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56
Steve Weber
This feature-packed site of mystery writer Lisa Scottoline includes
everything the newcomer or longtime fan might want: a biography and
several photos, background stories on her books, links to buy the books
at various online retailers, book club information, tour schedules, an e-
mail newsletter sign-up form, monthly trivia contests, audio and video
clips of interviews, order forms for tote bags and signed bookplates, and
a media kit with press releases and high-resolution photos. For each of
Scottoline’s 13 titles, visitors to the site can view the cover art, reviews,
and the first chapter.
Although this site is designed and maintained by specialists, it
illustrates features any do-it-yourselfer can emulate on their own site.
Award-winning science-fiction writer Cory Doctorow maintains
this site himself. The main page is a diary-style list of updates about
Doctorow’s travels, interviews, and current articles. From a navigation
bar at the top of the main page, visitors can dig into Doctorow’s novels,
nonfiction books, and articles he’s written for newspapers and
magazines. Other sections include a biography and a recurring audio clip
of Doctorow reading from one of his stories each week, called a podcast.
In one section of the site, www.CrapHound.com/unwirer,
readers can view a story that was written online, a collaboration of
Doctorow and author Charlie Stross. The story was written in public
using a blog, with the whole process exposed to the public, so anyone
could see and participate in the writing.
Doctorow publishes his site using the WordPress blogging system.
Interestingly, Doctorow allows visitors to download the full text of any
of his books for free. He believes the resulting word of mouth outweighs
the danger of any lost sales.
Like most good author sites, this one has a clean, uncluttered design.
Reading a Web site is made easier with the liberal use of white space.
Built to support the 2005 business bestseller, Freakonomics.com
includes links to more information about the book, news stories covering
topics in the book, and new articles by the book’s co-authors. Free signed
bookplates are offered to visitors who register their name and address.
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