Revising the Website: Books
Jul152010
So we’re going to finally go into the website and start revising it to make it more reader friendly. Right now, each book on the Crusie website has:
Cover
Title
Tagline
Blurb
The Story
Notes and Stuff/Book Notes: interviews, back story, character note, animal note, music note, movie note, prop note (china, juke boxes, etc.), reader letter for reissue, just a lot of stuff that needs to be organized better
Praise and Reviews
Chapter One
Each book on the Crusie-Mayer site has:
Cover
Blurb
Reviews
Story
People
Places
Miscellaneous stuff that needs to be organized better (mythology, outtakes, Cranky Agnes columns)
Readers Guide
Chapter One (and in the case of Wild Ride, the prequel
So what I’m thinking is, we go with:
Cover
Tagline
One review
The story
The story behind the story (how I came to write it) OR Reader letter
Some new category for whatever it is that was interesting in the story–art deco china, the dog, the juke box, whatever
Links to interviews, movie lists elsewhere on the site, soundtrack lists elsewhere on the site, etc.
Chapter One (and any prequel short stories)
Reader’s Guide
What do you think? Keeping in my mind we’re trying to keep this short, what you delete? Would you keep the elements in this order? Is there anything you’d like on the page that isn’t listed above? Speak now because I’m only doing this once, kids.
Filed in Publishing, Sites & Blogs
Loading ...
48 Comments to 'Revising the Website: Books'
On July 15, 2010 at 1:27 am Verona St. James said...
Put the collages up on the book page for all the books you have made them for. I love looking at your collages, especially after I’ve read the book, and it’s a little difficult to dig them out of the blog.
On July 15, 2010 at 1:45 am Jessie said...
After Verona this will be a complete 180 degree turn (and I am probably in the minority) but I never look at the collages other than a brief glance. Ditto the reviews since I never pay the slightest attention to them. I am interested in the special interests like the art deco china or recipes (I have started making marsala mushrooms to serve as a side dish – absolutely phenomenal on pork or ham as a sauce or on toast as a light dinner), I do read the first chapters. I don’t know what you mean by readers guide.
On July 15, 2010 at 1:54 am Jenny said...
A reader’s guide is questions about the book. They’re good for readers groups or if you just want to look deeper at some of the questions I was interested in. The Readers Guide for Wild Ride is here:
http://www.crusiemayer.com/wildride/guide.htm
I’m thinking about putting up pages in the Other Stuff section on the website; one for music, one for animals, one for recipes, one for collages, etc, so that the book page would link to any that had info from the book on it, but the topics would all be there together so you could read about all the dogs or see all the collages. And that would keep the book page short, with just info on what the story was about.
What do you think?
On July 15, 2010 at 9:58 am Verona St. James said...
Works for me. I really just want to be able to find all the collages more easily than having to dig through the blogs.
On July 15, 2010 at 12:21 pm Karen said...
I love the idea of having the extras grouped by type but also accessible from the book links. IMHO, the book list should first cater to new readers who just want to know what other titles are available. (Like me when I read the original Charlie All Night back in 2002 and was *delighted* to learn that there was an entire canon to read. Really, the thrill of finding an author you love and then finding out that there is so much more to read… it doesn’t happen very often, but it’s wonderful.)
Once I’d read the books, then I wanted the background info–music, recipes (what banana bread recipe does Andie use, btw?), dogs, inspiration, everything. I’m less interested in the collages, not because I don’t like the idea, but because the pictures are too small and 2D, so I don’t feel like I’m getting everything out of them.
On July 15, 2010 at 1:14 pm KellyJ said...
I like that idea.
On July 15, 2010 at 5:08 pm Jennifer said...
Excellent idea.
On July 22, 2010 at 8:37 pm Jackie said...
Just the facts and the first chapters. date first published. versions available – HB, trade, MM, ebooks, audio. If books are part of a series – even if designed to be read independently – list them in order so those who care can approach them that way.
It might be kind to include links to non english editions as well. Reviews should be by link. I’m not too terribly interested in reviews. The whole other stuff area is so great, but it should only be by link.
I think the books section should be for the new reader. The other stuff is for after you read the book in many cases.
On July 15, 2010 at 3:43 am Vaishali said...
I like the list. Ditto on linking the book page to the other stuff. It sounds more streamlined. I admit I am one of those oddballs who prefer ‘just the book, please’ kind of page for a specific book. Like Jessie, I’m not big on the reviews, but I see why it’s a good idea to have them there. If Chapter One is going to be a link, maybe move it up to after ‘The story’?
On July 15, 2010 at 7:02 am BJ said...
I don’t think anything should be deleted, just moved. Links can be provided for anything you were contemplating removing. The links could go on the Site Map, but I suggest modifying your current Site Map, so you can see it without going page to page. Can you have folders on different topics, so when the folders are collapsed, you can see what the categories are, and you can expand to topics that interest you, and click on the appropriate link? I wouldn’t personally be interested in the reviews myself, since I want to read all that you write! I do like the story behind the story and everything else.
On July 15, 2010 at 7:49 am bernie said...
I love the story behind the story and the “stuff” on animals, china, etc. I had a lot of fun after reading “Fast Women” looking at those running cups on Replacements.com and ebay. I like the link idea so that we can take a better look at the weird little things that catch our interest or end up meaning something personal to us. I agree with Vaishali that the chapter one info should be moved up by “The Story”, other than that am good with the rest. Well… maybe a link to info on the houses/homes in your books. Love the house stuff too.
On July 15, 2010 at 8:27 am JulieB said...
Yes! I forgot to email you — I was talking with Stephanie L last weekend and she mentioned the ABC structured story which I’d never read but that you’d referenced in a structure post or comment on the forum. We went to look for it, and it was gone. She loooked for archived fan club letters (which I believe I signed up for when AATHM came out but haven’t receieved) and she could not find them.
So, archieved fan club letters, and more importantly, the short stories in those please. Did you ever write and Agnes short?
And, I love other “stuff” too, the story of the touchstone items, the pictures of the collages. Also agree with Vaishali too. When I had just heard of Jenny Cruisiie (um, everywhere, but I’m kinda slow sometimes) I went to the yellow site. My focus was to get names and some idea of the books themselves, so a sample chapter was more important to me than backstory. People who have read the books will then seek out more.
So, the ABC story. I think Stephanie mentioned a second story and now I can’t remember what it was.
On July 15, 2010 at 8:32 am Egads said...
If I’m a new reader, I like the cover, a quick idea of the story, and a link to the excerpt. If I like the excerpt, a buy link is helpful.
If I’m already a fan, then all that other stuff is interesting, but it’s always secondary to the above three. As a fan, I’m happy to explore a recipe page, music page, collage page, things-I-wrote-in-the-middle-of-the-night-when-I-couldn’t-sleep page, speech page, interview page, dog pictures page, etc.–whatever you want to throw at me, but it’s nice to explore it by type.
Blurbs and taglines I’m always meh about. They are so clearly advertising, that I tune them out. YMMV
On July 15, 2010 at 8:56 am JulieB said...
PS, I love the reader’s guide idea too. I read them after finishing the story, but always enjoy seeing what someone else is thinking about, esp. when I’m reading it at a time no one else is and I can’t talk to anyone who’s read it recently.
On July 15, 2010 at 10:04 am Bonnie C said...
I love the “story behind the story” addition. Very cool. Agree “Chapter” should be up higher and I think a link for “other stuff” is fine and that those pages have ALL the other stuff. It would definitely slim down the book pages.
On July 15, 2010 at 10:10 am McB said...
I like the behind the story idea, with maybe some discussion of whatever obsession accompanied it, such as the walking ware, mob food
On July 15, 2010 at 10:31 am Skye said...
Time for a new poll! (don’t hit me….)
On July 15, 2010 at 11:02 am Heather said...
If I’m a new reader, I like looking for any relationships among the books, so if a second book had been written about characters from a previous book, I always find that good to know, especially if the books are not a “series” per se. Which I guess is a just a really long way of asking to put something in for Faking It to say “Hey look! More Dempseys!”
On July 15, 2010 at 7:13 pm BJ said...
I definitely agree with Heather on this – I want to know what books have the same characters or settings, and in what order they were written.
On July 15, 2010 at 11:16 am Chris said...
Is this a diversion from Liz? I have been an avid stalker (I mean reader) on your website and haven’t ran into any issues with it. And trust me computers and websites, sometimes don’t get along with me and I end up kicking something. No kicking here though.
On July 15, 2010 at 11:17 am KellyJ said...
Sounds great, and I vote for the Story behind the Story… that would be my favorite thing to read. Would you also include collage pics for the books that have collages? And soundtrack lists, and anything else you are willing to share.
On July 15, 2010 at 11:33 am Diane (TT) said...
I like the Story behind the Story and links, just so long as it’s not too distracting or time-consuming for you. Really, the important thing is Chapter 1, I think, for people who don’t know the book already. The rest of us will read anything you write and probably get sucked into any links that you post, and still be here, cheeping like baby birds for more. Do NOT cater to us, we want more than you can possibly do!
Just have fun with it, but don’t get too involved.
On July 15, 2010 at 12:22 pm Bethany (Betty Clawed) said...
I like having most everything be in links. I also like seeing the old and new covers together.
Oh, and my mom sent a positive review to Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, and Cleveland Plain Dealer. She’s keeping an eye on all three to see if they publish it. She also was really grateful for your fiction handouts (I sent her the link when she mentioned the cozy she and my sister are trying to write). I promised to convey her gratitude to you for said handouts and writing such great books since she’s not much of a blog person (honestly, I’d be a bit weirded out if my own mom were on here regularly)
On July 15, 2010 at 5:46 pm Jenny said...
Tell your mom I said thank you.
But if she can google, she can find us. I’m just warning you.
On July 15, 2010 at 12:28 pm Lola said...
What you’ve revised is great. I think it’s the author’s personality that makes a great website and makes me want to read her/his books.
On July 15, 2010 at 1:31 pm Kelly said...
I promise to think about this and read other Argh people’s comments and I know you’re asking what should be included for each book separately, but the thing I would ask for most is a printer friendly list of all your books as well as any linkage between them. Whenever I check out an author for the first time, I visit her/his site and look for a list of the books and I want to know relationships between them characters in the books, if there are any, so I can read the books “in order”. In your case, not a big deal, but technically, “Welcome to Temptation” in a time-line of events comes before and is connected by characters to “Faking It”. Faking It can stand alone and it won’t ruin the story if you haven’t met Sophie from WTT, but it is so squee-awsome to get that little update in Faking It if you have read WTT. Also, for me, it is important that I can print it out on as few pages as possible.
Displaying the covers is something else that is rattling in my head. You have multiple editions with multiple covers (and now with 1 that has multiple versions of the story). Will you display all the cover options or only the latest print run? Are they needed? From a design perspective, they add interest.
Okay, now back to work.
On July 15, 2010 at 7:27 pm BJ said...
I agree with Kelly about a printable list of books (and clearly delineated linkages – as Heather said earlier). I always appreciate a list when I find an author I love, so I can check them off as I read them, and then go get the next one on the list.
On July 15, 2010 at 2:02 pm AndreaS said...
I am really fond of the “Other Stuff” parts. The dog notes or “behind the scenes” stuff. The Cranky Agnes columns and out-takes. So I say all that stuff should stay. It’s my favorite part of the site because most of the other stuff (designed for the casual reader) isn’t as important to me. I’m not concerned with how the book was reviewed, because I’m reading it no matter what.
On July 15, 2010 at 3:01 pm LinD said...
I also really like the Other Stuff. It doesn’t have to be on the book page; links are just fine. I like the idea of links to reviews, so I can read them after I’ve read absolutely everything else. Your list seems reasonable; by all means, keep the book page clean.
On July 15, 2010 at 4:57 pm Sara C. said...
Apparently I don’t look around much because I didn’t realize all of that was there. But now I do and am taking a break from browsing around to say I love all the various things that are in the “get more info” links after the synopses (would that be the plural for synopsis? whatever, you know what I mean).
On July 15, 2010 at 5:18 pm Deborah Blake said...
I am among the small minority that likes to read reviews. (Positive ones, anyway.) Can we have the top 3, maybe? And I like the idea of showing all the covers for any given title–that way you can be on the lookout for those that are out in more than one form.
Is the prequil to Wild Ride still available? I signed up to get it, then never got around to going to the site to read it (blame my own writing–it can be very distracting).
On July 15, 2010 at 5:19 pm Jennifer said...
Like Heather said, I like to know when I can find characters from one story in other books. Perhaps a small mention on the page for each book? The Dempseys are the obvious one, but there are others. Trying to remember… ummm… Nick and Tess in “What the Lady Wants,” for one.
On July 15, 2010 at 6:05 pm Jenny said...
I’ve put responses to a lot of your questions up in the post as an addendum because I didn’t want to break the blog. And there’s a poll there to your right because Skye wanted one. No, because I really need to know if Buy buttons are annoying or off-putting or if they’d really be a convenience. I really don’t want to use the blog or the site to ask you to buy anything. Talk about stuff so you want to buy it, sure, but to say, “Hey, BUY THIS,” seems rude.
On July 15, 2010 at 6:25 pm WapakGram said...
I agree with Kelly who asked for a whole list and the “order.” When I am referred to a new author and read one and want more, I HAVE to get them in order and READ them in order if the brothers or sisters get their own books.I’m just like that. Maybe it’s just me?
If you are on Amazon, you have to click back and forth to make sure you have the right ones. I get cranky. Having all of your books in one place with a “BUY” button…. I’d do the Happy Dance for hours.
I’d also list the story before the review in your list. Thanks for asking.
On July 15, 2010 at 6:44 pm Jennifer said...
I like the buy buttons, to avoid the clicking back and forth, like WapakGram pointed out. But there are buy buttons, and then there are buy buttons. Some are nice and discreet- there for your convenience, easy to see but not pushy, easy to ignore if you’re not purchasing at that time, and in no way guilt-inducing.
Then there are the other buy buttons that simply say “BUY!” They’re often obnoxious, HUGE and placed right in the middle of the page, sometimes with flashy lights. Those pushy buy buttons make you feel that you’re only welcome as a customer, and if you’re not buying you’re not welcome.
I particularly like when there are a couple of small buttons that give you choices, like “Buy at Amazon” or “Buy at Borders.com.” Those really don’t feel like buy buttons at all, more like helpful links.
On July 15, 2010 at 8:00 pm Louis said...
I’d like to see a list of your books from latest to your first (Or vice-versa) with links to all the info about them. Or list with covers.
On July 15, 2010 at 8:57 pm GatorPerson said...
How about dates on the book list. First publication or first written or somesuch for people to know what to read first in the Temptation “series.”
On July 15, 2010 at 9:38 pm Deborah Blake said...
Dates on the book list–definitely. And I’m in favor of small buy buttons, especially ones that give you options like Jennifer suggested.
Also prizes, and shiny awards, and stuff… Oh, sorry, I got distracted.
On July 16, 2010 at 9:54 am Sara C. said...
Could we have a response in the poll that is along the lines of “doesn’t matter to me one way or the other”?
On July 16, 2010 at 10:36 am Chris said...
I agree with Sara, “doesn’t matter choice”. The minute the book release day is here, I am in the store. I have no patience for the mail. Especially when it is one of your books.
On July 16, 2010 at 11:06 am Jenny said...
LOL. I figured those people would just say, “Eh,” and move along. I forgot the need to DO SOMETHING. Hang on, I’ll add it.
Done. Weird that the percentages aren’t showing up. But “add the buttons” is ahead 44 to 4.
Now I’ll worry about those four . . .
On July 16, 2010 at 2:28 pm Carol Anne said...
Perhaps, they were being snarky? Doesn’t matter to me, I will find your books. Would it make a difference, in light of the MTT past post, if the publisher/bookstore knows you have a direct link to the book on your website?
On July 16, 2010 at 10:05 am robena grant said...
I’ve always enjoyed your website and found it both informative and easy to navigate. I don’t think there’s much to update, really. Seriously.
And one thing I’ve always admired about you is that you’ve kept the place friendly and never applied any pressure to buy. It reminds me of when I was in development for a non-profit and had to solicit major gifts, I never asked for money, but somehow always ended up with big checks. : 0
On July 16, 2010 at 1:30 pm Karen said...
One more thing… I think the website looks great on my computer, but it’s impossible to read on my blackberry. I don’t just mean that it’s hard to maneuver–that I expect from any non-mobile-optimized website–but it’s literally impossible to read. The black text comes out white on tan. I don’t know if that’s something that is peculiar to the blackberry software or can be changed without messing up the website, but I would love to be able to read the blog and the comments while I’m commuting.
On July 16, 2010 at 8:59 pm Reb said...
Karen, I know nix about Blackberries but is it possible to select all the text on a website? Like Ctrl-A on a PC. That might turn the text black.
On July 17, 2010 at 12:15 am Karen said...
You learn something new every day. No Select All, but you can select. It’s a little cumbersome, but when I need a fix… Thanks!
On July 18, 2010 at 7:24 pm Sheena said...
The things I love to read on the books section of your website are the backstories, and also any outtakes – like the conversation between Joey and Agnes about coleslaw, and the extra details of the phone call between Davy and Sophie in Faking It, which followed up on characters from Welcome to Temptation (still my all-time favourite of your books). Also, I love seeing pictures of real things you describe in the books, like the china in Fast Women and the jukebox in Faking It. I realise that these things are more tidbits for those who have already read the books, but they’re what I go back for.
On July 18, 2010 at 9:00 pm Jenny said...
Those are the things we’d put links to in the More Stuff section. It’s good to know what’s valuable and what isn’t, so thank you!