Website Design for the ADHD... er, Multigenre Author

I may or may not have mentioned this (and you may or may not have gathered it by now), but I am an eclectic writer.  Which makes sense, because I like reading all kinds of stories.  So why wouldn't I want to write all kinds of stories?

But readers who fall in love with a book generally want to read more of that type of story from that author.  (And I am right there with you, incidentally.)  The problem is, when putting together a website for readers, how does an author handle her readers' -- and her own -- divergent interests? As I approach the redesign of my website, this question has come up a lot.

Obviously, limiting myself to one type of story isn't going to work.  I've written cozies, soft-boiled mysteries, paranormal romance, and even an epic fantasy (more on that soon).  I considered taking a pen name for the fantasy, but when I realized that J.A. Konrath has several of his books under both his original name AND his pen name so that readers know he's the same person, it made me wonder if I might be making things too hard on my readers (and myself).  On the other hand, not all readers of the Gray Whale Inn mysteries are going to gravitate toward Tales of an Urban Werewolf, and vice versa.  (Although if you look at the covers, it's fairly obvious that they're very different books -- there should be no surprises there.)  

I cruised around and took a look at some sites to get ideas.  Fellow writer Julie Ortolon writes "heartwarming romance," and you can tell that from her site immediately.  Friend Ellery Adams writes cozy mysteries; again, the look and feel of the site reflects that.  But how should an ADHD... er, multifaceted writer like me design a site that covers multiple genres? It's hard asking a designer to integrate werewolves and coffee cakes.

I'm exploring options right now, but I'm beginning to think that a relatively neutral but attractive base with lots of information and series-specific links for fans of each series may be the way to go.  I've committed to blogging again, and like my books, I'm sure my posts will be eclectic.  (I'm open to questions!) I'm meeting with a friend who's a marketing guru to ask about all of this tomorrow morning, and I'll be curious to see what he says.   

But what's more important is my readers.  What do you as a reader want out of a website from a multi-genre author? Do you like a clean, simple design, or lots of links to lots of info? Does a neutral but attractive template with links to pages dedicated to each series work for you? Or do you prefer an entire site to reflect the look and feel of your favorite book?

Inquiring authors -- okay, an inquiring author, if we're being honest here -- wants to know.  

Clotted Cream -- Recipe

I first had clotted cream in Newfoundland, when I was about 12 years old.  It was freshly made and served with wild raspberries, and I've never forgotten it.  It's creamy, buttery, and delicious either with scones and jam  or with a spoon at midnight while standing in front of the fridge.  

I picked up a pint of cream at the farmers' market yesterday and decided to try it myself with this recipe from Sustainable Table; there's a pan of cream in my oven right now.  If this works out, I may have to include this in my next cozy mystery -- the first of the Dewberry Farm mysteries, set in Buttercup, Texas.  (It involves a wayward Jersey named Blossom, so there will be plenty of cream with which to make butter.  And cheese.  And clotted cream.  I'm about a quarter of the way done with the first book... more soon!)

Off to check on my cream now.  Will post a photo if it comes out.  :)

If I were in Maine right now...

I would:

1) Have reservations at Jordan Pond House for tomorrow afternoon
2) Be wearing jeans
3) Pick those little wild strawberries (blueberries in August)
4) Stop at a lobster stand
5) Read a good book on a screened porch while listening to the wind in the maple leaves
6) Take a dip in a cold pond
7) Listen to the loons call
8) Check out the tide pools and look for starfish
9) Search for sea glass and perfect egg-shaped rocks
10) Pity all the poor people roasting in Texas

Writing with kids: A Brief Primer

Now that summer 'vacation' is here, I've received a lot of e-mails recently asking how I manage to juggle writing and kids.  It's a good question, and the answer has evolved over the years.

When I wrote Murder on the Rocks, I had two children under the age of 5, both at home.  There was no way I was going to get anything done with both of them and me in the house, so I hired someone to come three afternoons a week to give me a couple of hours off.  (A luxury, I know.  Enforced nap time might be another option.)  The first thing I did when I went off the parenting clock was to go to Starbucks and fill twenty pages of my notebook with words.  I didn't stop for lunch.  Didn't call a friend.  I went to my chair and wrote.  When I was done, my reward was to go to the bookstore and browse (and fantasize about my books someday being on the shelf alongside Susan Wittig Albert's).  I then input the handwritten work at home, when interruptions weren't such a big deal.  

I wrote Murder on the Rocks in 5 months using this system, and although I now count words on the computer instead of pages in a composition book, I still think it's an excellent approach.  I have psyched myself out numerous times over the years -- just ask my husband, my agent, or anyone who's happened to ask me "How are you?" on a bad day.  Each time, the way back to sanity -- and a regular writing schedule -- has been to go back to the mantra.  One thousand words a day, five days a week.  If they're awful, you can trash them tomorrow.  If you need a day to figure things out (or sometimes a few more -- it happens), fine.  But get back up in that saddle fast, or you'll start to lose confidence.

I also used to think that to be a good mother, I had to drop everything for my children all the time.  It took me a few years to figure it out, but I've come to the conclusion that that is a perfect recipe for entitled children who are unable to handle entertaining themselves and/or getting a glass of water.  On a more philosophical note, I've also realized that I don't want my children to think being a parent means sacrificing all of their own dreams.  The best way to teach them this, I think, is to model it myself.

I'm happier when I'm working.  Yes, I get distracted.  Yes, I sometimes wander off to the computer at odd times.  And yes, sometimes I'm not available to make Easy Mac "right this minute."  But my writing work is important.  It's a priority -- in fact, it's the first thing on my to-do list every day, and I start it first thing in the morning and don't feel content until it's done.  (And I do feel content.  I feel that I've done my job.)

And when momma's happy, everyone's happy.  Or at least has a better chance of it.  

MOTHER'S DAY OUT has hit the virtual shelves!

Just wanted to stop by and say that MOTHER'S DAY OUT has hit the virtual shelves! It is available on Amazon here; it will also be available for Nook within the next day or so.  I hope you enjoy meeting Margie... she is fun to spend time with, and I'm looking forward to more books with her.  Here's a bit more about Margie and MOTHER'S DAY OUT:

Life is pretty typical for stay-at-home mom Margie Peterson. She’s got two young kids, an attorney husband who never quite makes partner, and a fixer-upper house she doesn’t have the money to fix. Things are rolling along fine until the first preschool tuition bill hits the mailbox, and Margie realizes it’s time to take out a second mortgage…or get a job. 

Margie’s mother-in-law wants her to join the Junior League, her mother thinks her aura needs adjusting, and her husband wants her to sell Tupperware. But Margie decides on something more exciting than washing dishes at charity teas or matching plastic lids with bowls.

When a seedy PI agency hires her as a part-time private investigator, Margie finds herself tracking an obese plumbing salesman with a penchant for Saran Wrap and bargain-basement hookers. But Margie’s no Sam Spade. By the end of her first day, she’s totaled her minivan, submitted a picture of a naked man in Saran Wrap to the school newsletter, and accidentally participated in a drag queen contest. When she finds a dead transvestite in the “Princesses’” room of a gay bar, she decides it may be time to hang up her hat and start planning Tupperware parties. Then she picks up the drag queen’s phone … and discovers the last call the dead man made was to Margie’s own house.



I hope you have as much fun with Margie as I did.  Web updates should hit any day now, and the site should a whole new look in the next few months as I have it redesigned so that I can update it myself.  In the meantime, I'll be in my office, working on the next book and trying not to let the sleeping pets lull me into a nap.  Or wrangling cucumbers in my overgrown garden (the vines are threatening to swallow cars parked on the street).  Or checking up on my Facebook friends.  Or all of the above, most likely.


Cheers!