Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

I am getting a new cover designed and since I did not include an "about the author" in the existing one and people have brought that up, I decided to add that. Do you put contact info on that? I could refer them to facebbok but wondered how other authors felt about putting their email out there.

Or, consider putting in your website address instead. People can then go there (and read all the stuff about your newest work!) and email you from there. Your own website you can easily update with a new email address any time you need to change it, and then your cover will always be up to date.

It's not a bad idea to put your email in your bio. If do that then create one specific for you as an author. I use [email protected] I put it everywhere as a general way to contact me.

I'd go with Brenda's advice on this one. They can contact you AND see what else you have going on, and while they're at it they might even subscribe to your mailing list.

That means I have to get a site! One of the items on my to-do list.

Check out Tim Grahl's 'Your first 1000 copies' and website for how to create a site. I've been slowing working toward it and it's helping a lot.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

I've never considered the thought but it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Making people go to your website to contact you is sort of a 'no brainer.' However, I have a friend who made the New York Times number one spot and he gives his home address and phone number in his email signature. I'm a little more private than that.

On the topic of making websites, I had good luck with Wix. I'm especially pleased with the look of it and they are continually adding new features.

You do not have to have a wildly elaborate website, just one with the basics. Your books and a link to Amazon; a bio and picture (so that people who are looking for it can just be sent to your web site) and a Contact the Author thingy with your email address. If you get around you could add a Calendar of where you'll be doing stuff. If you blog, a link to your blog. A link to your Goodreads page, maybe.

A word of warning - an email in such a public place will assure you of lots of spam. Certainly a web site isn't a bad idea because you can 'hide' your email inside a contact form. Once someone cantacts you through that form then normally your address will be visible to the contact.

I seem to recall that the author profile page on GR offers a way to send a message anyway, correct? Just under the profile pic ...

Good point.

Vicki wrote: "Get a specific one just for this function. Gmail or something you can scrap if it turns nasty, not that it will always, but you never know."

This is the best solution

Is this for a paper book cover? If so you could use a QR code to redirect mobile users to a contact form on your website, Goodreads, Facebook or wherever you want.

All good suggestions. Direct readers to your website if you have one. If not, you can send them to your Facebook page. If nothing else, you can always just use a free gmail email address, but as one person pointed out, you may get a lot of spam.