of surfing on author websites, but mostly because I think it would depress me, LOL. So many of them are absolutely fabulous, and although I'm not unhappy with my own, it lacks a certain something. Also, I rely on a webmaster to update my site, which can be a frustating experience when they have 200 other clients besides myself. Sadly, I lack the expertise to design and maintain my own site.

Things I like on other people's sites...ease of use, uncluttered pages, photos (love those), a creative bio, and if the website is kept current (unlike yours truly), all the better.

When I visit an author website. I guess I'm another person who doesn't really want ideas about the author to encroach on my reading pleasure.

DH designed mine as a birthday present in 2006 and I sold 3 days later! I changed the fonts because he chose a romance-y script and that's just not me, but otherwise it's the same. He suggested doing something different for my first three book series, which is why I changed the color and look of the home page recently. When the series is over I'll probably put it back to how it was before (one book, white background with red and gray text).

I guess I like mine simple. Because I do it myself there are always a broken link, or something that doesn't quite line up (hangs head in shame) but I think it serves its purpose.

I can see how games, etc, would bring people back, but since I don't like or play them myself it wouldn't be "me" if I did stuff like that :-)

Jen
http://www.jenlewis.com

As someone who was lucky enough to attend your website usability workshop this past weekend, I can't stress how much I agree with you. I'm a graphic designer, and sometimes the things I see on author websites prevent me from returning. My eyes are tired at the end of the day - the last thing I want to have to read is small white text on a dark background! But I admit, the text on my blog skirts the line, too. Another peeve is links that don't work. Testing links you put up takes time, yes, but better your time is wasted than a potential reader's.

Ellen, I seriously think you need to take your workshop on the road. It was great, and so much more important than a lot of authors realize. I only have a blog - with a free 2 column template that annoys me, because I wish it was 3 - and I'll probably be changing it in not too long. Since I'm unpublished, it works for now. Though when the time comes for me to build a site, I have a feeling you'll be getting a few panic emails. ;)

Cari
http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/

Personally i have several sites i visit on a regular basis to read their blog. I know, i should be writing instead but it's my routine. The one's i visit usually have several writing articles and things like that which intrigue me.
Personally i have never watched any book trailers, i know alot of other people like them, but i'd just rather read the blurb, or excerpt.
color can be tricky, i just purchased a template to do my personal site (until im pubbed of course) and i picked lower key colors hopefully easy on the eyes. and heck it looked pretty cool too. I can figure out how to set it up and get it on eventually.
I cannot program html like my brother, he's like Wylie Coyote (SUUUUUPER GENIUNS).

other than books out and a backlist, i like a good bio, author pics. I don't like family pics like some do, especially young children. thats why my son isnt on my myspace page, it's just too much for me, hes too young i think.
Maybe when he's older.
happy writing, and web building
jodylynn