Book Trailers (tm) & Author Web Sites discussion

If you are an author, please post a link to your web site.

If you are not an author, but have a favorite author's web site that you would like to share, please post the link to this thread.

Special Note: Please only post links to author's or publisher's sites in this thread. Thanks!

Here is mine...

http://www.christiesilvers.com

:)

I like your website because it has a clean design, it is informative, and it has easy to follow links. I especially like your overall layout. Did you create the site yourself, or did someone design it for you?

Hi everyone:)

My website is KristinBlizzard.com. If you have any questions about anything, please just drop me a line..

Best wishes!

KB

Hi Kristin,

Love your web site. It has a clean design, and is easy to navigate.

Thanks for sharing it with us.
Dee Marie

My website is actually hosted at Freewebs.com. They have some fantastic layouts, but give you enough options that you can make it your own. Now if you know CSS (which I don't), then you can do anything.

Freewebs has a very easy-to-use sitebuilder. I use to use Geocities, but they were going up in price and didn't have nearly as great a sitebuilder as Freewebs.

Wow! I am blown away by your hosting service, Freewebs.com. I can't believe that they offer, all that they offer, and for free. Plus, they have outstanding templates, the site looks very user friendly. Do you have the premium version, or the basic package? Do you have to endure pop-up ads for the free version? I am very impressed.

I thought my hosting service (www.1and1.com) was a great deal, however, after exploring freewebs.com, they appear to have a better options-package. Thanks for the information. I will be sure to recommend Freewebs.com.

I have the premium version because I didn't want the ads at the top of my site.

I use 1and1 for my domain name, but like Freewebs for the site hosting.

I've never seen pop-ups on Freeweb sites, but the free version does have an ad banner across the top of the site.

Thanks for the insiders view of Freewebs premium vs the free version.

Here's a link to two of my web sites.

http://www.susiehawes.com

http://www.dragonthing.com

both need updating, but that's a job for next month.

Hi GP
Great sites, then I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Just one question (sorry it's off topic) When is "Tina's Moon" release date?
G W Pickle

Hi there -- Just signed a publishing contract with Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster, and I launched my website this week. I'd love to get some feedback -- and would really appreciate it if anyone who enjoys my website wants to sign up for my monthly email blogs, with giveaways of books and chocolates!

www.sarahpekkanen.com

Thanks so much!
Sarah

Here's my web site...

Utamaro Revealed

Hi Ghostposts: Welcome to the group, and thank you for sharing your web site links with us. As I have a special sport in my heart for dragons, your Dragon Thing site really caught my imagination.

Oh, and I love your quote, "her housework is neglected and her dog is not speaking to her." Boy-howdy have I been there...

GP: No problem with your question, as long as it is book related, it is never off topic. Thanks for participating in the group!

Sarah: Welcome to the group. Loved exploring your site, very professional, and oh so funny. Had to giggle as I read about your mom holding a grudge, now that was too much fun! (Oh, and it takes a lot for me to giggle. I often chortle, guffaw, and have been known to occasionally snort, but selfdom do I giggle). If your book is half as hilarious as your website, I want on the pre-order list. Are there any plans for a book preview video?

Gina: Welcome Gina. Your book is beautiful. I enjoyed your website as well, especially your book preview video. It was very informative and left me wanting more.

Dee Marie

My website is a mix of a whole bunch of stuff, but includes pages for my books as well.

http://ambienceproductions.com.au

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the group. Your book is very intriguing. I enjoyed exploring the different chapters...you are such a tease.

Thank you for sharing your author site and the announcement of the first book in your trilogy. I especially like how you created a author web site from a blog, very ingenious and creative.

Dee Marie

My latest mystery, Perfect for Framing, is available on http://perfectforframing.tripod.com and I pay shipping on this Early Reader Special. My regular website, listing my other 3 novels and cat book, is http://maggiebishop1.tripod.com

Stop by for a look!

Maggie Bishop

Welcome everyone!!! Love the websites, off to check out Maggie's now. A side note, it is interesting to see the differences, the personal touches. I have way too much time on my hands huh lol

Best regards!

KB

Here are my websites.

http://www.authorsden.com/matthewbenoit

http://www.llumina.com/store/whackers...

Hi Darren,

Welcome to the group. I enjoyed exploring your web site; your talents are very diverse. Thank you for sharing your site and book preview video with us.

Dee Marie

Maggie, welcome again to the group.

I enjoyed your web site and look forward to reading your book.

Dee Marie

Hi Matthew,

Welcome to the group. I had never heard of Llumina Press before. Your book cover appears to fit the story to perfection. Are you planning to create a book preview video? I would like to see a "teaser" of your novel's storyline.

Dee Marie

Hi there. I'm emerging out of lurkdom to post my website: http://www.sherylbrennan.com and let everyone know about a contest I'm running. Each person who signs the guestbook on my website is entered for a chance to be the next supporting character in my May 2009 sequel release, Celtic Hope.

The winner will be announced on my website on December 13th and will have their name or the name of a loved one written in to the story as one of my supporting characters.

Stop on by and register. Good luck!

~Sheryl

Hi Sheryl,

What a novel (yes, pun intended) way to promote your new books. I know I am eagerly awaiting my copy of Celtic Sacrifice to arrive this November, and I have a reminder set on my online datebook for the May release of Celtic Hope.

Dee Marie

My site is located at www.moonsmusings.com

I hope you enjoy it.

Lisa

Hi Lisa, welcome to the group.

Oh, what a great plot, a novel inside a novel and packed with intrigue.

Thanks for bringing your book to our attention.

Do you have a book preview video?

Dee Marie

I have just updated my web site... any constructive criticism gratefully appreciated :-)

http://www.utamarorevealed.com

Hi Gina,

I LOVE the cover image silhouette, it gives your site an extra touch of elegance. Normally I don't like a black background with white text, as it is very hard on the eyes. However, considering your book is a work of art, and art always "pops" on a black background, in your case, it works.

My only slightly picky comment would be about the red text. Red Text on a black background, especially online, has a way of "moving" on the page, and tends to be both distracting and hard to read. May I suggest picking a color from the cover art? Here are some Hex Colors numbers that might work:

ddd2b4 (peach tones from the book's cover background)
a3533a (trim around the kimono, which is a more subtle and less glaring red)
d3af5b (Golden tones)
e4b393 (pink tons)

Also, the "About the Author" site was blank.

I really liked your "look inside the book" page. What program did you use for your book preview?

Overall the site is very beautifully designed, and showcases your book to perfection.

Dee Marie

Thanks for taking a look, and for the hex codes, it's much appreciated :-)

The problem with the author page seems to occur when the site is viewed using Internet Explorer 6 - are you using that browser? Unfortunately I don't have IE (using a Mac and IE isn't supported any longer), so I don't know which part of the page is causing the error. I shall have to fiddle about with it and then ring around everyone who has IE to check it for me.

I used standard web pages for the "look inside" pages... I used images of pages from the book and added the floating buttons to make navigation possible.

Gina

Hi there --

My new website is up at www.sarahpekkanen.com

I'd love any feedback!

Thanks,

Sarah

Hey Gina,

Yes, I am still using IE 6 on my XP laptop. Here is a web site that might help resolve the problems.

http://www.anybrowser.com/siteviewer....

I like the idea of how you utilized the arrow buttons for the book chapter preview. Great job.

Dee Marie

Hi Sarah,

I LOVE your web site. Every time I visit your site and view the animated toes, I have to chuckle.

Looking forward to the release of your book.
Dee Marie

Dee, I was thinking about your suggestion about using a peach tone for the title text... and I went a bit further with the idea. The whole site is peachy-looking now. It's the curse of being an artist... I am forever playing with things. I am going for a world record, the most web sites designed in a week :-)

Hey Gina,

If you are going for a world record...I nominate you for the best looking site!

I LOVE the make over. It is beautiful! I can even view the "aboout the author" page.

U DID GOOD ;-]

Dee Marie

Thanks Dee, you're too kind :-)

It's a lot of fun playing with designs and colours. It's amazing the difference a change of colour makes.

Thanks Dee! I really appreciate it. I had a lot of fun with my site... now I just have to wait for my novel to come out!
xo
Sarah
www.sarahpekkanen.com

My website is www.carmenferreiroesteban.com

It's mainly about my book Two Moon Princess but it has also some general information.

Any questions/suggestions are very welcome.

I enjoyed visiting your sites.

Hey Carmen,

I like how you set up your quiz. I have been working on creating a quiz in Adobe Captivate 3. My only problem is that I everything I start out to do, turns into this big production. Ahhhhhhh, I need to learn to KISS (keep is simple...)

Dee Marie

Hi Dee,

Please feel free to borrow from my site, and good luck.

Carmen

The quiz is such a clever idea... I really like that.

Gina,

Cool site and video.

I like your idea of giving a thank you gift on your signing. Good luck.

Has anyone had any success with T-shirs or coffee mugs with your book's cover as the artwork?

Dee Marie

I have been dragging my feet in regards to joining the modern era(I still drive a 1968 Dodge truck, retired my eight track tape player around the turn of the century and have yet to acquire a cell phone) so a website is still in the planning stages. However, I do have a blog - www.route66chronicles.blogspot.com - where I post information on my books, write fresh features, post the book reviews I write for various publications, and share my fascination with the road less traveled as well as vintage vehicles.

Hi Jim,

So great to have you join us. You know how fascinated I am with your books. I love old route 66, and traveled through many of its cities as a wayward youth.

As to blog versus web site...in my mind, there is not a huge difference. The important thing is to have a home base for your book(s) that your readers can connect too.

I like what you have done to your blog pages. The only suggestion I would give, is to give a little "white space" to your blog postings. As in, leave a space between one paragraph and the next.

It is curious how the brain reacts differently to online text in comparison to printed text. For some reason text posted online, composed of several sentences without a break, makes it very difficult for the human eye to separate the individual words. I am sure there is a technical term for this phenomenon. Other than that, your blog is fun and informative.

Thank you so much for sharing your author blog, and for joining our group.

Dee Marie

I am BRAND new to this site. I do have a website, new to that too, still tweaking it but it is up after much stress and delays!

It's sort of a mixed-bag of my writing....everything from movie reviews to a sample of the daddy blog that I write twice a week as well as a chapter from my non-fiction book about slasher movies.

http://www.nateflix.net/nateflixhome....

Thanks, I would love any comments about it.

Hi Nate,

I enjoyed your web site, especially the Zen dog joke. It got a laugh-out-loud chuckle out of me.

The only suggestion I can make in regards to your site, is that my browser was unable to open many of your supporting images. I suspect it is because I am still using IE 6 on this computer.

Welcome to Goodreads and to our group. As a lover of film, we look forward to your input as to your likes and dislikes of books, book covers, and book preview video.

Dee Marie

I just completely redesigned my site to have it better match the artwork and style of my debut novel. I have yet to reimplement my twitter feeds, goodreads boxes, etc (still deciding what is worth adding).

Anyway, you can check it out at www.beinggod.com

The Trouble With Being God

Hi William,

Welcome to the group. You site is very easy to read and easy to navigate. The blood is a wee bit creepy, but it does set the mood for your novel. Do you feel that posting the chapters to your book online, has increased or hurt your physical book sales?

Again, welcome to the group.

Dee Marie

It's a bit too early to tell - but as this is my first full-length novel my primary concern is establish a reader-base. By posting the entire book online, I allow anyone to become one, even without having to make the investment to purchase.

I also think there is a likelihood that people who really do enjoy the book may purchase a physical copy. So far I've seen a few sales, but this "experiment" has just started so I can't say for certain how successful it is / will be.

One thing that does set the book apart from others though is my "suggested listening" soundtrack, and I am hoping that I may see some sales of the associated mp3s through an affiliate relationship with Amazon.

Anyway, time will tell how this works out. In the end, my main goal with this effort is to gain readers and hopefully get people talking about the book.

Thank you for your comments about the site, by the way. I agree, the blood is creepy, but it does match the book (a kind of murder myster / thriller) - and falls in line with the ending of the book quite well.

Hey William,

Please keep us updated as to the results of your give-away versus sales. I would be curious to view your marketing stats after a year (or six months), as I am sure others would be as well.

I have often been accused of being on the "best giveaway" list, when I really would like to get to the "best sellers" list.

Dee Marie