Writers’ Websites
The Internet is old enough now that I expect to find a writer’s website when I google his or her name. Some writers have nothing (I’m talking to you, Ethan Canin, Leif Enger, Jeffrey Eugenides and Meg Wolitzer). Others have worse than nothing–a completely unusable site. And a few (like Neil Gaiman, pictured above) have attractive and informative sites. Here’s a roundup of author sites with links:
Margaret Atwood is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her sly humor and deeply skeptical narrators are delicious. And don’t even get me started about her wonderful, startling poetry. But her website? Puh-leeze. Better to remain elusive than put up a site that’s so uninformative and difficult to navigate.
Shauna Singh Baldwin’s site is comprehensive, with everything from links to inteviews she’s given to information on how to purchase her books. It’s a particularly interesting site because Shauna has an international audience–she’s a native of Canada, raised in India and now residing in Milwaukee, Her site is very clearly not just for a U.S. audience. Wish every click didn’t pop open a new browser window.
Michael Chabon once had a sprawling and well written website. I remember with fondness the essays on everything from his travels to Prague to comic books. Sadly, his site now consists of a “front cover” which is often nothing more than a piece of art (though it currently holds a batch of outdated links to coverage of President-elect Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination). The only additional page is a calendar of upcoming events.
Neil Gaiman’s site is entertaining and comprehensive. I especially enjoy its British tongue-in-cheek sensibility. And the photo of young Master Gaiman.
Sara Gruen’s website is pretty, but slim on content. She’s a talented writer, and it would be great to see some links to articles about her and her books. I’d like her site much more if it didn’t have a splash screen you have to click through to get to the content.
Ursula K. LeGuin has a comprehensive, even generous, website with many samples of her work, information about her and links to interviews, articles and reviews of her work. Bow before greatness.
Benjamin Percy’s site is a personal favorite. I love it that he lists every short story he’s ever published. It’s a nice shout-out to all of the literary journals who recognized his talent before he hit it big.
Michael Perry is one of the most entertaining writers I’ve heard speak at a conference. His sincerity is tempered with a self-skewering sense of humor. And his website is delightful, especially the mini-blog in the “news” section. My only question: Why “sneezing cow”? (Click the link; you’ll see what I mean…)
Which writer’s website do you love (or loathe)? Tell me why and send a link in comments.