What elements do you like on a website dedicated to your favorite series?

[S.A.]

So you have a series you love to read. You go to the website the author set up for the series...

What do you hope to find there?

I imagine at a minimum you would want a list of the books in the series, and possibly the reading order, if there is one. Maybe a page dedicated to each of the main characters. What else would make you geek out?

What are the coolest things you've seen on series websites?

What would make you come back to the website again?

I am very curious! I hope you'll share your thoughts.

-Archer

[t'irla ~The Bookslayer~]

This topic is near and dear to me. I get totally frustrated when an author's site will list the books in the series but not the reading order!..drive me crazy..would also like to know where their short stories fit into the time frame of the series. Its sad that I have to go to blogs etc to get this information.

I have seen an author or two have charcter sheets on their main characters with background and other information regarding the character that we may or may not have gleaned from the books. Love it!

When the next novel in the series is due out would be good.

I quite enjoy author's blogs or email convo's with the author as well. I know this is a time sync but sure makes us readers come back for more.

[S.A.]

Thanks T'irla,

I've seen a few really cool websites for some series, but then once I got into them there was a limited amount of info and not really anything that would have me coming back all that often. The blogs seem to be where it's at, though. Assuming they update regularly, which not all do.

I think what I'd like to see would be more stuff done 'in character'. It's the characters that motivate my excitement for the series more than the author's book tours or daily word counts or their thoughts on publishing... all things that I often see on author blogs.

What do you think? Would you follow a character's twitter feed or read a character's blog?

-Archer

[t'irla ~The Bookslayer~]

I don't tweet but! yah I would read a character's blog..that would be cool!..it reminds me of the interview JR Ward did with her BDB characters on her website..that was neat..and could have been taken a step further. I agree author participation is a must. I like author blogs and the responses/questions asked..but do have to say ..there are cliques on these blogs that make it uncomfortable for the occasional participant to get involved..eg. JR Ward/Sherilyn Kenyon.

I do caution tho..I follow one writer on FB who updates her status all the time..with a ton of personal stuff..and I adore her series..but she is taking some of the shine off..I like my writers to keep some mystery:)

[S.A.]

Thanks T'irla! These insights have been awesome. I'm setting up my website and blog for a series I am launching in a few weeks and you've really helped me direct my focus.

I agree about not really wanting to know too much about the author, and focusing instead on the characters. I've felt the same about actors. I've enjoyed movies and TV shows, and then heard this or that about the actors or behind the scenes fighting between people who act like close friends on the screen. That totally kills the fantasy for me. I'd rather just leave the messy reality out of the picture and let the characters speak for themselves.

I am going to check out the BDB website and see how she did it over there. I've liked the Kenyon site in the past, but it seems less interactive now. I thought it was really neat how she used to mention a website for the Dark-Hunters in the novels but I am not sure she even still has that website.

[t'irla ~The Bookslayer~]

Good Luck..let me know when your site is up I would love to come have a look around:)

[S.A.]

Thanks T'irla! :) It should be up soon. Going to serialize some free fiction on the blog, which I hope folks with enjoy. Have some character profile stuff and world/ background stuff on there too. But I'd love to hear your feedback once it's live. :D

-Archer

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Sorry to jump in the convo late, but welcome, S.A. & good luck w/your site. I agree w/all of t'irla's comments. Series order is always a +. And, who doesn't love free fiction? :D

[S.A.]

*Smiles* Thanks, Steph! Good to hear we are on the right track with this angle. Focusing on the world and the stories more than the author and generic sort of things. And when you think about it, you might know this or that about certain authors, but it is the characters that you really feel like you know and love. They are what motivates you to seek out the website in the first place. At least that's the way it is for me.

-Archer

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Oh, I enjoy learning about the author themselves, but also enjoy having access to more info on my fave characters. We series addicts end up missing our favorites when there are no new releases - reading little bits around the authors site on the characters or story help us get a mini fix in between releases. :)

[S.A.]

I love that, Steph! I am the same way with the series I get addicted to. It is agony to wait for new material.

[S.A.]

T'irla and Steph,

Thank you both for your input. I have tried to incorporate all the elements we talked about. With time I hope to get more good stuff up on the website.

Right now I have the webpage up with an introduction to the series on the main page. I have the optimal reading order in the books section. There is some fun stuff about the world and about the characters on there as well.

I am going with the free fiction angle, with an exclusive short story for newsletter subscribers, and I am posting segments of a story twice a week on the series blog.

Then I have a second blog which will be more 'story behind the story' kinda stuff. Like Youtube music videos that go along with the feel of the series and posts that share my excitement for the stories and writing progress and things like that. Trying to be 'real' I guess. And hopefully likable! LOL!

The website is at http://www.SidheTouch.com and the blogs are at http://SidheTouch.blogpot.com and FeyCast.blogspot.com

I'd love to get your feedback if you felt inspired to share your thoughts.

Thanks!

Archer

[Cindy (eclecticfirefly)]

SA - love the website. Lots of great info on it. I'm just bummed that the books are only available in ebook..... I still read the old-fashioned way. I am putting your books on my ebook WL. Please let us know if they are offered in print later on.

[S.A.]

Thank you Cindy,

We will be putting out collections next year as the mini-series wrap up and new ones take over. If you want to sign up for the newsletter that is probably to best way to find out when the print versions come out.

Thank you for the feedback on the site! That means a lot!

-Archer