Do you have both your author bios written out and ready?
Yes, both.
You see, an author bio is a sales tool, just like your ad copy, and there are two distinct use-cases that require two different bios.
First, when you put an author bio up on a bookstore like Amazon, you are, in essence, trying to sell a reader who’s seen the cover and the blurb, but is not yet convinced, on the author being interesting or genre-savvy enough to buy a book from. (the bio is on the way as they scroll to the reviews. Last stop to convince them before it’s in the hands of the reviews!
You don’t necessarily have to put anything about any books you’ve written in it, not unless you have a book so big, or a title so catchy, that it’ll help sell the reader on you.
For example, Jerry Boyd of “Bob’s Saucer Repair”, which is a fun, wisecracking, lighthearted series, has this bio:
“I’m a house husband. I keep things together while my wonderful wife makes our living. I’ve worked as a machinist, short order cook, electronics assembly tech, and several other jobs. My hobbies include vehicle maintenance, (I’ve had the transmission out of my truck. Twice) free flight airplanes, electronics, and shooting.
I was born and raised in the Ozarks, and now live in Mid-Missouri.”
Now that’s just the kind of background you want to see on a story about a guy repairing flying saucers with duct tape, car parts, and baling wire!
…
Second, there’s the bio for conventions and/or other public appearances. If people are meeting you, whether seeing you on a panel or in the hall, then they’re already sold on you, and they need to be sold on your books. Make it easy, and mention them.
For example:
“Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of the Sun Eater, a series blending elements of both science fiction and fantasy, as well as more than twenty works of short fiction. A graduate of North Carolina State University, he sold his first novel, Empire of Silence, at 22, and his books have appeared in 5 languages. He curated 8 short story anthologies for Baen Books, including Sword & Planet, Time Troopers, and Worlds Long Lost. His work has also appeared in Marvel Comics.
Christopher lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his family.”
This is an awesome convention bio, because it provides a series, a book title, and three anthology titles for you to look up across at least 2 genres, in case you like one but not the other.
What are your bios?
Mad Genius Club 
11 responses to “Author Bios”
Born a long time ago in a land far, far away, Ashley has immersed herself in SF and has read, or watched SF for most of her life. She knows SF when she sees it, but can’t explain what SF is. Having taken the blue pill, she lives, eats and breathes SF.
In the real world, I am a cognitive behavioural therapist with a background in mental health nursing. My working career has ranged far and wide from civil servant to sales assistant.
I’ve also written for Battlegames and Miniature Wargames magazines, and I was both a reviewer and columnist for Games Master International. In addition, I was a freelancer for FASA Corps working on the 3055 Technical Read Out, and I wrote the OHMU War Machine wargame rules.
I’ve been told I have more interests than most people have dinners, which include: cycling, aikido, iaido, photography, miniatures wargaming, painting, and archery.
I am unashamedly a starry eyed dreamer.
I was born and raised in California, and have lived more than half my life, now, in Texas.
Wonderful place. I caught almost the first bachelor I met here, and we’re coming up on our thirty-fifth anniversary.
My degree’s in Geology. After working for an oil company for almost ten years as a geophysicist, I “retired” to raise children. As they grew, I added oil painting, sculpting and throwing clay, breeding horses, volunteering in libraries and for the Boy Scouts, and treasurer for a friend’s political campaign. Sometime in those busy years, I turned a love of science fiction into a part time job reading slush (Mom? Someone is paying you to read??!!)
I’ve always written, published a few short stories. But now that the kids have flown the nest, I’m calling writing a full time job.
Empire is my twelfth novel. I’ve also issued three collections of novellas and short stories, and published separately three other short stories.
I’m planning to bring out at least four more books this year. Two of them are manuscripts that I’ve pulled out the batch making the rounds of publishers, so they should go up quickly. I’ve got two new books in the Wine of the Gods Universe under way. And then a third “Zoey Ivers” book in the Doors series. So I may manage to squeak in a fifth book before the end of the year.
I need to find the time to get more books out in print, out to Kobo, Sony, B&N . . . I need to find the time to invent a time machine . . .
In as much as Tom and I just celebrated our 44th anniversary, I think it’s time for a rewrite. Maybe shorten it up . . .
Yes. :-).
I have noticed that you also managed to accomplish some things in the last nine years.
And sometimes, you can use them to get people to buy you banana daiquiris.
We do all of this; short bios, long bios, bios for both my writing names, a short history of us, and author photos ready to go.
Sometimes, we even update them!
If you want to see what we do: https://peschelpress.com/peschel-press-media-kit/
Author bios are another reason for maintaining a website, even if it’s mostly static. You can tell your story, your way, so if some local reporter needs info on you, it’s there; ready, waiting, and 24/7.
We learned about different length bios from Jane Friedman.
She recommends short (under 100 words), medium/long (more detail), and the kitchen sink.
And don’t forget to set up your Amazon Author Page!
Never write a bio that builds to something. They may trim without notice, and they will trim at the end, removing any punch line or the like.
Nice! I’ve recommended multiple bios for authors, but tailored for size & use on social media, not for purpose. I’ll have to update to include a link to this discussion.
My Amazon bio, which needs updating because the children are grown and the dogs have moved over the rainbow bridge:
Laura Montgomery began reading science fiction when she was thirteen, when the local U.S. Air Force base donated many amazing books to the school she attended in northern Thailand. Laura practices space law in Washington, D.C. She has worked on space tourism and launch safety regulations, which, honestly, are not science fiction. She lives outside Washington with her husband, children, and dogs.
To receive updates about new releases, sign up for her newsletter at lauramontgomery.com.
I need to update mine, since mil-sci-fi is no longer my primary genre.
Standard Mel Dunay bio:
I’ve traveled all over the world, but right now I live in the Midwest of the USA, with my extended family. I have no cats, only a vacuum robot named Minnie, who probably doesn’t like cats, although I can’t say that I’ve asked her opinion.
I like fantasy and science fiction, and am writing in both genres. I like a very specific mix of elements in both genres, and I try to write what I like: a little humor, a little romance, a lot of adventure, and not too much darkness or explicit content.