I’m a voracious reader, working my way through two to three books a week. I either purchase new e-books because I like to get them instantly on my Kindle, or re-read favorites from my heavily stocked bookcase.
Right now I’m looking at all the books I have. It’s an extensive collection and actually catalogued by author name then title. I can see instantly my love of series. When I read a book by an author I enjoy, I quickly pick up every other book in the series if there is one.
I’m also always on the lookout for new authors. There is such an amazing array of talent out there, but how do we as authors, ensure readers of our genre find us?
Growing your AUTHOR BRAND is certainly one way, and even better, here’s a simple approach on how to make a start.
Six months ago I began to analyze my own author brand. I have three separate series underway, in three separate genres:
Magio-Earth series — YA fantasy romance.
Bodyguards series — Heart-pounding romantic suspense.
Highlander Heat series — Highlander time-travel romance.
I took those three series and came up with the following tagline–
Where Romance meets Fantasy and Adventure…
(I added that tagline right after my name, on my website’s header.) 
Now, the idea behind a tagline is to display it everywhere you can. It describes what you write, or the image you want to portray, or what simply makes you, you. Here’re some places an author’s tagline can go:
- In your blog/website header.
- As your email signature.
- On your Amazon author page.
- On your Facebook header.
- On your Goodreads page.
- Somewhere in your book. It’s just a tagline, so it could go in the “about the author section,” or “title page” right after your name.
- On your Twitter profile.
- On your Pinterest profile.
And I’m sure there are a ton of other places as well. Your tagline represents what you do. It’s a catchy phrase, with the intention to become memorable.
Here’re some great taglines I’ve seen:
- Nalini Singh, New York Times Bestselling Author. (Yeah, just had to pop that one in. I’d sooo like that one for myself.)
- Jessi Gage, …A Time to Love.
- Jennifer Probst, A little bit naughty…a little bit nice.
- Sondrae Bennett, Love stores that sizzle off the page.
- Jennifer Lowery, Where Happily Ever After is Only the Beginning…
- Karen Y. Bynum, …Fate be damned.
- Sonya Clark, Where magic and music cast a spell on the night.
- Shannon MacLeod, Writer of romance, teller of tales, weaver of dreams.
So, have you begun working on your author brand? Do you have a tagline? Drop me a comment and let me know yours.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s post. Have a fabulous week.
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Author brands are essential part of being an author. I work all the time on mine – the only issue I have coming when the media label me by whatever my last book happened to be about, none of which usually bears much resemblance to how I actually view myself. But that’s how it goes, I guess.
Thanks, Matthew. I really appreciate you dropping in to comment. Love it.
I found this blog piece very helpful, thank you for it.
Thanks, Daisy. 🙂
How would you suggest coming up with a tagline? I started out writing nonfiction, periodicals, and my memoir will be coming out later this year. So I suppose I will need two author tags – one for my nonfiction writing (under my real name), and another for my contemporary romance titles (under a pseudonym).
And suggestions as to come up with catchy and reader-attracting taglines?
I know a few authors who write by two names, and they do in fact use two separate taglines. The best way to come up with one is to take a look at what other writers of your genre have as theirs. It’ll give you a great starting point to creating your own. I only recommend to keep it under 10 words. The shorter the tagline, the better. Think of the “Got Milk?” tagline. It’s only two words, and yet most people know it.
Thanks for comment. Loved it.
Good post, Joanne. I work hard at developing my author brand and feel it’s critical to a writer. I can’t believe I overlooked my tag in my email siggy *forehead smack* Thanks for the reminder on that one!
I’m smacking my forehead alongside Mae, Joanne. Nice post and much appreciated. I have a tagline on my website/blog, but I hadn’t even thought about using it elsewhere. Apparently I’m a slow starter on the branding concept. 😉
I’ve only just put my tagline in my email signature, Mae. *forehead smack with you* LOL.
Loved this post Joanne. I have a series tagline, but nothing for me as a writer. My series tag is: Falling in love across oceans of difference. BUT that may need some work. What do you think of it?
I love that series tagline, Cd. Having read the first book in your series, it absolutely says it all. Love it. I also have taglines for each of my three series as well. I think that’s critical. Let me know what you come up with for your writer’s tagline. I can’t wait to see what it says. 🙂
What about “Love for a wandering heart.” After the Love Where You Roam series, I’m hoping to do a single title for hometown heroes and then onto another series starring 4 hunky rugby players over here playing in the US (Traverse City Blues), so boy a bit diverse, but all contemporary. What do you think?
“Love for a wandering heart” — Wow, that couldn’t be more perfect, Cd.
I love the idea of four rugby players playing in the US too. Please, please make one of them a Kiwi. Our guys Down Under are so hunky.
LOL, Honestly, that wasn’t in my original plan but I might do two series for the different hemispheres: English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh was my original pulled from the 6 Nations tournament, THEN, I could have a Kiwi, an Australian, South African and Argentinian for the southern. What is the tournament name for that again?
It’s called the Tri Nations, but from 2012 it’s being renamed The Rugby Championship. Here’s a really good link on it for you to take a look at. http://www.lineoutcoach.com/tournament/tri-nations/ 🙂
You have gotten an award! Congrats! http://lovemekanism.org/2013/07/13/and-the-winner-is-me-twin-awards/
That’s great advice!! I’ve been tossing this around for quite a while and still have nothing. Contemporary romance but not small town or western. Not super serious like Piccoult. Not as light as Higgins. More like Linda Howard or Sharon Sala. Serious issues to overcome but not depressing. I’m stumped!! But I love yours and I love your thoughts here!! Thank you.
Claudia
YAAY! I’m so happy you liked my tag – I’m not entirely sure how it came about, but it seems to fit given most of my story ideas come from dreams I’ve had. 🙂
I love your tag. Love it. Thanks, Shannon, for dropping by.
Superb blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go
for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely overwhelmed ..
Any recommendations? Cheers!