Promoting Yorkshire Authors

 

PYA Writers' Support Group 3rd April - Author Biographies - Crib Sheet

The Author Bio is the bit on the back of a book, on your agent’s website, on your social media, that introduces you as an author

Author bios are conventionally written in third person, and are very short – not more than 100 words.

Many author bios are very bland: I read one that said that the authors lives in Norfolk, with cats.  It did nothing to make me want to read her books.

And that is a marketing failure.  An Author Bio is an opportunity to make people think, wow, I’m interested in this person, I want to read what they have to say.

Two examples:

Trust No One by Louisa Clifford: No author bio at all!  Missed opportunity
The Whale Road by Robert Law: Says he was journalist and traveller until ‘common sense and the concerns of his wife prevailed’. ‘To satisfy his craving for action he took up re-enactment, joining ‘The Vikings’.  The story is historical fiction, therefore, this shows the man has lived it – making the book more enticing.

I think author bios are difficult on two fronts: one is the same as the ‘elevator pitch’: what to leave out from this this large, complex subject.

The other is that, at heart, many writers are shy, and don’t want to reveal themselves.

So think about your author bio as writing another character.  Whether for a pen name, or your own name, it’s a constructed character.  It’s not the inner you: it’s your public persona.  What do you want to show?

What to include?   

1 Name and Geographical location. 

These are standards, that must be included.
Geographical location gives readers their first piece of information about you.  So choose carefully how you describe it.  Does your location in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales provide the setting for your cosy crime/romances?  Does your location in Leeds give you inside knowledge of the post-industrial decline that fuels your crime thriller?

2 Authority

If you’re writing non-fiction, the next stage is to declare your authority to write this book?  Is it a diet book, the result of your PhD studies in nutritional and weight loss?

3 But fiction writers have authority, too.

Travel, work experience, life experience, a city or landscape, its wildlife or history?  What was your inspiration for the book?  This is your chance to share that inspiration, and inspire your readers.

4 What life experience is relevant to your knowledge of your book?  

It might be based on your memories of growing up, or triggered by family history research.  You might have overcome a personal crisis or challenge.  Think of something that relates you, your book, and potential readers.

5 And finally, is there anything else that validates your work?

Won any prizes?  A quote from a positive review?  A celebrity endorsement?  Previously published works?

Round off by mentioning your website and social media.