Who doesn’t want to learn more about the author who just wrote your favorite book? I know I do. An author bio is a perfect opportunity for you to connect with your readers on a personal level. It’s also a part of your author platform and will appear on the back (or inside of your book) as well as on your website, in your book proposal, and submissions to editors and magazines.

If you don’t know how to write an author bio, don’t stress. I’ll share a few tips and examples that will help guide you through the process.

Be Yourself.

You don't have to impress anyone or try to sound like someone you’re not. Readers want to know your interests, quirks, and personality. Do you love cats, have a secret addiction to caramel-salted lattes, or are you like me and inadvertently kill every potted plant you’ve ever owned? Just be yourself. Tell readers who you are. They want to see the person behind the words.

Author Bio Example: Rosemary Kubli

Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read - intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home. Discover more about Rosemary at www.rosemarykubli.com.

Rosemary Kubli jumps right into her bio by sharing the genre she writes in and follows up with a glimpse into her professional experiences. She ends with a call-to-action that directs readers to her website.

Your Bio Should Match the Mood.

Consider your target readership and write your author bio with that person in mind. Tie your world and style together in a way that will resonate with readers. If you write humorous novels but your bio reads like a textbook, your audience may doubt that you can write humor.

Author Bio Example: Doug Smart

Doug Smart is an award-winning director and writer who spent over two decades working in prime-time television in Hollywood. His credits include such iconic TV shows as The Lawrence Welk Show, The Academy Awards, The Monte Carlo Show, Benson, The Golden Girls, Newhart, and Empty Nest. And despite his mother’s worst fear, Doug has never actually been in a hot tub with Chere. Yet.

Doug Smart leads with his accolades and ends his bio on a humorous note. Every word in his bio echoes the tone of his book, Name Dropping: My Life in Hollywood Among Celebrities Who Won’t Remember Me.

Highlight Your Achievements and Expertise.

Describe your background and accomplishments so readers can see you're an expert on your book's topic. Mention awards, degrees, or publications you've been featured in. While you want to highlight what makes you special, keep your bio short—75 to 100 words. You can always include a link to your website for anyone wanting to know more about you.

Author Bio Examples: Susan Dexter and Gary Neal Hansen

Susan Dexter writes fantasy novels and has won various awards for her books, including 100 Books for the Teen Age (1993) for The Wizard's Shadow. She was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Throughout her life, she has worked as a designer, fine artist, and writer. She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where she continues to write and connect with her readers at conventions and via her blog take up the quest at CalandraEsdragon.com

Gary Neal Hansen (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) is the award-winning author of Kneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History’s Best Teachers (InterVarsity, 2012). After seventeen years as a seminary professor, he now works as a writer, speaker, and consultant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can connect with him and keep up with his projects at GaryNealHansen.com

Susan Dexter and Gary Neal Hansen’s bios are concise. They highlight a few achievements and experiences—just enough to show that they are experts in their field. For a personal touch, they let us know what they’re up to and how we can get in touch.

No Achievements or Expertise? No Problem.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Connect with readers by sharing your life experiences, noting your favorite genres, authors who have inspired your work, memberships to writing societies, or workshops you’ve attended.

Include a Call to Action.

Make sure there’s a call-to-action so readers can get involved with you by linking to your website or reading your blog post. Alternatively, you can use a call-to-action that will invite readers to take specific actions, like signing up for your newsletter or buying one of your other books. When writing your author bio, remember to give it the same attention you would give your book.

About the Author

Teddi Black is a full-time graphic designer, specializing in book design. She has a passion for visual storytelling and has designed books for independent authors and small presses from all around the world. Teddi lives with her husband in a small town in Ohio but can design books for you no matter where you live. View Teddi’s work at www.teddiblack.com