Hi! My Name’s . . .

[rolanni]

I was talking with a colleague the other day about author bios, and, tangentially, the purpose that such exercises in sentence structure is supposed to accomplish.

I thought that there was a place, and an audience for, a breezier, flirtatious bio, like this one. My colleague felt that an author should maintain some distance, perhaps some dignity, in order to be taken seriously by potential readers, and was arguing in favor of something along the lines of this:

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller live in the rolling hills of Central Maine with three insistent muses in the form of cats, and a large cast of characters. Best known for their work in the Liaden Universe®, Lee and Miller have seen published seventeen collaborative novels. Baen Books is currently releasing all of the Liaden novels in several omnibus volumes. The next original Liaden novel, Ghost Ship, will be published in August 2011.

For more information about the Liaden Universe®, see http://www.sharonleewriter.com

So, what do you think? Should a writer keep their distance and their mystique in a bio? Does a playful tone make you doubt the author’s craft? Tell all! Inquiring minds want to know!

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

Maine Novels

[claire774.livejournal.com]

I don't think that Barnburner and Gunshy are in print right now or even available from Amazon or Half.com. Can you put them on Kindle or one of those places you've been putting stuff lately. I'd like to be able to read them.
C.

Re: Maine Novels

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Both Barnburner and Gunshy are available from Fictionwise in all kinds of electronic formats.

Go here: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/SharonLeeeBooks.htm

Re: Maine Novels

[(Anonymous)]

from cinquefoildor-Barnburner and Gunshy are available from fictionwise.com.