tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post6273783980282869516..comments2024-03-27T03:14:07.652-04:00Comments on Seekerville: The Journey Continues: How to Write a Killer Author BioMissy Tippenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480008023330542958noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-32242312051107409922018-07-24T15:29:09.651-04:002018-07-24T15:29:09.651-04:00Thanks, Erica!Thanks, Erica!Amy Anguishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227138959392552195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-45192615038611255272018-07-24T15:20:29.910-04:002018-07-24T15:20:29.910-04:00"I put it back together but it was never the ...<i>"I put it back together but it was never the same!!!"</i><br /><br />The always happens when you knock someone off their pedestal. <br /> <br />Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707773426729777989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-21934017860537161852018-07-24T13:40:04.582-04:002018-07-24T13:40:04.582-04:00Thank you, Mary and Erica. These thoughts are very...Thank you, Mary and Erica. These thoughts are very helpful! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-91028227003550914022018-07-24T13:37:09.088-04:002018-07-24T13:37:09.088-04:00Okay, you all just made me laugh. Loud. ;)Okay, you all just made me laugh. Loud. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-11388371771654629002018-07-24T07:44:57.627-04:002018-07-24T07:44:57.627-04:00Definitely put that in your bio, Mary. And perhaps...Definitely put that in your bio, Mary. And perhaps a picture of you and the chicken and the trophy. I am sure that will be what pushes your work over the top and garners interest from one of the Big Five....either that or it will be the thing that pushes you right around the bend! LOL<br /><br />I am kind of afraid of chickens. There. I said it. Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-3255224244364020062018-07-24T07:43:38.506-04:002018-07-24T07:43:38.506-04:00I read the back cover copy first, too. But if I re...I read the back cover copy first, too. But if I really like a book, I want to know more about the person who read it, so I check the bio. I want to know what we have in common, what the author brings to the table that makes them the perfect person to write that story.<br /><br />Example, one of my favorite authors in the world is the late Dick Francis. He wrote stories that were all at least tangentially related to steeplechase racing in England. <br /><br />He was perfectly suited for this task, because at one time he was a steeplechase jockey in England. (He even rode the Queen's horses!) <br /><br />I love learning those things about authors when I have already fallen in love with their work.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-63725614975662136262018-07-24T07:40:51.285-04:002018-07-24T07:40:51.285-04:00As to the bio on business cards, I wouldn't tr...As to the bio on business cards, I wouldn't try to fit it on there. As Ruthy says, a tagline works there, but not a bio. Put your bio on your "One Sheet" and proposals and your website instead.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-31733263338996151292018-07-24T07:39:45.415-04:002018-07-24T07:39:45.415-04:00Mary, you took the words right out of my mouth! :)...Mary, you took the words right out of my mouth! :) We love you, Ruthy. You're concentrated awesome!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-67386773577897808712018-07-24T07:38:55.637-04:002018-07-24T07:38:55.637-04:00Hey, Sally! Thanks for stopping by, and I'm so...Hey, Sally! Thanks for stopping by, and I'm so glad you found the post helpful! Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-52663273449105865822018-07-24T07:38:34.812-04:002018-07-24T07:38:34.812-04:00Winnie, it always seems like there's something...Winnie, it always seems like there's something writing-related to keep up on, doesn't it? I keep a virtual Post-it on my laptop to remind me of things like updating my bio, adding to the books page on my website, etc. It is a great reminder, and also a way to procrastinate working on my WIP by doing "writerly things." LOLErica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-60150096294067618542018-07-24T07:36:54.830-04:002018-07-24T07:36:54.830-04:00Vince, these are all great things to ask! You'...Vince, these are all great things to ask! You're always adding interesting angles to the discussion! :)Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-63037079237060331002018-07-24T07:34:32.365-04:002018-07-24T07:34:32.365-04:00Jeanne, I love your bio. And as Mary says, write a...Jeanne, I love your bio. And as Mary says, write a couple of them, so you have one ready for any occasion. <br /><br />Award-winning writer Erica Vetsch is the author of 35 novels and novellas, and when she's not writing, she's plotting which history museum to conquer next.<br /><br />:) <br /><br />You might consider changing just the first line of your bio...<br /><br />Award winning writer, Jeanne Takenaka, writes <br /><br />Award-winning novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes...<br /><br />That way you avoid using writer and writes so close together.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-52005548046666312372018-07-24T07:30:53.101-04:002018-07-24T07:30:53.101-04:00Hi, Amy! I love so much about your bio! Ruthy make...Hi, Amy! I love so much about your bio! Ruthy makes good suggestions to tighten up the back end of the paragraph. <br /><br />I might suggest adding a word about the cats. Perhaps "...and usually a snooty cat or two." or aloof, or snuggly, or whatever. Something that cat people and non cat people will key in on, that you like and understand your cat, just like they do. <br /><br />It will help make a connection, and seem more friendly.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-74734161974391692802018-07-24T07:27:45.760-04:002018-07-24T07:27:45.760-04:00So glad you're home from RWA safely. Hope you ...So glad you're home from RWA safely. Hope you are able to catch up on all that needs doing, but get that sleep first! I'm way better at life when I get good sleep.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-65478343553942308202018-07-24T07:26:45.500-04:002018-07-24T07:26:45.500-04:00Don't. I. Wish.
I will be trying to figure ou...Don't. I. Wish.<br /><br />I will be trying to figure out how to:<br /><br />A) Get a VPN, so I can watch all the games.<br /><br />B) Keep the time differences straight so I can watch live matches.<br /><br />C) Race towards a December 1st deadline and still watch all the rugby.<br /><br />Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-6453206613669425632018-07-24T07:25:04.467-04:002018-07-24T07:25:04.467-04:00Hi, Edwina,
Here's an example from a longtime...Hi, Edwina,<br /><br />Here's an example from a longtime ago Seeker, Camy Tang, who writes Regency fiction under the name Camille Elliot:<br /><br />USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot also writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, and for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. <br /><br />She's right up front about Camille Elliot being a pen name. <br /><br />But, if you don't want people to know your real name, write the bio as if you are "Eleanor Elegant" and call it good. :)Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-25528853349050475972018-07-24T07:21:09.893-04:002018-07-24T07:21:09.893-04:00Mindy, I remember trying to write my first author ...Mindy, I remember trying to write my first author bio. I went and read a lot of them online to try to figure out what to say, and I remember thinking...I am the most boring person on the planet. LOL Everyone else seemed to have a much more interesting life than me!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-44997478890053608252018-07-24T07:20:12.904-04:002018-07-24T07:20:12.904-04:00Hey, Sandy, give writing one up a whirl! It's ...Hey, Sandy, give writing one up a whirl! It's kind of fun, since you thoroughly know the subject matter. :) And you'll have it all ready for when you need it!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-68854935033000297002018-07-24T07:19:26.479-04:002018-07-24T07:19:26.479-04:00LeAnne, so glad you found the post helpful! And gl...LeAnne, so glad you found the post helpful! And glad you got to hang with some Seekers at RWA!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-82346405380943748042018-07-24T07:18:42.644-04:002018-07-24T07:18:42.644-04:00Yes! You can tailor your bio to the spot it will a...Yes! You can tailor your bio to the spot it will appear. Sometimes you have several paragraphs to fill in, and sometimes you get one line! <br /><br />And yep, your bio should not be 'fake news!' Make it you, all the way through, as you are, not as you want to be!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-61610103162374318492018-07-24T07:17:18.695-04:002018-07-24T07:17:18.695-04:00Glynis, I remember those days! I think my first bi...Glynis, I remember those days! I think my first bio mentioned that I was a member of the ACFW and the Minnesota State Historical Society! LOL Anything to fill the space and try to show agents/editors that I was serious about writing and history.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-5744978918122675082018-07-24T07:15:35.370-04:002018-07-24T07:15:35.370-04:00Missy, I have an author bio file on my laptop, too...Missy, I have an author bio file on my laptop, too. It's got several iterations that I've used over the last ten years, but the one I use the most is always at the bottom of the document so I can find it quickly!Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-39126168927939927162018-07-24T07:14:35.836-04:002018-07-24T07:14:35.836-04:00Wilani, there's no time like the present! Jump...Wilani, there's no time like the present! Jump on in! As Missy says, you'll need it the minute you pitch your project, so might as well have one all polished up and ready to go.Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-14968422671704355022018-07-24T07:13:21.718-04:002018-07-24T07:13:21.718-04:00Hey, Ruthy! You're more creative than I am. I ...Hey, Ruthy! You're more creative than I am. I tend to update my bio every once in awhile, and then stick with it. :)Erica Vetschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772984806574666959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649424089750316818.post-46707883806796945682018-07-23T22:19:11.739-04:002018-07-23T22:19:11.739-04:00Jeanne just write one. Then write a short one. The...Jeanne just write one. Then write a short one. Then write a really long one. Then write one including live links to your facebook page, etc.<br />Then write a funny one.<br />Then write a genre specific one.<br />Save THEM ALL.<br />You'll find as you write and rewrite...just like a book...they become sharper and better. And you sometimes need specific or funny or long or short. It's good to have them handy.<br />Here's my short bio. I could cut out the last sentence if someone wanted really really short.<br />Or add in that sentence about 'she's married to her own romantic cowboy hero...'<br /><br />Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 55 books and novellas. Mary Connealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09598386111251769803noreply@blogger.com