How to Write a Great About the Author Bio

The About the Author, or Author Bio is an essential part of your book marketing package. This is your opportunity to show a potential reader that you'd be cool and interesting to spend time with. Writing a great 'About the Author' is also important to establish your credibility as a non-fiction author and get the reader excited about what you are going to share from your life and experience.
Let's face it though, writing an author bio or a great 'about the author' is really hard on your own. Distilling your life into a few sentences that are of interest to someone else is tricky. In this video, Julie Broad, founder of Book Launchers, a professional self-publishing services team, walks you through a checklist of what you should include on your non-fiction book 'about the author' section.
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[@kellybonanno]

Helpful tips, especially like the idea of adding a funny or self-deprecating tidbit in the bio. My favorite ice cream happens to be mint chocolate chip too ;)

[@seintmike7907]

ME TOO!!!!

[@veronicapryor-faciane2244]

Grand Rising Queen Julie!!!!! As always, you are on time❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you

[@dereksilski]

I’m terrible at talking about myself. Also, mint chocolate chip is my favorite too!

[@BookLaunchers]

Another vote for the yummiest flavor ever. :D

[@crozfamily]

It’s difficult to have how handsome, intelligent and humble I am come across in a bio so ordinary people can understand it.

[@BookLaunchers]

😂 hahaha love it.

[@davidcml1363]

Hmm i too suffer this 😆😆👍

[@davidcml1363]

No offence!! But....i see why she writes..😬 my ears hurt aghhh!!! Much love x

[@poetryfromtheheart1287]

Excellent, I really needed this video as love writing the book, but not the author bio and book description. By the way, mint chocolate chip ice cream is my favorite ice cream too. I am definitely smashing the like button for this very helpful video.

[@BookLaunchers]

You have most excellent taste. :)

[@TheShaunHayes]

Wow what a great video. Thank you, Julie. Keep up the hard work. Coconut ice cream.

[@BookLaunchers]

Ooooh interesting choice! :) We have these coconut ice cream sandwiches that we get at the grocery store that are SOOOO good. Thanks Shaun.

[@ginacoleman4332]

Just found you! Absolutely LOVE you! Love you! Love you! Love your energy, love your tips and advice. This video was so helpful. You got a new subscriber sis-tah! Bless

[@BookLaunchers]

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again soon! Also, if you want more great tips I highly recommend you grab Self-Publish and Succeed ... www.selfpublishandsucceed.com or just tune in for future lives and tips!

[@camoflage61821]

Great video, as always. I always make sure to let the reader know my style is a tad irreverent. That's why my bio always mentions that I am a former morticians assistant. It's worked so far.

[@BookLaunchers]

Fantastic ... and I didn't know that about you. Fun fact. :)

[@leafoflifeinterventioninte4908]

Thanks Julie, really helpful titbits.

[@gracepsychealth]

For a nonfiction book my tip would be write the Author Bio answering the question "What is it that qualifies you to write about this topic?".

[@BookLaunchers]

Great tip!!

[@BlackRobb55]

Great video. I struggle in this area. Thanks for the tips. I am worth taking time to hang out with and I'll prove it to you in my awesome "About The Author" section

[@BookLaunchers]

LOVE IT!!

[@nikiarmeniakou9412]

Your video was awesome! Thanks - Melpomeni Efron

[@BookLaunchers]

I'm so glad it helped!

[@rievans57]

Never thought about the bio. Good information.

[@BookLaunchers]

Glad it was helpful! You might really like my latest book all about book marketing to grow your brand and business (And sell books). I can give you a copy in audio form if you'd like: www.selfpromoteandsucceed.com/audio - hope it helps you too!

[@studentoftheword6115]

Glad you mentioned what NHL stands for because I did not know ....

[@BookLaunchers]

😮 :)

[@supercareappliancerepair8538]

Julie never fails.

[@BookLaunchers]

Thank you!!

[@StudioThirtyEight]

I'm writing a novel targeted towards Catholic fiction and my qualifications are that I'm a sinner with an overactive imagination.

[@BookLaunchers]

Author bios for fiction are a little different but honestly - this bio would make me want to read your book. :)

[@StudioThirtyEight]

@@BookLaunchers This is the best motivation I've gotten to finish it in months!

[@michaelramseybooks9684]

Excellent advice on yet another small aspect of publishing that, if not done correctly, is a reason someone will pass on your book. Chocolate Mint is the bestest!

[@BookLaunchers]

OOOOH yet another fan of the mint chocolate chip. YESSS. Thank you for stopping by and for commenting the day a video is released. Everyone who comments on the day a video is released is entered to win some sweet #noboringbooks swag. And, our next live is our super duper SPECIAL 1,000,000 VIEWS party. That is happening on November 12th at 2pm PST / 5pm EST - really hope you can be there!

[@teadoctor260]

Really very intresting and knowledgeble video...thank you very much.

[@BookLaunchers]

You are most welcome. If you’re just getting started with writing, I highly recommend our 7 steps to write a non-fiction book. You can get that at www.booklaunchers.com/7steps and if you’re ready to market a book our Gameplan for selling 1000 books with less than $100 is a great way to start planning your book marketing. You can download that for free at www.booklaunchers.com/gameplan Even better than all the above is my latest book => Self-Publish and Succeed books2read.com/ap/RDOjGr/Julie-Broad - that’s a really great starting point for any non-fiction author to start thinking through what you need to do to write a book that will sell. Hope to see you again soon!

[@lablackprincesa6322]

You seem to have an amazing personality like myself. Thank you for the advice. Writing a short bio of myself for school #SouthernNewHampshireUniveristy :)

[@BookLaunchers]

Thank you :) Thank you so much for saying hello! If you liked this video you will LOVE my new book: Self-Publish and Succeed. You can grab it here: books2read.com/ap/RDOjGr/Julie-Broad
 Hope to see you again soon!

If you’re just getting started with writing, I highly recommend our 7 steps to write a non-fiction book. You can get that at www.booklaunchers.com/7steps and if you’re ready to market a book our Gameplan for selling 1000 books with less than $100 is a great way to start planning your book marketing. You can download that for free at www.booklaunchers.com/gameplan

[@dbacom]

Serious question - I don't photograph well. Currently, I use my logo for the author's photo. : ( Any tips for better author photos?

[@BookLaunchers]

You bet! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5nWpZeuetxgjJY

[@LiliWhiteWorld]

Great video - thanks:-)

[@BookLaunchers]

Thank you so much for saying hello! If you’re just getting started with writing, I highly recommend our 7 steps to write a non-fiction book. You can get that at www.booklaunchers.com/7steps and if you’re ready to market a book our Gameplan for selling 1000 books with less than $100 is a great way to start planning your book marketing. You can download that for free at www.booklaunchers.com/gameplan Hope to see you again soon!

[@matthewjahnke6956]

what about the tie-in between the author and bio (I mean, the same person)?

[@Jupitervideovision99]

I get the picture. Thanks

[@BookLaunchers]

oooh I am updating this ... not that it's bad but I decided to refresh it. New video coming in late February. :)

[@user-rc3tv5fy5z]

Pure charisma, sis! Great vid & good advice. Don't forget to introduce yourself by name so we can get to know YOU as well! :)

[@BookLaunchers]

Thank you!! :37 I do the intro ... it's a bit late into the game but it's there.

[@dianadihel]

That's it! I'm going to buy some mint chocolate chip ice cream right now!

[@BookLaunchers]

HAHAHA I think you're not going to be the only one.

[@hikamurutempest8564]

I am going to write a fictional-book what should I do ? Please make a video on it 🙏

[@BenjaminPreston]

Should I write a bio that's multiple lengths? Like 250 words, 500 words, etc? Or is that overkill?

[@BookLaunchers]

Well first, we'll do that for you! :) But, second - this is a great point I should have covered. We usually put a super short bio on the back of the book. This is less than 50 words. Then, inside the book we have one that is about 100-150 words or so. Then, we have another bio that we use on the media kit. I'll have to double check with Jaqueline and Sarah but I think that one is usually similar to the one inside the book so likely around 150 words but definitely not more than 250.

[@BenjaminPreston]

@@BookLaunchers Ah! Love Book Launchers!! That's perfect. :)

[@Spillers72]

How do you write the author bio if you have more than one book and they aren't about exactly the same thing? I mean if its too specific to one book, it might not work for another book.

[@BookLaunchers]

Hey Jay - this is a great subject for a video (thanks!) and something we're finding for me right now. My recommendation is to write the bio specific to the book for the book and the online book page. For your author central page and website bio generalize a little so it's more focused on you the author vs the specific subject of the book with the coolest achievements.

[@Spillers72]

@@BookLaunchers that was kinda my thinking later on. Thanx.

[@BookLaunchers]

@@Spillers72 Great. This is a good topic for a video so even though it's a challenge from your past I definitely am going to shoot it. Thanks!

[@MoniqueJoinerSiedlak_Author]

Mmmmm. Haven't had mint chocolate chip ice cream in a long time.

[@dgmultiservice5370]

The one that said "Highlight what qualifies you to write about the subject matter".

[@BookLaunchers]

FABULOUS! Thank you. Hope to see you around here again soon.

[@elvirai3887]

Where to locate the bio if we are not famous? If we put a short bio on the back cover, shall we include the photo?

[@BookLaunchers]

Great question. I have a video on covers where I talk about this. We put a big bio and picture on the last page of the book inside and a small bio on the back. The picture on the back depends on the space we have.

[@elvirai3887]

@@BookLaunchers great answer! Thanks.

[@neriobrillantes4395]

Hello, Julie. But I have an issue with reading aloud.

[@BookLaunchers]

You can hire a narrator?

[@heatherweber531]

How about writing a bio for a low content book? Is this any different?

[@BookLaunchers]

I don't have experience with low content books but I would think a good bio is a good bio!

[@ArtistAllanWest]

I'm not sure if this is ready for prime time, but this is where I am right now..."Nihonga artist Allan West, has written a book on his forty year 'clash of cultures' life in Japan. (Title), a humorous portrait of self deprecating humor, chronicles the struggles of an artist working in a traditional Japanese medium, and his efforts to make it his own."

[@BookLaunchers]

Hmmm ... this reads well but I feel like it is missing the part that makes it clear that YOU are the one that should tell this story. Did you live in Japan for 40 years? What's your background? What did you do there?

[@ArtistAllanWest]

Book Launchers I've been a successful artist working in Japan's world of traditional painting for the last forty years .

[@roxiecotton101]

How long should it be? #noboringbooks Have you ever help someone with a non fiction travel book? Or pro wrestling book?

[@BookLaunchers]

Yes - I should have put that in the video! Oops. We usually put a super short bio on the back of the book. This is less than 50 words. Then, inside the book we have one that is about 100-150 words or so. We have not done any pro wrestling ... football though. Travel ... we have one in progress.

[@roxiecotton101]

Book Launchers that was helpful thank you

[@Drathaar01]

Recee's peanut buttercup ice cream!

[@BookLaunchers]

That would be my husband Dave's favorite. :) Can you get that in Europe??

[@Drathaar01]

@@BookLaunchers Can't get it in Ukraine. But they do have some good stuff here. A Bakery and Ice Creamery opened up about a year ago, just a five-minute walk from home. They have lots of good, homemade ice cream there. I have to walk by it almost daily. It's horrible! 😆

[@joncoley8894]

I always mention my dog.

[@BookLaunchers]

Dogs are furry family members so I get it. :)

[@almeramilla1664]

Fransisco soc Rodrigo please 🥺

[@dgmultiservice5370]

hello

[@dbacom]

Mint chocolate chip. Mmmmmm

[@marjumado3856]

So so so so bad and good

[@johnnyestrada5096]

WTF... WAY WAY TOO BUBBLY FOR ME, SHE ALMOST SOUNDS ANGRY, HATE THE PART ABOUT THE ICE CREAM USELESS INFORMATION. BET SHES A MISSIONARY POSITION WOMAN.

[@BookLaunchers]

It's always a good idea to remember there is a human being on the other side of these videos and that it is your choice to keep watching ... you have the power to hit stop and move to a video that meets your taste. Cheers Julie