So we’re FINALLY gearing up to fixing JennyCrusie.com. On my own, I would lard it with all kinds of miscellaneous stuff. On her own, Mollie would make it lean and mean and easy to find info. But your opinions, reader opinions, are what matter. What do you think is essential for an author website?
Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and co-author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives in a cottage in Pennsylvania, where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.
Find out more about Jenny’s published works by visiting JennyCrusie.com
52 Responses
Personally me, I loved the cherry version of the website way back when. I loved seeing the book collages and reading your thoughts about making them.
And I always like reading more writing from an author I enjoy whether that’s interviews or blogs. I also like essays about books like “why I wrote it” or other behind the scenes stuff. I always find covers how they came up with a cover design interesting.
Works in progress or coming soon is good.
Somewhere to subscribe to their newsletter.
One stop shop for social media links so it’s easy to see where I can follow them.
Personal, readers want to know you a bit, and of course kept up to date.
A marketing prof friend told me once her best tip on attracting donors ( or readers) is to give them something. In the charity donation case it was a button or sticker, a website might offer a printable page when you give your email perhaps? One of your collages? A page of your favourite writing tips or prompts?
A bonus chapter
I love reading your texts with Bob. Another author shares the weird stuff various algorithms suggest to her that are very, very weird. Reading about your adventures is good, the animals better. Seeing your WIP is great fun, as is reading your ideas for future stuff – the more off the wall, the better.
Don’t take YOU out of the webpage. Your art, your humor, and yes the clutter is what makes it a place where I want to spend my time.
Expect: a list of published books with some explanation of how any are linked.
Would be nice: free reads such as short stories, deleted scenes, that kind of thing.
Billy Joel says it for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkuJJsApACc
Gary, that is the perfect response!!! I love Billy.
I agree with Gary. The current blog is so you, Jenny, & that is what I want.
Yep. I like it just the way you are.
What Rachel said, plus, as Lisa said, author biography and whatever else in the getting-to-know-you line than an author is comfortable in adding. (That’s about the list of what I go to author sites to find. Arghink.com is not JennyCrusie.com and in any case this is the only blog I’ve ever gotten this engaged with.)
The algorithm doesn’t seem to count domain names as links. If that’s true, this won’t go into moderation. Let’s see.
Yes! Got away with it.
Expected: someone else said it, but where to find you on social media. For example, I didn’t know you were still posting on FB until last Thanksgiving. You’d totally fallen out of my algo, lol.
Your backlist, including all the collaborations you’ve done in the past. With LINKS for goodness sake so I can BUY. If I’m looking at a backlist, I’m looking for a book to buy. Don’t make me copy paste, please. Just make it easy for me to give you my dollars and get the book on my Kindle. TYIA LOL.
A calendar of events would be nice, if you’re planning on any book tours speaking events, online classes that I could sign up for, podcasts you’re going to be on, links to blogs you’ve been interviewed on, etc.
I would looove a page for each book with the collages and text chains between you and Bob, relevant linked blogs, stuff like that. The collage could even be the hero image of the page. And, of course, a link so I can then buy the book! (Can you tell I’m frustrated by lack of links on author’s websites?) With all that said, I can also see how that’s the kind of page that’s a nightmare to keep updated and to move if you ever need to change website platforms.
I think it goes without saying, but an email address to send thank you’s to, but also a physical address for those of us who still send actual paper thank you notes. I know, this is probably one that’s a nightmare and off the table because weirdos could/would send weirdo things to you.
I’ll keep thinking on it!
Do readers actually read websites (as opposed to blogs at the website)? I’m not convinced they/we do anymore, other than to find backlist titles and reading order (for series) and, in the other chronological direction, what’s in the pipeline. I think of it more as an extended business card or a flyer where I can get the basics, and then I’d go to the blog or social media for any/everything else.
The pipeline, really, is what I go to websites for. I keep checking to see when the next Lady Sherlock is coming out, and what progress is being made on the sequel to the Wizard’s Butler. And if I’m doing a series read, I’ll look for the order of the books. But that’s all. So I’m in the “just the facts, ma’am” category, because I don’t think there’s any significant return on the investment of time to set up more than that.
I’m with Gin. I wanna backlist of all the books you’ve written and if they’re connected. if they are connected, I want to know which one to read first. Sometimes there’s a short excerpt on the page that talks about the book. That is nice but not necessary.
Like others have said, I expect your social media links. I would love a contact page, but I have no expectations of an email address or a physical address to get in touch with you because people are weird and you don’t put that stuff on websites.
And then there should be a basic page about who you are and why you write. in your case, there should also be photos of past & current pets.
Yes, exactly! That’s what I came here to say. (And most authors don’t update regularly enough, so everything else on their websites starts to look dated really fast.)
I’m in the “just the facts” camp as well. I don’t remember when the last time was that I looked at anything other than these posts. And I haven’t looked at any other author websites in years.
Another vote for “just the facts, ma’am.”
The only author sites I visit are Argh and the blog section of Ilona Andrews’ website. If I find a new-to-me author whose books I really enjoy, I might follow them on BookBub or Amazon for new release notifications. Usually I don’t bother, because if I’ve bought even one book by an author, Amazon will likely notify me anyway.
If I want more information than just new releases, I’ll seek out the author’s website to subscribe to their newsletter. After that visit, I’ll either keep reading the newsletter or unsubscribe. I wouldn’t re-visit the website.
I go to an author website to see what is coming next or just came out so that should be top of home page.
A list of all your books with a link to a blurb on each
Something explaining series or recurring characters
Sign up for a newsletter that tells me when a new book is coming out and nothing else .
A short bio maybe.
That’s kinda it. If you want a section of quirky Jennie stuff keep it in one area so I can find these other things.
I didn’t mean to sound like I was ordering you around—that’s just my advice worth what you paid for it .
I asked for advice. No worries, this is what I wanted.
A list of your books on the order to read them maybe?
Collages and covers are fun too.
I loved the outtakes of books. I read an outtake of Agnes and the Hitman, (A chapter on Xavier) before 2015. I’ve followed your website ever since. I love trivia about books I love.
Backlist! With links for each book, deleted scenes, or fun extras. Your book collages would be perfect.
Information on what’s coming, and when. Maybe things that aren’t currently in progress? I sometimes go back and try to read about You Again, or Surprise Lily, and it can be hard to find.
(Do you take examples of sites I think are great? If so, Alexis Hall and Courtney Milan)
Yes, thank you for examples.
You had one once before didn’t you? Before what we are now talking on I mean. I vaguely recollect seeing a page, but it is a while back, I want to say the background colour was yellow for some reason, but then, I have weird dreams that feel very real, so could well be that lol.
However your new website comes out, I shall enjoy going on it. I’ve not really given any thought as to what should be on it yet. Shall go and have a think, I’m not very good at what should and shouldn’t be on a website though….I’m quite useless in a way lol
Yes. Many years ago I had a very cheerful diner-looking website in yellow with a bright red cherry on it.
I’m very simple. I notice that the main reason I keep going to an author’s website is to find out what’s in progress and approximately when it’s coming out.
People love outtakes and freebies, but, in my opinion, those belong in an author’s newsletter. I believe those shouldn’t be given away to people who you might not be able to reach again. Meanwhile, giving that to people on your newsletter makes it easy for you to tell them about your preorder, your launch, any deals you have on backlist books, etc.
Things I would be delighted to see in an author website:
blog
link to subscribe to a newsletter
pages for books (and how they fit together, if they do) and a BUYING LINK (!!) (please! make it easy to be a complete-ist!)
big page for COMING SOON
deleted scenes (even if you hate them, we will be grateful?)
links to other social media
I’m not much help, I am afraid. I only visit author sites who I already know and love. I am checking in on updates and mostly blog posts.
My big wins for this week were putting more time into my Bluesky and Cara accounts in my effort to ween myself off of evil billionaire platforms. I am not deleting my old profiles yet, but I am going to try to stop spending time there.
And I used up a couple of the little sample sized perfume spritzers from my stash. I love buying discovery sets, but then they languish and go bad. I am trying to clean up that jumble and decide on my signature scents. I wear citrus in January and February because it give me a boost, something lighter and floral for spring. Undecided for summer, spicy for fall and vanilla or green/tree scents in December. I have most of those sorted, but I did buy myself the sampler from Riddle oil this winter and all the scents are pretty amazing. Also light and not overwhelming. Other favorite brands are For Strange Women, Abbott (which are based off of national parks), and Queens and Monsters (can’t remember the maker at the moment). I really liked Phlur, but they discontinued all the scents that I loved :/
I really need to work on valentines projects, easter, cleaning my house and purging my closet, but I am deeply unmotivated and weary. I don’t know if it is the cold, or something else, but my body doesn’t want to move when I get home from work.
I’m with the group above who usually don’t visit an author’s website for more than:
– Books (chronological order for me!)
– If there is a series containing the same characters, in which order they should be read
– Buying links
– What’s in the works (and approximate timing) [I’ve visited authors’ sites
where ‘coming soon’ titles have been up for YEARS!]
– Link to a newsletter
– Definitely NOT a physical address of any kind! Too many crazies out there and
you’re always available through a contact button on the website.
Again, as stated above, this is worth what you’ve paid me for it. 😉
These are great suggestions and I’ll take them all to Mollie and Joelle. THANK YOU!
This is the only author site I visit, and probably will be, from now on. I just want to comment on all the pink, green, and other newbies I’m seeing on the site today! Wow! It’s great to have new followers with their new ideas coming in!
My favorite writers’ websites contain:
1) Their latest blog post, with photos, if possible. This is a mixture of personal and professional, just as you do here.
2) Other clickable sections, including:
A) A bio, however in-depth you want
B) A backlist, grouped into recurring characters or stand-alones (and where to buy them in all formats)
C) A soon-to-come list, with short descriptions and/or excerpts
D) A schedule of upcoming appearances, classes, etc.
E) Misc. Such as things you collect, house makeovers.
F) Pictures of dogs, past and present, if it isn’t too painful.
G) I love how your backlist blog posts are organized by topic. That’s awesome.
H) Links to past interviews, articles, if possible. A way to add more info without having to go over all of it again.
Any of these can be made longer and more in-depth if you want. We would eat up anything you care to share.
My website is pretty basic. On the landing page are Coming Soon and Out Now (the most recent books), plus listings on top that will get you to all the books (in order, with buy links, in my case divided into fiction and nonfiction) and links on one side to all my social media, newsletter sign-up, Etsy, Patreon, and a current class if there is one. On the other side are a few of my more recent books. ANY book has a clickable buy link. Also up top are a brief “About” link, media link (videos and podcasts), a link to sign up for a tarot reading, and a contact link. I’ve been told that you shouldn’t have much more than this on a website, although YMMV.
Also, I used to have a link with a bunch of pictures of the cats and such, but I found I didn’t update it, and I post most of that stuff both online, and extras for my Patrons, so it didn’t seem like the website was the place to put it. There is a picture (very outdated) of me, front and center, for which I apologize in advance.
I agree with most of the basic suggestions.
Always a fan of make it easy for the reader.
I like Lupe, do not support billionaire social media or purchasing platforms and am trying out new ones. So maybe add others if you have them.
Most important is to keep your “vibe” which is awesome. It’s what keeps me coming back to this blog.
Your unique take on things and situations in your writing is captivating.
I have been hearing about Lemon8 and Rednote lately, but am hesitant to jump into yet another one. Still, it would be nice to get started somewhere before the Great Migration if Tiktok gets banned and after several years of trying to break into reals, I find that I am starting to think in video bits and don’t want to give up that medium. What are you trying? What works well and seems safe and user friendly?
Uh oh. Lost my avatar again. Must have typed my email in wrong again.
Thank you! I was wondering if we had TWO Lupes in the group now. 🙂
I’m too good to be contained to just one physical form. I contain multitudes. And lots of cheese and chocolate.
I have accounts on Bluesky and Substack however, neither is very attractive to me.
The essentials: new releases, series in order (include reading order if different from publication order, but keep the publication order), author media kit, newsletter sign-up, and social media links
The perks: blog posts, features tied into releases (background notes, recipes, etc)
Linking to Argh Ink would work, which is what you did before. A website and blog serve two purposes. The website is for both business contacts and readers. That said, it doesn’t mean the website can’t show off an author’s personality or the tone of their work. It does need to function with a 2020s interface.
The thing that worries me most is that certain changes will ruin the sense of community I find here.
That said – a books page with every book you’ve written & links to purchase them seems common sense.
For personal connection stuff, we have ArghInk and for author stuff we have JennyCrusie. I’m in the “keep it simple” camp on the author side. I like my own website; I think it’s attractive & easy to navigate, so potential readers to skip the blog and go straight to Things To Read if that’s their main purpose for visiting. Trying to run two different ones would be utterly beyond me at this point in time. I’m barely even on FB or Insta and the thought of trying to switch to new platforms gives me heart palpitations.
Working: I’ve been working on staying calm and on doing the mental part of moving prep. Aside from that, not much. We are safe from the Los Angeles fires, but the entire city is truly affected and will be for a long, long time.
I did achieve my vaccine boosters and also took the cat for hers. Plus I put in my entries for the Lambda Literary Awards.
This is the only author’s site I follow, I love it and the community you’ve gathered.
I really love the writing you did on different TV series, I followed your podcasts from awhile back when you talked about rom coms, and if that should happen again, that’s great. But, you’re writing novels and publishing, and life seems pretty good.
So if you like the site, I like the site. I just hope you’ll be able to tell us about your dog (WHEN you adopt one.)
Argh is for fun. JennyCrusie is for selling books. The two things I look for on any author website is an easy way to tell when they have any upcoming books, and an obvious link to a printable list of books grouped by series in reading order.
One of the best author websites I’ve ever seen is for Kit Rocha. Bree Bridges (she’s half of Kit Rocha) builds and maintains their website. She hangs out on Bluesky and occasionally, when she’s done something to KitRocha, comments on the how and why of structuring their website the way it is.
I always liked casting games. Some of my fav authors have a link to their pinterest Boards with collections of pictures that inspired the story – place holder people for the characters, places, animals, quotes, whatever is relevant for them getting into the flow /writing mood. That’s not as elaborate as your collages since sans structure.
Some also put togegher playlists on spotify if this helped them with said writing process.
It creates a great soundtrack also for me as reader. I’ve discovered a bunch of artists which I wouldn’t have come scriss otherwise. The Canadian kid war astonished how up to date her mom was, at least according to spotify wrapped…
I agree with a lot of the comments here. When I find an author I really like, I want to be able to go to their site and find all their other books. Reading order, relationships to each other, and an idea of if they will have similar feel. Content warnings if there’s stuff that’s really dark. Sometimes I happen to stumble on the one book they wrote that’s my thing and every other book by them is very not. So I appreciate blurbs and general warnings if applicable. (I don’t care for all the trigger warnings a lot of authors have now, but if it’s a romance, for example, I want to know if there’s cheating so i can avoid it.)
I also want to know what’s coming soon and when to check back, especially if there’s been a gap since they’ve published.
Anything more than this is gravy. I’d rather have these things done well and a bare bones site otherwise than a whole bunch of stuff that you don’t have time/ energy to upkeep and the whole thing gets abandoned.
Thanks for asking and I’m just so happy you’re writing. I’ve hit the age where I can’t read trade paperback font anymore and you’re the one author whose books I am fully upgrading to larger font replacements. I treasure them all.
I love the art direction of your site. It’s so fun and retro, and artsy. So keeping that aesthetic would be cool.
I also love that you have writing advice on the site. This is an incredibly generous thing to give the world, second to the books you have birthed! Thank you for both! I would love to have a dedicated writing advice area, with all the writing advice content visually organized somehow with a linked table of contents to the documents (whether a blog, or an interview, etc.)
Thank you for your books, which I love, and for this community you’ve fostered here. ❤️
I think a scrollable homepage highlighting your most recent book/series and basic bio info. Also the list of your books and series on a tab page, maybe. (I’ve always ADORED that collage, by the way. It’s “chef’s kiss.”
You have so much great writing advice on the argh site. It’s a treasure trove.