Andrea here. We Wenches blog a lot about about how publishing has radically changed over the years. And so today I thought I’d talk about it from an individual perspective, and highlight how the constant flux in publishing—and in the world we live in—has required me to evolve as a writer.
The catalyst for musing on this is that I’ve just gone “live” with two spiffy new websites—one for my Andrea Penrose Historical Mysteries and Historical Fiction; and one for my backlist Andrea Pickens Regency Romances. Working with a fabulous web designer—thank you Dawn Hickerson of Austin DesignWorks—I have a wonderful array of the latest technologies to link readers to excerpts and buy links, as well as create fun content, where I can share the inspirations for my stories along with wonderful vintage images to add “color” to the text.
More on all that in a moment, but first, the process made me think back to my first book, which was published in 1997. Publishing was still “traditional.” An author submitted a proposal or a finished manuscript and if it was accepted—hooray, the author’s job was done! There were no e-books, digital media or internet social media platforms. The publishers were in charge of promo. I remember that my biggest angst was waiting to see the monthly edition of Romantic Times, the print magazine for the romance world, with fingers and toes crossed that they gave my book 5 stars!
E-books and Facebook soon came along to disrupt the “pastoral” landscape of publishing. Now authors were expected to have a presence in Promo Land and connect with readers. We couldn’t just be introverted hermits anymore (and yes, many of us truly are!) We had to make ourselves INTERESTING! Trust me, that was stressful. We moaned and groaned to each other as we sought creative ways to have people “like” us.
Indie publishing was next on the scene. Oh, great—now I had to be the CEO of my own little mini-corporation and learn all about self-publishing—the technology for making e-books, cover design, formatting, marketing. And of course, I still had to write my books! With the “gatekeepers” of traditional publishing no longer controlling the flow of books to the market, an added stress was the issue of discoverability—how to reach readers who might enjoy my books. If it sounds exhausting and overwhelming, it was! (But all of us authors learned a lot about the business of publishing—and sometimes felt we were more savvy about what readers wanted than the big conglomerates!)
And of course, social media platforms grew exponentially. Instagram, podcasts, Substack . . . my eyes glaze over. I’ve come to the point where I have given myself permission to focus on my writing, which is what I love to do, and simply do as much social media as I can tolerate (which is not much!) In truth when we writer dish among ourselves, we all agree that it’s truly hard to judge whether any of that “noise” sells books.
I know I sound like a curmudgeon, but I’m not at all anti-innovation. It’s just that with the amplification of digital noise growing by the minute—if not nano-second—wish there were some metrics to use as guidance.
One thing I did decide was a worthwhile investment was creating a more robust website for each of my genres, so that readers could get feel for me as a writer. The latest technologies are wonderful in that with one click, a reader can read a sample of each book—and then, if they like it, can simply press a button to buy a digital, hard copy or audiobook. My earlier huffing aside, that is really cool!
One of the bells and whistles I’m most excited about is the “INSIDE THE PLOTS” section on my Andrea Penrose website. I love research and the various rabbit holes I go down for each book always lead me to discovering fascinating real life people, scientific innovations and really fun and quirky twists in history. I love writing about some of those explorations and sharing them with readers. And it’s even more fun when I can find actual images so that readers can actually picture some of the things I talk about. (I’m a very visual person, so word and image resonates with me.)
So my question for all of you is—do you visit author websites? And if you do, what do you find most helpful and interesting? In the vast sea of social media, how do you discover new authors? Are there any sites you particularly like— and why? Please share your thoughts!
What a thought provoking post, Andrea; I sympathize on all the extra work you need to do beyond writing.
I only rarely visit author websites; in fact, this site is the closest to come to that and I look at this site daily. (I visit Ilona Andrews’ site a few times a year mostly looking for the posts where her readers recommend books by other authors; I’ll also occasionally visit Jennifer Crusie’s site to read the weekly reading thread by her readers.) What I particularly like about this site, besides the content, is that YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR READERS.
Other sites that I visit daily are Dear Author; Joyfully Jay; Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; and Smexy Books.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, and info on wht sites you check out, Kareni. There is SO much content out there, it’s very hard for us authors to figure out what resonates with readers—and how to wave a hand and let them know you are here!
So glad you enjoy our content. And we love interacting with our readers, so nice to know that you enjoy that, too! (Your monthly reading lists always offer such interesting suggestions!)
All the changes over many years certainly contributed to what all of you had to deal with to advertise your books on your own.
I like to visit author websites to check on the latest books available and new books they’re working on.
I receive emails from Goodreads and find many new authors that way. Word of mouth recommendations from voracious readers help to know the latest books and why they enjoy them.
When all of you have your monthly post about what you’ve been reading, it gives me more ideas that way, too.
Thanks for the info, Patricia,. Nice to know Goodreads is still a popular place for readers to interact. And so glad you enjoy our monthly What We Are Reading. I discover so many new-to-me authors there from our readers, so I always look forward to it, too.
Like so many others ,I fell in love with the Regency period through the books of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austin. Though both authors mentioned the Napoleonic Wars, their characters were focused on maintaining an upper class “way of life” .Beneath the surface , their societal lives were endangered by technical, scientific ,economic, and political innovations.
More recent authors such as yourself, Andrea , delve into how unsettling ,yet terrifyingly thrilling this historic period was . Not unlike our own time, when we are overwhelmed by too much information, it must have seemed unsettling to many. On your website, your research spotlights just how rapid Regency society was changing.
I check out your website with each new book
Love your website!
Thanks so much, Kathy! So glad you like the reserach section on my website. One of the things that fascinates me about the Regency is the parallels to the stresses we face today—new technology and scientific discoveries in a variety of fields were turning their world upside down with frightening speed. The Industrial Revolution was changing the social structure . . . so many new ideas and new challenges. We’re facing the same sorts of upheavals, so I find it really interesting to have my historical characters face many of the same fears that we are facing.
I’m like Kareni, I don’t visit author’s websites often, unless I absolutely love a books and want to find out more. This site is the one I visit daily and I love the ‘What we’re Reading’ post. Lots of new stuff to look into and the other readers comments and recommendations are so helpful too. I’ve found many new authors this way.
I had a quick peep at your new websites and they look good. I’ll have a better delve when I have time.
Thanks, Teresa! It’s so nice that our readers love What We Are Reading as much as all the Wenches do. Like you, I discover so many great books through our reader recommendations.
With so many things competing for our attention online, I rarely think to spontaneously visit an author’s site, unless my interest is aroused by a book recommendation I see somewhere else. I read all the Word Wenches posts, but only because I get emails alerting me, otherwise I wouldn’t know about them.
But the main thing that steers me to an author website is author newsletters. I guess I subscribe to about a dozen of them, including yours and Mary Jo’s. I do read the newsletters, and if they offer a reason to click on the website-a contest, a sale, extra content like cut scenes or epilogues, or excerpts of an upcoming book-then yes, I will go to the website.
Some of the newsletters, like Minerva Spencer’s are very entertaining on their own. I also get newsletters from Mimi Matthews, Mary Lancaster, Harper St. George, Kate Bateman, Courtney Milan, and I subscribe to a handful of romance substacks, like Alison Stuart, Hidden Herstories(Maya Rodale), Forced Proximity Book Club, and Shelf Love. Sometimes those newsletters and substacks, like Mimi’s, will recommend other authors. But I discover new authors mainly through the “what we’ve been reading” posts, here and at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and at “Miss Bates Reads Romance”, a favorite book review site where I’m a regular.
Thanks so much for all your info on where you go to discover authors/books, Karin. It’s hugely helpful to hear from readers what appeals and how you find books that you want to read. Substack intrigues me, but I worry that I don’t have enough bandwidth to do it well. Must think about it.
Yes, I do receive newsletters from certain authors, such as Brenda Hiatt, whose books I have always enjoyed, but the “Word Wenches” site is unique, as I learn about all of you and your perspectives on one site. I love the interaction among you and with your readers. We learn so much about your books, your insights, and those of fellow readers, as well. We must recognize that your group efforts are made possible by “technology,” for which I thank you, your fellow wenches, and your devoted readers.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Patricia! I and all the Wenches love interacting with our readers. It means the world to us that you our quirky posts and our musing on the writing—and Life in general. We’ve lasted so long as a blog because you all make it so fun for us!
I visit Authors’ websites frequently. I’m always hungry for early info regarding upcoming releases and I tend to get attached to characters and families that are recurring. Yes, I mean like Wrex and Charlotte, Lady Ariana and friends.
Your books especially, provide such fascinating historical information and are so well researched that I learn History as I go along.
I can’t imagine you will remember this, but I recognized the familiar names of towns (around the suburban Boston area) being used as character names and emailed you regarding this. And you answered! I can’t tell you what that meant to me.
Thank you for having these blogs and your website. I know I love the familiarity it offers. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much, Barbara! That really means a lot to me that you enjoy my characters and stories—the history that I love weaving in because I am such ahistory nerd.
Of course I remember your e-mail! And your very sharp and clever eye to recognize the town names around Boston that I was using for my villains. And of course I wrote you back. I love hearing from readers and ALWAYS answer e-mails.
I am impressed that with all you have to do to promote your books and prep them, get them ready for the publisher, etc, that you have any time to write! Whew!
I guess i am an outlier! I don’t subscribe to any social media(no time to read any if I did, anyway). But like the others, the Wenches website is one i do read and enjoy, especially the interactive aspect and the What we are reading post.i have always enjoyed your website, Andrea with all the historical info you put in there and other tidbits about your writing and especially a new book that is on the horizon! I look forward to seeing your new websites.
The only reason i go on an author’s website is if I really like their books a lot, I want to find out if another is in the works or what else they have written. I also hope to send them an email telling them how much i enjoyed the book that prompted me to wrote them. In your case, i love all the extras about the period you include, so fascinating!
The Public Library is one of my main sources of i formation in books new and old. Their catalog online has a nifty feature that recommends other books like the ones you just read or subjects you are looking for books on. I have discovered many that i would never have known about thus way(including your books, Andrea!) I also will also just search on the internet “Regency Fiction”and I am amazed at what i come up with. Recommendation from friends and acquaintances also works pretty well, especially with people who have similar tastes to mine. I am not big on “popular” book lists as they don’t tend to have anything that might interest me. Publisher’s weekly and Library Journal are other sources where i find book info and much broader inscope than many other sources.
Jane, so glad you enjoy the extra background I write about the history and inventions that inspires my stories. I have fun sharing all the fun and fascinating details I discover when I go down rabbit holes. I know that not everyone is interested in that stuff—but they can just skip it. And so glad you enjoy the Wench blog!
Libraries are wonderful in helping you find books you might like, based on something you do like. My library also has that feature, too, and it’s really fun to explore. I hadn’t thought to just google Rgency Fiction, I’ll bet that does bring up a ton of interesting titles. Word og mouth is always good, too, My college roommates and I zoom regularly, and as we’re all avid readers, we talk a lot about what we’re reading and sharing recommendations.
Impressive looking websites Andrea.
Wordwenches is the only author website that I visit regularly (2 or 3 times a week). I subscribe to bookbub to get a daily email with book bargains. I also check out Audible UK daily for the bargains on audio books. I now have a long list of authors with writing styles that I like and which work well with audio, so will occasionally check new releases following my mood. I find the audio samples very helpful as a good narrator is vital, and also check the customer reviews if considering purchase. Audible also allows one to occasionally return a book if it does not please …. a very useful feature when exploring new authors. There are also a large number of free audios in the plus category which is a great way to explore new authors.
Like most others I always check out the ‘What We Are Reading’ feature and have bought a number of books based on recommendations here.
When I want more background on an author beyond the short summaries available on Audible, then I visit the author’s website.
Delighted to see that the pseudonym Andrea Pickens now appears on Audible UK (‘The Banished Bride’ and ‘The Spy Wore Silk’ ) ….. I will be checking those out when looking for a new read!
So glad you like the websites, Quantum. And thanks so much for sharing all the ways that you go about finding interesting reads and new authors. I am a big fan of Bookbub daily deals, too, and have discovered some wonderful books and authors that I wouldn’t have found on my own.
One of the great things about republishing my backlist Andrea Pickens romances is that my publisher, Oliver Heber Books, is doing audiobooks for them, which they never had, I hope you enjoy them!