Okay, is anyone as freaked out as I am that it’s February already? :-O I blinked and January was gone. I’m still on track with the book. Should be sitting at close to three hundred pages by next Saturday. If I reach that goal, then I’ll be on track to finish the book by the 15th. Woo Hoo!!! That will leave me two full weeks to edit and polish. Let me tell ya, I’ll need them. *ggg*
I did want to get your help on something. Like I said yesterday, my site is being redesigned. My web designer, Croco Designs has asked me for a lot of information that I’ve never had on this site (ie printable booklists, professional contacts, ISBN’s, etc.). What I’d like to know from you all is what you look for on a website? Is there anything that stands out as a must have? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to miss anything. 
February 1st, 2008
What do I like in an author’s website? I like when it’s professional, but not *too* fancy. You know those sites, where you are immediately bombarded with so many choices, or with music, or with tons of animation? That can get distracting. I love to see writing tips, of course, and to have access to an author’s backlist. And, of course, the main thing that keeps me coming back is a nice blog.
by Caryn February 1st, 2008 at 11:50 amI agree with Caryn. I think keeping a list of your books, with any sample excerpts linked to each cover, is the most important feature. In addition, I wouldnt put a lot of stuff around your books which might lure the visitors attention away. This will be your site as an author, not a billboard for everything else on the web, unless of course they pay.
by BernardL February 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pmThanks Caryn! I agree that sites shouldn’t have too much ‘noise’ of any kind. Mainly because it makes the sites hard to load.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 1:21 pmBernard, Good points. I’m hoping that the changes in the book layout and placement will put the writing upfront.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pmI agree about February. Couldn’t believe I had to flip the calendar today!
Websites? Ease of reading is important to me. Lots of us have eye problems, and lots of reading on a computer can put quite a strain on them. Little fonts, clashing colors, and distracting segmentation doesn’t help. I also want it to be easy to find your bio, your books, who publishes them, agent, and short excerpts as a link if feasible, along with the blog.
by raine February 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pmWhat Raine said.
I like to read excerpts, and if there is a bookseller link somewhere near an excerpt I enjoy, I’m more likely to click on it and order the book as soon as I’m done reading versus trying to remember the title a week later when I’m at the bookstore.
Definitely, definitely, definitely link to your weblog. I know your readers enjoy it as much as your friends.
One more note on the printable booklist, group any series books under a series header in reading order, so a reader knows which novel to start with.
by Lynn February 1st, 2008 at 8:47 pmI love that you answer your comments. I always come back to see the replies. :-)I do that on my site, too, and I always wonder if people check back, so I thought I’d let you know.
At any rate, what I really wanted to say was that any links that lead off your site–even if they’re links to buy the book on Amazon.com or whatever–should automatically open in a new window. Your web designer probably knows this, but I’d request it just in case. That way people have to make the conscious decision to close the window with your website when they’re finished viewing it, instead of clicking a link and ending up somewhere else entirely. Oh, and it’s nice to have a frequently asked questions section (saves you a lot of trouble, because you can answer all those pesky questions like, “Where do you get your inspiration?” and “I have a great idea for a book. If I tell you the plot, will you write it and we’ll split the proceeds 50/50″ or whatever else you feel like you’ve answered a million times.) And a bio is nice, but Raine already said that.
Oh, and finally, how awful is this to admit? I found your blog through, well, I don’t know who, and I really like it. I’m about to do another Amazon order and, um, I haven’t read one of your books–yet! What would you recommend starting with? There, have I embarrassed myself enough by admitting that?
Okay, enough commenting. Is it obvious that I wanted to get in a little more writing before bed tonight and am procrastinating quite severely? Yeah, I thought so…
by Caryn February 1st, 2008 at 9:02 pmI’d second Lynn’s comment about the printable book list, and putting series books together (and in order).
by Ann February 1st, 2008 at 9:44 pmAnd definitely a link to your blog.
Raine, Yep, it snuck right up and yelled BOO! *ggg*
Web safe colors and ease of reading were two of the first things out of my mouth, when I spoke to the designer. I couldn’t agree more. I can’t remember if I gave her the publishers. I’ll have to check. I definitely gave her a list of books, including my next five releases. There will always be excerpts because I really like those on the websites that I visit. I probably need to redo my bio. It’s short and light. (wg) I’m keeping the blog, it’s just not going to be my homepage anymore. She’s even going to try to import my archives.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 10:44 pmThanks Lynn! Hearing all these wonderful suggestions actually gets me excited. I can’t wait to get it up and running.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 10:45 pmCaryn, Thanks for the great suggestions. I know a lot of people drop back by. Never really know how many. I’m actually in the process of redoing my FAQ, which are currently under my Bio. It’s funny, I’m rarely asked about my inspiration or if I want to help someone write a book. It happened recently, but to be honest that’s an unusual occasion. I must give off the vibe in person that it’s not such a good idea to ask me those kinds of things. LOL!
To answer your book question, that would really depend on what type of book you’re into. I write in several different subgenres. Some of my books are more erotic than others. If you like hot shape-shifting stories, then I’d say pick up either Phantom Warriors: Bacchus or Saber-tooth. If you like funny, sexy contemporaries, then probably Wicked Women on Top or Bad Boys Over Easy. With those, you’ll get two other authors, too. If you want an erotic romance fantasy, then I’d say pick up Atlantean’s Quest: The Arrival. If you’d like an erotic historical romance, then I’d say Tears of Amun (a time-travel) or Gothic Passions (a vampire regency). Or you can wait until my Blaze comes out on March 1st and pick it up.
Like I said, it really depends on what you like to read. I could narrow it down if I knew the answer to that question.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 10:56 pmThanks Ann! I’ll make sure they’re there.
by Jordan February 1st, 2008 at 11:00 pmThanks! I often like funny contemporaries (though I actually read a variety of books) so I’ll probably start there.
by Caryn February 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 amI know — I can’t believe January’s already gone either!!
I agree with everyone’s ideas here about good Web sites. I love how often you update your blog, even though sometimes you say you’re out of ideas; still, you always seem to come up with something interesting to say, or ask your readers what they think about something, etc.
I also love a good bio, since I’m a voyeur and wanna know about authors who write good books.
I also love the idea of a “for writers” section with your tips and ideas on writing or publishing or getting an agent, etc. Excerpts of your books, of course. I agree that listing publishers is a good idea, for the writers that visit your site. The average reader may not care about that, but writer-readers do. 
That’s about it, besides just an attractive, easily navigable site that reflects your personality and the tone of your stories. I know you write in a lot of different sub-genres, but there’s still a theme running through your books, and your site can reflect that, I think. (Don’t ask me how!! I ain’t a Web designer!)
by Catherine Morris February 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmCatherine,LOL! I’m sitting here, trying to figure out the theme that runs through all my books. *ggg* I completely drew a blank. Snort. I didn’t think about the Writers and Readers sections. Good suggestions. (And yes, I know you didn’t say readers’ sections, but if I’m going to have a writers’ section, then I’ll have to have a readers’ section.
by Jordan February 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmCaryn, Then definitely pick up either Wicked Women on Top or Bad Boys Over Easy. I think both stories of mine are fairly humorous in those anthologies. Hope you like whichever you decide to get. I have excerpts under my books page. Just click on the book cover to read one.
by Jordan February 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm