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Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Great Examples. (Plus a Checklist!)

October 15, 2020 by Diana Urban

Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. You should regularly maintain your bio on places like your BookBub Author Profile so fans and potential readers seeking you out can learn more about you and why they should pick up your latest book.

Stuck on what to include? While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios we love so you can get some inspiration when crafting your own bio. We’ve also created an Author Biography Checklist with recommendations on what to include, as well as where to keep your author bio up to date online.

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1. Ramona Emerson

Ramona Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico. She has a bachelor’s in Media Arts from the University of New Mexico and an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts. After starting in forensic videography, she embarked upon a career as a photographer, writer, and editor. She is an Emmy nominee, a Sundance Native Lab Fellow, a Time-Warner Storyteller Fellow, a Tribeca All-Access Grantee and a WGBH Producer Fellow. In 2020, Emerson was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries for the State of New Mexico. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she and her husband, the producer Kelly Byars, run their production company Reel Indian Pictures. Shutter is her first novel.

Why we love it: Ramona makes a splash as a new author by detailing her extensive experience in both writing and filmmaking. Her background makes an effective setup for her debut novel about a forensic photographer.

2. Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly , Library Journal , and Booklist . She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller. Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time. Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

Why we love it: Courtney concisely leads with her accolades and bestseller status before diving into more personal information with a witty tone. She also includes a call-to-action for readers to sign up to Weekly Tea, one of her mailing lists.

3. Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera is the number one New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not , History Is All You Left Me , They Both Die at the End , Infinity Son , Infinity Reaper , and—with Becky Albertalli— What If It’s Us . He was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. Adam was born and raised in the Bronx. He was a bookseller before shifting to children’s publishing and has worked at a literary development company and a creative writing website for teens and as a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He is tall for no reason and lives in Los Angeles. Visit him online at www.adamsilvera.com .

Why we love it: Adam begins his bio with his bestseller accolades and a list of his popular titles. But we especially love how he also includes his previous experience in children’s literature. It’s a fantastic way an author can craft a unique and credible bio using information besides accolades or bestseller status.

4. Farrah Rochon

USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Crescent City-set Holmes Brothers series and her Moments in Maplesville small town series. Farrah is a two-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award. In 2015, she received the Emma Award for Author of the Year. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows. An admitted sports fanatic, she feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons. Keep in touch with Farrah via the web: Website: https://www.farrahrochon.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farrahrochonauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FarrahRochon Instagram: https://instagram.com/farrahrochon/ Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2povjuZ Join my online Fan Club, the Rochonettes! https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarrahRochon/ Farrah’s Books In Order: The Holmes Brothers Deliver Me (Mar. 2007) Release Me (May 2008) Rescue Me (Jan. 2009) Chase Me (Jan. 2017) Trust Me (May 2017) Awaken Me (Jan. 2018) Cherish Me (Jun. 2018) Return To Me (Aug. 2019) New York Sabers Huddle With Me Tonight (Sept. 2010) I’ll Catch You (Mar. 2011) Field of Pleasure (Sept. 2011) Pleasure Rush (Mar. 2012) Bayou Dreams A Forever Kind of Love (Aug. 2012) Always and Forever (Jan. 2013) Yours Forever (Mar. 2014) Forever’s Promise (Apr. 2014) Forever With You (Feb. 2015) Stay With Me Forever (Aug. 2015) Moments in Maplesville A Perfect Holiday Fling (Nov. 2012) A Little Bit Naughty (Mar. 2013) Just A Little Taste (Jan. 2014) I Dare You! (Nov. 2014) All You Can Handle (June 2015) Any Way You Want It (Feb. 2016) Any Time You Need Me (June 2016) Standalones In Her Wildest Dreams (Jan. 2012) The Rebound Guy (July 2012) Delectable Desire (Apr. 2013) Runaway Attraction (Nov. 2013) A Mistletoe Affari (Nov. 2014) Passion’s Song (Feb. 2016) Mr. Right Next Door (Sept. 2016) Anthologies A Change of Heart (The Holiday Inn Anthology – Sept. 2008) No Ordinary Gift (Holiday Brides Anthology – Oct. 2009) Holiday Spice (Holiday Temptation Anthology – Sept. 2016) Christmas Kisses (Reissue–Contains Tuscan Nights and Second-Chance Christmas previously published by Harlequin Kimani

Why we love it: Farrah packs a lot of information into that first paragraph, elegantly describing the awards she’s received and has been nominated for. We also love how she makes it easy for readers to find her on whichever social media platform they prefer and to discover which book to start with for each series.

5. Angie Fox

New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books. Angie is best known for her Southern Ghost Hunter mysteries and for her Accidental Demon Slayer books. Visit her at www.angiefox.com

Why we love it: We love how Angie distinguishes herself from her characters, making herself relatable to readers. She also mentions her bestseller status and best-known works in a humble way.

6. Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly , Monday’s Not Coming , and Let Me Hear a Rhyme . A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, earned her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV and film experience. The Brooklyn native still resides in the borough she loves. You can visit her at www.writeinbk.com .

Why we love it: This is an excellent example of a short, concise bio — a perfect snippet for journalists, bloggers, or event coordinators who need to grab Tiffany’s bio for their article or programming.

7. Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 32 books, including The Undefeated ; How to Read a Book ; Solo ; Swing ; Rebound , which was shortlisted for prestigious Carnegie Medal; and his Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover . He’s also the founding editor of Versify, an imprint that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. Visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Why we love it: We adore how Kwame calls out his aim to “change the world one word at a time” along with a handful of his best-known books. Short and sweet!

8. Glynnis Campbell

For deals, steals, and new releases from Glynnis, click FOLLOW on this BookBub page! Glynnis Campbell is a USA Today bestselling author of over two dozen swashbuckling action-adventure historical romances, mostly set in Scotland, and a charter member of The Jewels of Historical Romance — 12 internationally beloved authors. She’s the wife of a rock star and the mother of two young adults, but she’s also been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. Doing her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden, Glynnis loves to play medieval matchmaker… transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well! Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.glynnis.net Tag along on her latest adventures here: Website: https://www.glynnis.net Facebook: bit.ly/GCReadersClan Goodreads: bit.ly/GlynnisGoodreads Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GlynnisCampbell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GlynnisCampbell Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GlynnisCampbell BOOK LIST: The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch: THE SHIPWRECK A YULETIDE KISS LADY DANGER CAPTIVE HEART KNIGHT’S PRIZE The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch: THE STORMING A RIVENLOCH CHRISTMAS BRIDE OF FIRE BRIDE OF ICE BRIDE OF MIST The Knights of de Ware: THE HANDFASTING MY CHAMPION MY WARRIOR MY HERO Medieval Outlaws: THE REIVER DANGER’S KISS PASSION’S EXILE DESIRE’S RANSOM Scottish Lasses: THE OUTCAST MacFARLAND’S LASS MacADAM’S LASS MacKENZIE’S LASS California Legends: THE STOWAWAY NATIVE GOLD NATIVE WOLF NATIVE HAWK

Why we love it: Like other authors, Glynnis leads with her bestseller status, but not before making sure readers know to follow her on BookBub! We like how her personality shines through in her all-caps calls to action and that she includes the characteristics of her books in a fun way so readers will know what to expect from her work.

9. Laurelin Paige

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of the Fixed Trilogy . She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching edgy black comedy on Netflix or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. You can connect with Laurelin on Facebook at facebook.com/LaurelinPaige or on twitter @laurelinpaige. You can also visit her website, laurelinpaige.com , to sign up for emails about new releases. Subscribers also receive a free book from a different bestselling author every month.

Why we love it: We love Laurelin’s bio because she lets her fun personality shine through! She also includes information about a monthly giveaway she runs through her mailing list, which is enticing and unique.

10. Mia Sosa

Mia Sosa is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedies. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly , Kirkus Reviews , Booklist , and Library Journal , and have been praised by Cosmopolitan , The Washington Post , Buzzfeed , Entertainment Weekly , and more. Book Riot included her debut, Unbuttoning the CEO , in its list of 100 Must-Read Romantic Comedies, and Booklist recently called her “the new go-to author for fans of sassy and sexy contemporary romances.” A former First Amendment and media lawyer, Mia practiced for more than a decade before trading her suits for loungewear (okay, okay, they’re sweatpants). Now she strives to write fun and flirty stories about imperfect characters finding their perfect match. Mia lives in Maryland with her husband, their two daughters, and an adorable dog that rules them all. For more information about Mia and her books, visit www.miasosa.com .

Why we love it: This is such a well-constructed bio, with a paragraph for each (1) listing accolades and praise from trade reviews, (2) including a blurb about Mia’s overall author brand, (3) describing her previous work experience and how she became an author, and (4) sharing personal information and directing readers to where they could learn more.

11. Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling Author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color. Their books include Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods .

Why we love it: A well-known advocate of diverse books, Aiden leads with their identity markers to connect right away with readers of similar identities. The rest of their concise bio fits information about their bestseller status, education, location, personality, and popular titles into just a few short sentences!

12. Wayne Stinnett

Wayne Stinnett is an American novelist and Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Between those careers, he’s worked as a deckhand, commercial fisherman, divemaster, taxi driver, construction manager, and over the road truck driver, among many other things. He now lives on a sea island, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, with his wife and youngest daughter. They also have three grown children, five grand children, three dogs and a whole flock of parakeets. Stinnett grew up in Melbourne, Florida and has also lived in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico. His next dream is to one day visit and dive Cuba.

Why we love it: What better way to introduce an author of novels about travel, seafaring, and military adventures than to share his first-hand experiences! By weaving in relevant professional background and a glimpse of his home life by the sea, Wayne demonstrates deep knowledge of his subjects to his readers, as well as connecting with them on a personal level by describing his family and goals for the future.

13. June Hur

June Hur was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, except for the time when she moved back to Korea and attended high school there. She studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. She began writing her debut novel after obsessing over books about Joseon Korea. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through nature or journaling at a coffee shop. June is the bestselling author of The Silence of Bones , The Forest of Stolen Girls , and The Red Palace , and currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.

Why we love it: We love how June includes her background and what inspired her writing. Sharing a story’s origins is a wonderful way to meaningfully connect with readers.

14. Claire Delacroix

Bestselling author Claire Delacroix published her first medieval romance in 1993. Since then, she has published over seventy romance novels and numerous novellas, including time travel romances, contemporary romances and paranormal romances. The Beauty , part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first book to land on the New York Times list of bestselling books. Claire has written under the name Claire Cross and continues to write as Deborah Cooke as well as Claire Delacroix. Claire makes her home in Canada with her family, a large undisciplined garden and a growing number of incomplete knitting projects. Sign up for Claire’s monthly medieval romance newsletter at: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622ca9849b7136a9e313df83 Visit Claire’s website to find out more about her books at http://delacroix.net

Why we love it: While Claire has an extensive backlist, she succinctly describes her publishing success and subgenres. She also includes all of her pen names so readers can easily find her, no matter which name they’re looking for.

15. Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley writes Historical Fiction and Historical Romance (Georgian, Regency, & Victorian) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods. She promises to pull heart strings, offer a few laughs, and share tidbits of tantalizing history. This Southern, Irish, Trini (West Indies) girl holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Yet, her love of history and lattes have overwhelmed her passion for math, leading to the publication of over 20+ titles. She loves writing on her southern porch with proper caffeine.

Why we love it: Vanessa launches into her bio by sharing the specific time periods she writes in, as well as the diverse characters and emotions her readers can look forward to, appealing directly to her ideal audience . She then shares a bit of personal info, leaving readers with an image of her in her element: writing on a porch while sipping tea.

16. April White

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a shipwreck, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. She and her husband share their home in Southern California with two extraordinary boys and a lifetime collection of books. Her first novel, Marking Time , is the 2016 winner of the Library Journal Indie E-Book Award for YA Literature, and her contemporary romantic suspense, Code of Conduct , was a Next Generation Indie Award and RONE Award Finalist. All five books in the Immortal Descendants series are on the Amazon Top 100 lists in Time Travel Romance and Historical Fantasy. More information and her blog can be found at www.aprilwhitebooks.com .

Why we love it: April’s bio is short and sweet, but is packed with interesting information. She was a private investigator and survived a shipwreck? How can you not want to learn more about this author? She also elegantly includes her books’ status and subgenre in the last paragraph, along with a call-to-action for readers to learn more.

17. Julia Quinn

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don’t read (or write) romance, and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. On December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton , based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family. Find her on the web at www.juliaquinn.com .

Why we love it: Julia takes a unique approach, making her bio more voicey and focused on her interests. Yet she keeps it up to date, including her latest news in the last sentence (above the call-to-action).

18. Rick Mofina

USA Today bestselling author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He’s also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. His books have been published in nearly 30 countries, including an illegal translation produced in Iran. His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper. The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.” Join Rick Mofina’s newsletter from his website and receive a free eBook! You can also find Rick Mofina’s new exclusive serialized thriller, The Dying Light , by subscribing to Radish Fiction com For more information please visit www.rickmofina.com https://www.facebook.com/rickmofina or follow Rick on Twitter @Rick Mofina

Why we love it: Including Rick’s first-hand experiences as a journalist lends him credibility in his genres of Crime Fiction and Thrillers. He also includes a list of well-known authors who have praised his work, and these endorsements may encourage those authors’ fans to give Rick a try. The free ebook offer effectively sweetens the deal!

19. J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A Word on Words . She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries. J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Why we love it: This is a great example of a concise bio suitable for use in any blog or publication. J.T. keeps to just the essential ingredients of a professional author bio: accolades, genres, experience, and a bit of what she’s up to today for a personal touch.

20. James S.A. Corey

James S.A. Corey is the pen name for a collaboration between Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. James is Daniel’s middle name, Corey is Ty’s middle name, and S.A. are Daniel’s daughter’s initials. James’ current project is a series of science fiction novels called The Expanse Series. They are also the authors of Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion).

Why we love it: We love co-author bios that reveal how the duo came up with their pseudonym as a fun fact for readers! We also like that the reminder of this bio simply points readers straight to their buzziest works.

Want to share this post? Here are ready-made tweets:

Click to tweet: If you’re writing your author bio, these examples are so helpful! #writetip #pubtip http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

Click to tweet: Make sure to keep your author bio updated! Here are some great bio examples, PLUS a printable checklist of what to include and where to keep it up to date. #amwriting http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

This post was originally published on October 15 2015 and has been updated with new examples and a PDF checklist!

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Home / Book Publishing / How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates]

How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates]

To write a great author bio, you need to know your target audience, cater to your genre, brag (but not too much), keep it brief, and call the reader to action.

When you’re self-publishing on Amazon , you need to put some serious thought into the author bio on your Amazon book page. Don’t haphazardly throw together some sentences and hit the publish button.

The author bio isn’t your most important tool. (The most essential tools are the book reviews , book cover , and synopsis/blurb .) But the author bio is another critical tool that you shouldn’t leave out.

Can I just leave my author bio out? No, you cannot just leave out your author bio, even if you wrote a short story or novella. It looks unprofessional, scares away potential readers, foregoes an opportunity to connect with your target audience, and leads to fewer book sales.

Plus, writing a good author bio doesn’t take that long.

If you’re not Grisham, or Godin, or Ferriss, or Fleming, very few people will buy a novel by you purely based on name recognition. So put a little work into your bio, and you won’t regret it.

Note: The Author Bio is just one of many parts of a book. I have a whole series of posts on the subject, and I highly recommend you check those out as well!

What is an author bio?
Examples of phenomenal author bios
Tips on making a persuasive, engaging author bio
How to add the bio to your book page
An author bio template checklist

What should an author's bio include?
Is an author bio actually important?
What’s your book about?
Who are you writing for?
4 Writing Tips For Creating an Author Bio:
Step 3: Add the Bio to Your Book Page
Podcast Episode: The Perfect Picture For Your Author Bio
6 Examples of Phenomenal Author Bios
Can you hire a freelancer to write your author bio?
How to Write a Bio for Your Author Website
Author Bio Template
Where does your author bio go?
How often should you update your “About the Author” page?

For clarification, on Amazon, there are 2 kinds of bio:

The generic bio on your “ Author Page ”
Separate bios for each of your books

The advice in this post is aimed at your bio on your individual book pages, although much of it will still be relevant to your main Author Page.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I've actually been writing and formatting books for a long time. Over 10 years so far, and counting.

But that's not the real reason, because there are plenty of authors who have lots of experience, but know next to nothing about the different parts of a book, or book formatting in general.

The real reason you should trust me is because I actually created my own formatting software that solved all my problems. I called it Atticus.

But this isn't meant to be a sales pitch. I just want to make sure it's clear that I know what I'm talking about. The amount of research that went into not only formatting my own books, but also creating a formatting software is huge.

I researched everything, which led me to learn all about every. single. part. of. a. book. And there were a lot more than I realized.

And of course, that includes the Author Bio.

So if all that makes sense, hopefully you'll come along with me as show you everything I've learned.

Also called “About the Author,” an author bio is:

A paragraph about you as a writer
Your credentials
Your interests
A call to action
Other relevant information you want to share with your target audience

An author biography is your chance to connect with readers beyond just a byline.

Everyone needs a stellar front cover design, an attention-grabbing book title , and a sophisticated keyword strategy . But those book marketing musts simply draw users to see your book’s product page.

A good author bio (and book reviews and book description ) compels them to actually buy the book.

The author bio establishes you as the kind of writer whom your target market ought to read. It’s where you forge a connection with potential readers and get them to trust you. Readers should want to know what you have to say based on your author bio.

If you take the author bio seriously and get it right, you’ll sell more books.

You should include your name, relevant accomplishments, and a call to action in your author’s bio. Aim for a bio of 60-90 words in length.

If your book is humorous, inject humor. If your book is melodramatic, add a little melodrama. Tailor your bio to your genre, target audience, and the individual book it’s for.

If possible, include links to your website or social media , so people can find out more about you.

Include a picture when possible. This picture should be a professional headshot of you smiling or looking serious, depending on your genre. Do not skimp on the headshot. An unprofessional author headshot screams low-quality content.

Yes, a good author bio is actually important because:

It builds credibility
It affirms whether what you have to say is worth reading
It tells your target audience that you have written a book for them
Readers may relate to your personal story
You will sell more books

“No one reads the author bio,” I hear you say. But you’re wrong. While not everyone cares about the author’s bio, some care a lot.

First of all, unless you’re a household name, you must build credibility with the reader. If a reader doesn’t think you’re credible, they will read your book with a cynical eye and judge every mistake they find. Or worse, they won’t buy your book in the first place.

Second of all, more than ever, consumers are buying books from writers they want to support. If someone learns more about and relates to the author, they are much more likely to buy.

Increase Your Book Marketing

See the Publisher Rocket effect, when you use the right keywords and categories to help get your book seen more on Amazon.

How to Write a Powerful Author Bio for Your Book

Here are 3 steps to write an awesome author bio (About the Author) and upload it onto Amazon:

Figure out your genre and target audience
Write the bio
Add the bio to your book page

How do you write a bio for a first-time author? First-time authors might not be able to include any literary accomplishments, like other best-selling books and prestigious awards. But first-time writers can include relevant expertise that pertains to your book. Also, any author can inject personality and a call to action, no matter if this is their first book.

Step 1 : Figure Out Your Genre and Target Audience

Answer these 2 crucial questions to understand your genre and target audience:

Your author bio needs to compliment the genre and subject matter of your book. Bios irrelevant to the book confuse potential readers.

While this may seem like obvious advice, a lot of irrelevant content finds its way into many author bios. Consider:

If your nightmare-inducing horror novel contains a perky and cheerful author description about your love for puppies and former career as a glassblower, you forfeit an opportunity to connect readers with your writing.
If your middle-grade comedy has an author bio that reads like a middle school textbook , your audience may be confused whether you’re able to write comedy.
If your book is a contemporary romance novel with a middle-aged female protagonist, your author bio’s personality and content should relate to the right target audience.
If you’re writing about tax-deduction strategies for real estate investors, your bio should present your expertise — why anyone should listen to you on the subject.
If your book is a spiritual guide to personal growth, some life-affirming positivity will improve your bio.

You need to think about your target reader. Hopefully, you had a type of reader in mind when writing the book . You always need to know who would want to buy and read your book.

Figure out your target reader, then write your author bio for that person.

For non-fiction authors, your ideal reader probably wants to read your credentials, your life experience, and what qualifies you to speak on a particular topic.

For fiction writers, your ideal reader may be looking for a unique, exciting personality to come out through the bio. You may briefly include credibility-building credentials, such as if you earned an MFA in Creative Writing.

In many cases, creating an “avatar” of your customer — with a name, location, and personality — is a valuable way to both develop your author bio and strategically target your book marketing efforts. Check out this guide on how to create a customer avatar.

Don’t add information “just in case” a different kind of reader might appreciate it. You end up with a behemoth of a bio that no one reads because it’s too daunting and unfocused.

Step 2 : Write the Bio

Now you need to write the actual words of the bio. Stick to this checklist on how to write an author bio:

Begin with a punchy, impactful first sentence.
Introduce your area of expertise or your unique personality, depending on the genre.
Build credibility without overly bragging.
Add a personal touch, such as a relatable profession or quirky hobby.
Finish on a call to action (check out the new book, follow you on social media, etc.).

While you’re writing, always ask yourself, “Is this relevant to my reader?”

Most readers won’t care where you were born (unless it’s a book about where you live), what high school you went to, or that you always wanted to become a full-time writer.

This isn’t to say that your bio should be impersonal. On the contrary! This is your opportunity to make readers feel like they know you. Your personality and/or expertise should make them want to read what you wrote.

Write in the third person. “About the author” demands the third person. While it may feel a bit weird to write “he” or “she” rather than “I” in the first person, there’s one significant benefit: Your relevant accomplishments and accolades will sound far less boastful.
Don’t brag too much . Don't go overboard showing off because everyone knows you wrote it. Even if the author bio is in the third person, state your achievements, but don’t become a braggart. Sprinkle in a bit of humility and modesty as well.
Keep your author bio short. The faster they can read about you, the faster they can buy your book. Aim for 60-90 words and don’t go above 150. It takes effort and practice to distill everything into such a short space. Once you’ve nailed it, you can fit a great deal of personality and information into those 60-90 words.
Use the bio like a business card . Give readers a way to interact with you by adding your website or social media info. At the very least, they’ll be able to find out more about you and explore your other works. Adding this info at the end is the most common call to action in author bios.

Step 3 : Add the Bio to Your Book Page

You can add your author bio to your Amazon book page by visiting Amazon Author Central , select your book, and add it in the “About the Author” section.

You can add the “About the Author” page into your back matter for a physical book. On most word processors like Scrivener or Vellum, you should be able to generate the author bio into your print-ready file.

But one really annoying bit about adding an author bio to most books is that you have to copy and paste it for every book. This gets cumbersome when you have ten books and need to make one tiny change in each of them.

Unfortunately, most programs like Vellum and Scrivener do not have a way to do “templates” where you update a single Author Bio page, and it gets updated across all your books.

But Atticus can.

In Atticus you can save as a template and then reuse that template wherever you want. And the best part is, if you change the template, it will change it for all your books. Check it out!

Here are some real-life author bios from Amazon or on a back cover that combine most or all of the tips above:

Forgotten Legacy : Robin Perini, the Publisher’s Weekly and internationally bestselling author of Forgotten Secrets, is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventures with a love story sure to melt their hearts. A RITA Award finalist and winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award in 2011, she is also a nationally acclaimed writing instructor. By day, she’s an analyst for an advanced technology corporation, but in honor of her mother, Robin has become a passionate advocate for those who battle Alzheimer’s disease. She loves to hear from readers. Visit her website at www.robinperini.com.

[Length: 97 words]

D a mn Delicious Meal Prep: 115 Easy Recipes for Low-Calories, High-Energy Living : Chungah Rhee is the founder, recipe developer, and photographer of Damn Delicious. What began as a grad school hobby is now a top food blog, with millions of readers coming to her site for easy weeknight recipes and simplified gourmet meals. She lives and continues to cook non-stop in Los Angeles, with her corgi, Butters. Her first cookbook was published in 2016 by Oxmoor House. Visit her at damndelicious.net.

[Length: 70 words]

Long Range Shooting Handbook: Complete Beginner's Guide to Long Range Shooting : “Ryan Cleckner served as a special operations sniper team leader with the U.S. Army's elite 1st Ranger Bn. on multiple combat deployments. He is a graduate of the premier Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), among other military training courses, and has taught snipers and police sharpshooters from around the world. Ryan has a series of online instructional videos known for their ability to explain complex topics in a simple and digestible way. Ryan is currently a firearms industry professional and an attorney.”

[Length: 83 words]

Diary of a Farting Creeper: Why Does the Creeper Fart When He Should Explode? (Volume 1) : Who is Wimpy Fart? Wimpy Fart loves Minecraft and writes awesome Minecraft books for YOU because you are the best Minecraft fans in the world. You can email Wimpy Fart to tell him about your favorite Minecraft books, or to talk about really loud farts. [email protected] Oh – Wimpy Fart reads all your awesome Amazon reviews and likes to know what you want to read about in Minecraft books!

[Length: 68 words]

Joanna Penn writes non-fiction books for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She’s a podcaster and an award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.

[Length: 49 words]

John Scalzi writes books, which, considering where you’re reading this, makes perfect sense. He’s best known for writing science fiction, including the New York Times bestseller Redshirts, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes non-fiction, on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film, was the Creative Consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series. He enjoys pie, as should all right thinking people. You can get to his blog by typing the word “Whatever” into Google. No, seriously, try it.

[Length: 85 words]

If you're looking for author bio perfection, Scalzi’s is as close as you're gonna find. His bio lends himself credibility, demonstrates his personality, and has one of the most unique calls to action you'll ever read. How many of you actually googled “whatever” just now?

Yes, you can hire a freelance writer or a ghostwriter to write your author bio to make sure it’s as amazing as it should be. Their creative writing know-how can produce a bio worthy of a good read and help you better connect with your audience if you’re having a hard time with the bio.

Hopefully, because you’re a writer, you’re able to follow the steps in this article to create your own bio. But in many cases, writing about yourself is more challenging than writing any other prose. (No shame, I promise!)

To write an author bio for your website, follow these 8 tips and tricks:

Determine what your book’s about, and tailor your bio to compliment the style and tone.
Determine your target audience, and tailor your bio to attract those specific readers.
Begin your bio with a punchy first sentence.
Build credibility by demonstrating your accomplishments, but don’t brag too much.
Add links to relevant interviews (on NPR or PBS, for example), news articles (ever been featured in The Wall Street Journal ?), and Amazon sales pages.
Finish with a call to action — perhaps a link to your sales page.
Make sure your word count is 60-90 words.
When you review it, take out all irrelevant words. Will your target audience care about each word? If not, take that word out.

On an author’s website , you can go into more detail, list more important works or achievements, and link to other pages on your website to find more info.

Also, an author website bio lends itself more to the first-person than a book page bio. Feel free to use first person or third person, as long as you stick to one or the other.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the following checklist provides a structure you can use as an author bio template:

Add a personal touch, such as a hobby or favorite TV show.
Finish on a call to action (check out the new book, follow on social media, etc.).

If you browse bestselling author bios, you'll notice they tend to follow this sequence.

The content and tone you include in your author bio will depend on several factors:

Content and tone of your book
Genre (or multiple genres)
Previous works
Previous achievements
Personal preference
Medium (eBook only, literary magazine, etc.)

In a print book, your author bio should go in the back matter of your book or on the dust jacket sleeve.

You should also place an author bio on your website that goes into a little more detail than the bio in your book.

For an eBook on Amazon, your author bio goes below the suggested books. Here are the headings that appear before the “About the Author” section:

You should update your “About the Author” page or individual author bios any time something significant changes in your life or career, especially honors and awards or when your next book comes out.

Publish a new book? Update all your old bios.

Win an award? Update all your old bios.

Featured on a famous talk show? You may want to update all your old bios.

Going through a divorce or other major family issues? If you mention your spouse or now-estranged children in your bio, you may want to change that. (I know that’s dark, but it happens and is worth considering.)

Earn a prestigious honor or academic position? You know what you should do.

I’ll show you mine…

In summary, the steps in this post take you through everything you need when writing your own author bio. Refer to them when you start writing – and you’ll have an engaging author bio that should easily sell more books.

My own author bio is listed just below for reference (and ridicule, if you like).

I don't have to tell you, I'm pretty much a techy goofball. Hopefully, my bio does a great job of conveying just that. Using humor and an upbeat tone, I want to let Kindlepreneur readers know exactly who I am as a content writer in 34 words.

Special thanks to John Scalzi for inspiring me to write this specific type of bio.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

Amazon advantage vs amazon seller central: sell your own print books, book idea validation mastery: is your book idea a bestseller, the 3 best courses on selling books direct to readers, sell more books on amazon, amazon kindle rankings e-book.

Learn how to rank your Kindle book #1 on Amazon with our collection of time-tested tips and tricks.

67 thoughts on “ How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates] ”

After one year locked at home because of COVID-19, I decided to have as much fun as I had when teaching at school. That’s how “A Modern Superhero” was born. I enjoy good food, that’s why I need to do some exercise. By the way, run to my social media for some free perks.

Should I or should I not say what my day job is? Yes it has and no it hasn’t to do with my books. As I am an architect, I have well-structured novels! Lol. But is that boring? As I am not a van driver or pizza delivery girl, why would it interest anyone. I don’t know what’s boring anymore. Please help! Thanks.

Depending on your niche or subject, not sure. I’ll guess that you’re writing some sort of fiction. If that is the case, a mention of something that is important to you is fine, but don’t drag it on and focus on it. If you’ve used levity in your writing, then you can say something like “Architect by day, crime novelist by night.”

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11 Good Author Bio Examples

It’s funny that one of the hardest things for some writers to write is a paragraph about themselves! Many writers—especially unpublished writers and first-time authors—aren’t sure how to write a short author bio or a longer introductory one. So today, I’m sharing what I think are some great author bio examples.

Sooner or later, we all have to write one. Some agents and editors ask for biographical information as part of a query or submission. Publishers usually ask their authors for them for their website and the back of the book. Most authors want to set up profiles on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub, and some writers want a short author bio for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media accounts. And when writers set up a website, an “about the author” paragraph or statement is often front and center.

(By the way, if you’re interested in setting up a website, be sure to check out my post on author website examples !)

I’m including author bio examples from several different kinds of writers here. A couple of them haven’t yet published anything yet. The right approach for you will depend on your goals, your personality, where you are on your writing journey, and where the biographical information will appear, so I’ve tried to include several approaches.

If you’ve ever been intimidated by author bios that are basically a long list of publishing credentials and awards, let me share a little secret. Readers may not connect with those bios as much as they connect with yours! Serious and academic authors often have professional reasons to have author bios that function as resumes. However…

Readers respond to honesty, simplicity, originality, and sometimes, a sense of humor.

I do think it helps to have some personal information in an author bio, but don’t share anything about your personal life that you don’t feel 100% comfortable putting out there.

12 Great Author Bio Examples | woman typing on laptop

But first, let’s talk about:

How Long Should an Author Bio Be?

Short author bios are very versatile. In my day job in publishing, when I ask authors for bios, I ask for 100 words or less . This ensures some consistency on our publisher website and in our “About the Author” pages, plus the shorter length also forces a person to make some smart decisions and keeps them from rambling. This means the bio will probably make a better impression. I think it’s a great length for the inside of a book.

If you’re writing an “About Me” on your blog or website, however, it may be quite a bit longer! It can become more of an introductory blog post…and it can serve other purposes as well (as you’ll see in a couple of the examples below.)

I’ll note the word count on all of the examples below so you get a feel for length!

Author Bio Examples

1. an unpublished middle grade author bio.

This first one is a Twitter bio, and I should note here that the author, Liz Hanson, has rewritten her name on Twitter to “Liz Hanson is querying her MG novel in verse.” This is so smart: if she participates in Twitter pitch events or if an agent looks her up on Twitter, she looks serious about her writing career.

Her short Twitter bio continues that same impression.

Inspired by young minds and wise words. ELD teacher, mother, MG writer. Member of SCBWI. (15 words)

SCBWI is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and being part of a professional organization suggests that you’re taking the time to learn all about a writing career and the industry.

2. A Bestselling Fantasy Author Bio

Emily R. King shares her favorite snack and her interest in wildlife (I think?) in her bio.

Emily R. King is the author of the Hundredth Queen series, as well as Before the Broken Star, Into the Hourglass, and Everafter Song in the Evermore Chronicles. Born in Canada and raised in the United States, she is a shark advocate, a consumer of gummy bears, and an islander at heart, but her greatest interests are her children and their three cats. (63 words)

3. A Bio From an Author Who Writes In More Than One Genre

Multiple pen names aren’t unusual for authors, and Patricia Sargaent has three of them because she writes in different genres. I work with her as Olivia Matthews (cozy mystery), and I didn’t realize for quite a while that I had enjoyed one of her books that she published as Regina Hart!

This can be tricky to wrangle in a website presence. Patricia has one author bio to cover all of them. Notice that the bio is doing much more than just introducing her: it’s also inviting you to follow her on social media, hire her as a speaker or teacher, and sign up for her newsletter. Many authors use the “about me” section on their website to do this, and it’s smart.

Patricia Sargeant is the national best-selling, award-winning author of more than 20 novels. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews. She’s also been interviewed on podcasts including Destination Mystery with Laura Brennan, Conversations LIVE! with Cyrus Webb, Read You Later with Lasheera Lee and Katara’s Café with Katara Johnson.

Patricia has been a keynote speaker and presenter at various events. She’s conducted numerous writing craft workshops for writers groups and book conferences, and offers online fiction writing courses. Visit her The Write Spot website for details. To contact Patricia about attending your event, email her at [email protected].

Patricia loves to hear from readers. You can email her at [email protected] Other ways to stay in touch with Patricia: Enewsletter Facebook Twitter YouTube channel: BooksByPatricia

Click here to watch her author brand video. (151 words)

4. A Self-Published Romance Author Bio

Lucy Score is an exceptionally successful self-published romance author. Her bio on her website focuses on her personal background and her development as a writer.

Lucy grew up in rural Pennsylvania with a lot of time on her hands and a big imagination. She was the oldest of three in a literary household. Dinners were often spent in silence while family members had their noses buried in books. A passion for writing took hold at five when she taught her brother to write his name on the bathroom door.

She started writing (on paper) in the second grade, first about pilgrims on the Mayflower and over the years graduated to essays, articles, blogs, and finally books.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Lucy pretended to be a normal adult by holding down jobs that included event planner, bartender, newspaper lackey, and yoga instructor.

Lucy and Mr. Lucy, enjoy spending time with their ten nieces and nephews and are determined to learn to sail so they can live on a sailboat in the Caribbean someday. (148 words)

5. A Bio of an Unpublished Author Who Also Offers Other Services

Joanne Machin does other things besides write, and that’s true of a lot of writers. (Lots of them are also visual artists, for instance!) You can definitely combine the two in a bio for a website. Here’s how Joanne handled it in her sassy, fun, but informational author bio.

Joanne Machin is an author of flirty, nerdy, feminist contemporary adult #ownvoices romance. She also runs her own business as a freelance editor and virtual assistant for other business owners. In her free time, she likes to find new coffee shops and restaurants, obsess over stationery and all things planner-related, read, practice hot yoga, and play video games. Joanne Machin resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Thomas, and their Welsh terrier, Oliver. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Washington . (89 words)

6. A Bestselling Young Adult Author Bio

Adam Silvera’s bio is short and focuses on his publications, but he throws in something at the end to make you smile.

Adam Silvera is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END, MORE HAPPY THAN NOT, HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME, INFINITY SON and INFINITY REAPER. He has also co-written WHAT IF IT’S US and HERE’S TO US with Becky Albertalli. He was born and raised in the Bronx and now lives in Los Angeles. He is tall for no reason. (67 words)

7. A Bestselling Children’s Author Bio

Adam Wallace writes this short bio in the first person, which is unusual and feels more friendly—as if he’s personally introducing himself to you. Again, there’s a bit of humor, and the bio also explains what he hopes to do for his readers. Authors of books for adults can do this, too! I personally think that if you’ve hit the NYT and the USA Today , saying you’re also an Amazon bestselling author is a bit beside the point, but it’s no big deal!

I am a New York Times , Amazon and USA Today bestselling author who loves writing stories that make children laugh and get excited about reading and drawing and writing. I also love taking naps and listening to music. Not at the same time. (43 words)

8. A Bestselling Romance Author Bio

H elen Hoang has a really endearing “about the author.” Notice that she also uses the bio to establish that she brought personal experience to the writing of her breakout mega-bestseller, The Kiss Quotient , which features a heroine on the autism spectrum.

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT. She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish. (76 words)

9. Social Media Author Bio With One-Word Sentences.

Delaney Williams packs a whole lot of information into a short Twitter bio using one-word sentences. She also conveys a certain attitude by adding “a mother****ing Unicorn” after her name. I’m actually not sure what SUP stands for, but I think this is a really effective approach for a social media site.

Author. Advocate. Artist. BLM. Pan. Wife. Mom. SUP. Kiowa. Story collector. Book lover. Tattoo fiend. Feminist hippie, ME/MS, cancer survivor, she/they. (21 words)

10. A Self-Published Author Bio That Uses Bullet Points

Christopher Lentz ‘s bio on his website is very long, which is fine, because it’s his website! What’s the point of having a website or blog if you don’t get to write whatever you want there?

What I find interesting is his use of bullet points in a bio. I hadn’t seen anyone else do this, and I’m stealing the idea from him, so credit where credit is due. I also love the opening sentence!

A man who writes romances, a self-starter who self-publishes and a dreamer who thinks growing old should take longer.

Christopher Lentz is the acclaimed author of Opening Doors (biography, 2019), My Friend Marilyn (historica l fiction, 2018) and The Blossom Trilogy (historical romance). His books are about hope, second chances and outcasts overcoming obstacles. But most of all, they’re about how love changes everything. Lentz made his mark as a corporate-marketing executive before becoming a full-time storyteller.

When asked to offer a dozen things people should know about him, Lentz says he:

Is an author who gave Marilyn Monroe a second chance
Kissed the love of his life atop the Eiffel Tower
Lives in a haunted Victorian house
Earned a paycheck dressing up as Winnie the Pooh at Disneyland
Stands in awe of lightening, thunder and his wife’s from-scratch chocolate cake
Was born on the 6th of July, but he’s a firecracker just the same
Loves a book that reads like a movie
Climbed the Great Wall of China…yes, climbed, one does not just walk on it
Snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef
Firmly believes it isn’t hoarding if your stuff’s cool
Survived acupuncture, cupping (which is nothing like spooning) and a spinal tap
Discovered that life’s second chapter is the sweetest

He resides in Southern California with his high-school-sweetheart wife and family. To learn more, please visit www.blossomtrilogy.com. (227 words)

11. An Unpublished YA Fantasy Writer Bio

Mia K Rose has another example with bullet points! She notes her pronouns, Myers-Briggs type, and zodiac sign under “Classifications,” which I think is fun, even if you believe in neither! (Personally, I kind of get into both.)

Mia K Rose is a statistics and data analyst who lives in Gold Coast and, though the job may be analytical, loves the realms of fantasy. She is a member of SCBWI, QWC and Brisbane Writer’s Festival. Mia has a degree in Masters of Letters (Creative Writing) from CQUniversity.

Classifications:

She/Her (54 words)

Do you struggle with writing an author bio? Do you have questions about it? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

And if you’d like to share your own author bio in the comments section and link to your author page on Amazon or your website, go for it. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

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How To Write An Author Bio (With Examples And Templates)

So you've written a book or started a blog and now need to craft an author bio to help readers get to know you. An author bio is one of the most important parts of establishing your writing platform, but it can also be one of the hardest to write. How do you condense your life's story and writing experience into a few short paragraphs? How do you make yourself sound accomplished yet approachable?

Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll walk you through how to write an engaging author bio from scratch. We'll provide examples and templates to get you started, tips for choosing the right tone and perspective, and advice for including the key details that help connect you to your readers. By the end, you'll have all the tools you need to craft an author bio you can be proud to share. Writing about yourself doesn't have to be awkward or intimidating. With the right mindset and approach, you can make it fun and help your unique author voice shine through.

What Is an Author Bio and Why Is It Important?

An author bio is a short biography of yourself that accompanies your written work. Whether you're publishing a book, starting a blog, or pitching to media, an author bio helps establish your credibility and connect with your audience.

As an author, your bio is one of the first things people will read to get a sense of who you are. It should highlight your relevant experience, accomplishments, and qualifications in an authentic yet compelling way.

An author bio is an important part of your platform as a writer. It helps build credibility with your readers and establishes you as an authority in your niche. Keep your bio concise yet compelling, focusing on your most significant accomplishments and credentials. Use an authentic and friendly tone to connect with your audience on a personal level. Update your bio regularly to keep it current. With a strong author bio, you'll make a great first impression on anyone who reads your work.

Elements to Include in Your Author Bio

An author bio allows readers to quickly glimpse who you are and your background. The elements you include can help establish your credibility and connect with your audience. Here are some of the key things you’ll want to incorporate into your author bio:

1. Your name

Include your full name so readers know exactly who you are. You can also include any credentials or titles you may have. For example, “John Doe, Ph.D.”

2. A brief bio

Give readers a short 1-2 sentence bio summing up who you are and what you do. For example, “John Doe is a freelance writer and marketing consultant.” Keep this high level without too many details.

3. Your areas of expertise

Mention 1-3 areas you have expertise or experience in. For example, “John Doe specializes in content marketing, email marketing, and social media strategy.” This helps establish your credibility and lets readers know what topics you can knowledgeably write about.

4. A personal detail

Adding a personal detail or fun fact can help humanize you and connect with readers. But keep it light and avoid anything too controversial. For example, “When he's not writing, John enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.”

5. Social media links

If you have social media profiles related to your writing or area of expertise, include links to them in your bio. For example:

Twitter: @johndoe

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe

An author bio is a key part of your online presence as a writer. Keep it concise yet compelling, highlight your experience and expertise, and make a personal connection with readers. Follow these tips and you'll be crafting an author bio that represents you well in no time!

How to Write an Author Bio in 5 Easy Steps

Writing an author bio is an important way to connect with your readers and build your credibility as a writer. Here are five easy steps to craft an engaging author bio:

Step #1 Choose a Style and Perspective

Decide if you want to write your bio in first or third person. First person (“I have been writing for 10 years”) tends to be more personal while third person (“John Doe has been writing for 10 years”) sounds more professional. Think about your audience and writing style to determine which perspective fits best.

Step #2 Share Some Background

Give the reader a sense of your background and qualifications. Mention your areas of expertise, degrees or certifications, and years of experience. Keep this high-level without too many specific details. For example, “Jane Doe has over 20 years of experience as a content writer and has developed expertise in health and wellness topics.”

Step #3 Discuss Your Writing

Talk about your writing experience, style, and any publications or accomplishments. For example, “John Doe has published over 200 articles on Medium covering a range of productivity and lifestyle topics. His writing is known for its simple yet engaging style and actionable advice.” You can also mention any awards or recognition you’ve received.

Step #4 Share Some Personal Interests (Optional)

Include some of your personal interests and pursuits to give readers a more well-rounded sense of who you are. For example, “When not writing, Jane enjoys yoga, cooking, and spending time with family.” This part of the bio is optional but helps to humanize you and build a personal connection with readers.

Step #5 Review and Refine

Read through your draft bio and look for any areas that could be improved. Get feedback from others as well. Refine and edit your bio to ensure the tone and content are aligned with your brand and goals. Keep your bio to 2-3 short paragraphs for the best results.

With these steps, you'll be able to craft an author bio that highlights your experience, expertise, and personality. Your bio is a key part of your online presence as an author, so take the time to get it right!

Dos and Don'ts for Your Author Bio

When crafting your author bio, there are a few dos and don'ts to keep in mind:

Do keep it short and sweet. Your bio should be 3 to 4 sentences at most. Any longer and readers may lose interest. Stick to the essentials about your background and experience.
Do focus on your credentials and qualifications. Mention any relevant degrees, certifications or areas of expertise that make you an authority on your subject matter. For example, “John Doe has a PhD in Psychology from Harvard University and over 10 years of experience as a practicing therapist.”
Do include a fun fact. Adding an interesting personal detail helps to humanize you and build a connection with readers. For instance, “When he’s not writing, John enjoys hiking with his two dogs and learning to cook Indian cuisine.”
Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent yourself. Be authentic and honest. Lying or stretching the truth will only damage your credibility and reputation in the long run.
Don’t get too personal. While a fun fact is fine, avoid oversharing details about your family life, health issues, religious views or other topics that don’t relate directly to your work. Your bio should maintain a sense of professionalism.
Don’t use clichés or meaningless adjectives. Phrases like “passion for writing” or “expert communicator” are overused and ineffective. Show your expertise through concrete facts and examples instead.

Author Bio Examples

Writing an engaging author bio can be challenging. Here are 10 examples to model your own after:

1. The Humble Expert

"John Smith has over 20 years of experience as a business consultant. He has helped over 500 companies improve efficiency and increase profits. Outside of work, John enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family."

This bio highlights the author's experience and expertise while remaining humble and personable. The details about hobbies and family make him relatable.

2. The Aspiring Authority

"Jane Doe is the founder of ABC Company and an aspiring authority on leadership and management. She frequently blogs and speaks on topics like improving company culture, effective communication, and the habits of high-performance teams."

This bio establishes the author as an aspiring expert in her field who is actively working to build her authority through content creation and public speaking.

3. The Lifelong Learner

"Mike Johnson has been a lifelong learner and educator. He has degrees in Psychology, Education, and Leadership. Mike has spent over 15 years teaching personal development skills to students around the world. He writes to share the life lessons and wisdom gained from his diverse experiences, adventures, failures, and continued learning."

This bio highlights the author's passion for continuous self-improvement and sharing knowledge with others. The tone is inspiring and reflective.

4. The Relatable Role Model

"Sara Williams is a mother of three, marathon runner, and health coach. She knows firsthand the challenges of balancing family, fitness, and a career. Through her writing and coaching, Sara aims to motivate and inspire women to pursue their goals and dreams despite obstacles or setbacks."

This bio establishes the author as a relatable role model for readers by highlighting shared life experiences and values. The uplifting and empowering tone is appealing.

5. The Quirky Character

"When Jack isn't writing or daydreaming up his next story, he enjoys woodworking, stargazing, and birdwatching—though not usually at the same time. Jack lives with his wife, two kids, and an energetic border collie in the Pacific Northwest. He likes pizza, craft beer, and all things retro."

This playful bio gives readers a glimpse into the author's quirky personality and varied interests with personable details. The lighthearted and humorous tone creates an instant connection with readers.

6. The Multifaceted Creative

"Emily Clark is a true creative at heart, with a passion for photography, painting, and writing. Her artistic endeavors serve as a means of self-expression and allow her to explore the world through different mediums. Emily's work often captures the beauty of everyday life, showcasing the extraordinary in the ordinary."

This bio introduces Emily as a versatile artist who finds inspiration in various forms of creativity. Her ability to capture the essence of everyday moments and transform them into art is a testament to her unique perspective and talent.

7. The Globetrotting Explorer

"Alex Rodriguez is an avid traveler and adventurer, always seeking new experiences and connections around the globe. From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to diving in the Great Barrier Reef, Alex's wanderlust has taken him to breathtaking destinations. Through his writing, he shares captivating stories and insights gained from his journeys."

This bio showcases Alex as an intrepid explorer who embraces the thrill of discovering new cultures and landscapes. His travel experiences enrich his storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into the wonders of the world.

8. The Tech Guru

"Sarah Thompson is a tech enthusiast and expert, passionate about the latest advancements and their impact on society. With a background in computer science, Sarah has a deep understanding of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain. Through her writing, she simplifies complex concepts, making them accessible to readers of all backgrounds."

This bio positions Sarah as a knowledgeable authority in the ever-evolving world of technology. Her ability to bridge the gap between technical jargon and everyday readers makes her an invaluable resource for those seeking clarity in the digital age.

9. The Advocate for Change

"Michael Nguyen is a dedicated advocate for social justice and equality. Through his writing, he sheds light on pressing issues such as racial discrimination, gender inequality, and environmental sustainability. Michael's powerful words aim to inspire individuals to take action and create a more just and inclusive world."

This bio highlights Michael's commitment to raising awareness and driving positive change. His passion for justice resonates throughout his writing, empowering readers to become agents of transformation in their communities.

10. The Historical Storyteller

"Elizabeth Turner is a captivating historical storyteller, bringing the past to life with her vivid narratives and meticulous research. With a passion for uncovering forgotten tales and exploring different eras, Elizabeth transports readers to bygone worlds, immersing them in the rich tapestry of history."

This bio paints Elizabeth as a masterful weaver of stories, skillfully intertwining facts with imagination to create a mesmerizing journey through time. Her unwavering dedication to historical accuracy ensures that readers not only enjoy her narratives but also gain a deeper understanding of the past.

Author Bio Templates

Whether you're publishing a book or starting a blog, an author bio is an important way to connect with your readers and build your credibility as a writer. The good news is, author bios follow a pretty standard template you can use to craft your own.

Here are some examples to get you started:

Short Bio (50-100 words)

Use this for a quick intro on your blog, social media profiles, or the back of your book:

[Your name] is a [your profession] and [other relevant info, e.g. award or accomplishment]. [He/She] lives in [location] with [his/her] [family member(s)]. [His/Her] [hobby or interest] include [activity 1], [activity 2], and [activity 3].

Medium Bio (100-150 words)

This provides a high-level overview of your background and credentials:

[Your name] is a [your profession] and [other relevant info, e.g. award or accomplishment]. [He/She] has over [X] years of experience [in your field or relevant experience]. [His/Her] work has appeared in [publications or media outlets].
Outside of work, [he/she] enjoys [hobby 1], [hobby 2], and [hobby 3]. [He/She] lives in [location] with [his/her] [family members]. [His/Her] latest [project or work] is [book title or blog name].

Longer Bio (200-500 words)

Use this on your website or in proposals to give readers a comprehensive sense of your experience and qualifications:

[Your name] is a [your profession] and [other relevant info, e.g. award or accomplishment] with over [X] years of experience. [He/She] is passionate about [your work or area of expertise] because [reasons and motivations].
[His/Her] work has appeared in [publications or media outlets]. [He/She] has written [X] books including [book title 1], [book title 2], and [book title 3]. [His/Her] latest [project or work] is [book title or blog name].
Outside of work, [he/she] enjoys [hobby 1], [hobby 2], and [hobby 3]. [He/She] lives in [location] with [his/her] [family members].

Using these templates, you can craft an author bio that gives readers a well-rounded sense of who you are and builds your credibility.

Use Hypotenuse AI to Write Your First Author Bio

You've come this far, so why not take it all the way? Writing your author bio doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. Using a tool like Hypotenuse AI can help make the process fast and painless.

Hypotenuse AI is designed specifically to help authors craft compelling author bios . All you have to do is provide some basic details about yourself and your writing, and the AI will generate a draft bio for you. You can then easily review and revise the draft to ensure it captures your unique voice and story. Give it a try and let artificial intelligence help craft your compelling author bio!

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8 Great Author Bio Examples, Analyzed

There’s some awkwardness in composing an author bio, whether you’re an established author or a debut novelist. Its purpose is to concisely share any relevant qualifications or accolades you have, and perhaps show some personality if you feel like it and it’s genre-appropriate. The bio isn’t likely to be the deciding factor when it comes to someone choosing to buy a copy of your book (though it certainly matters more in nonfiction than fiction, where some level of expertise is expected), but it’s very much worth taking the time to write one thoughtfully, even if drawing attention to yourself makes you uncomfortable.

Since there isn’t a single right way to write a great author bio, I've collected 8 case studies that showcase the range you can work within.

1. Ruth Ozeki

“Ruth Ozeki is a novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest. She is the author of three novels: My Year of Meats, All Over Creation and A Tale for the Time Being, which was shortlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize and translated into 28 languages. She has also written a short memoir, The Face: A Time Code. She is affiliated with the Everyday Zen Foundation and lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she teaches creative writing at Smith College and is the Grace Jarcho Ross 1933 Professor of Humanities.”

At this point in her career, Ozeki is a widely recognized writer, so her bio is less about ‘proving’ herself, and more about giving readers a sense of who she is and where her interests lie. She identifies as a filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest, which reflects some of her passions, and prepares readers for the heartwarming, thoughtful storytelling they can find in her work.

2. Jessica Andrews

“Jessica Andrews writes fiction. Her debut novel, Saltwater, was published in 2019 and won the Portico Prize in 2020 and her second novel, Milk Teeth, was published in 2022. She is a Contributing Editor for ELLE magazine and she writes for the Guardian, the Independent, BBC Radio 4 and Stylist, among others. She was nominated for the ELLE List in 2020 and shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction Futures in 2022. She co-runs literary and arts magazine, The Grapevine, and co-presents literary podcast, Tender Buttons. She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at City University, London.”

Jessica Andrews is still at the start of a promising literary career, having very recently published two novels. The range of activities she lists in her bio show a writer who’s keeping busy, relevant in the media, and quickly gathering esteem in the literary community. Experience teaching creative writing is always a persuasive note to end on — if young writers are learning the ropes of the craft with your help, that’s something that will make your readers trust your work more.

3. Gretchen McCulloch

“Gretchen McCulloch is an internet linguist and the author of Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language. She is the Resident Linguist at Wired and the co-creator of Lingthusiasm, a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics. She lives in Montreal, but also on the internet.”

This nonfiction bio keeps it simple: the author is a linguist whose life is all about linguistics: it’s her job, as well as her hobby podcast. With the short but intriguing note at the end (“She lives in Montreal, but also on the internet.”) McCulloch succinctly hints at the playfulness and sense of humor that pervades her writing about linguistics, efficiently giving readers an idea of what her writing is like.

4. Bryan Washington

“Bryan Washington is a writer from Houston. His fiction and essays have appeared in, among other publications, the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, the BBC, Vulture and the Paris Review. He's also a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 winner, the recipient of an Ernest J. Gaines Award, a PEN/Robert W. Bingham prize finalist, a National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize finalist, the recipient of an O. Henry Award and the winner of the 2020 International Dylan Thomas Prize.”

This example shows how little showmanship is required when you’ve got enough accolades to pack your bio. Washington sticks to the facts, which speak for themselves. He’s been published in every writer’s dream publications , and won a series of jaw-dropping awards. There’s really no need for him to try and do anything else in this bio. He’s also writing literary fiction, the genre where prestige is most important, so this summary of his career is ready to impress any intrigued lit fic readers.

5. Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

“Ayanna Lloyd Banwo is a writer from Trinidad & Tobago. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she is now a Creative and Critical Writing PhD candidate. Her work has been published in Moko Magazine, Small Axe and PREE, among others, and shortlisted for Small Axe Literary Competition and the Wasafiri New Writing Prize. When We Were Birds is her first novel; she is now working on her second. Ayanna lives with her husband in London.”

Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s bio opens by stating where she’s from, namely Trinidad and Tobago. This isn’t obligatory for all non-US or UK authors at all, but it often feels like an important thing to say if your cultural background is important to you or your work (I do it too). Beyond that, she mentions her education, showing her longtime engagement with literary work. This is a common thing to mention for young or debut authors who haven’t yet amassed award nominations, and in this case it clearly signals that Lloyd Banwo has a strong educational background, a growing publication record, and much promise for the future.

6. Rainbow Rowell

“Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff. Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL). Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY). Recently, she's been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.”

It’s interesting to see how genre affects bios — in more commercial genres, there’s more room for authors to be informal and playful in the way they describe themselves. Here, Rainbow Rowell humorously summarizes her wide range of interests in a friendly, chatty way that appeals best to the readers of her work, be they adult readers of romance, teenage or young adult readers of YA romance or fantasy, or comic fans. She’s clearly keeping busy, and any reader of her bio knows to expect energetic, irreverent writing.

7. Elizabeth Lilly

“Elizabeth Lilly is an author-illustrator, animator, and graphic designer. Elizabeth was a reading, doodling daydreamer in high school, and, unsure of her path, went to architecture school at Virginia Tech for college. Elizabeth graduated from college in May of 2014. She now makes her stories in a little old house in the little old city of Baltimore, Maryland. Geraldine is her debut picture book.”

Speaking of playful genres, children’s books are definitely the part of the literary world where whimsical bios are most tolerated (and encouraged). Here, personality matters more than accolades, as Elizabeth Lilly’s bio shows. Lilly quickly paints a picture of her character: a reader, daydreamer, a human being finding her path. In other words, very much the imaginative and playful company you might like your child to be in, if you’re going to read a picture book together. The “little old house in the little old city of Baltimore” detail captures a sense of what her work for children will feel like: cute, warm, and welcoming.

8. Chris Power

“Chris Power is the author of A Lonely Man and Mothers, which was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. He lives in London.”

This example is a reminder that bios don’t need to be paragraph-long overtures to your personal accomplishments. If you feel more comfortable keeping your bio as short as possible, that’s absolutely fine — the only two ‘compulsory’ elements are any previously published books, and if you have them, at least one award nomination or win. That’s, essentially, what a bio boils down to: past publications and social validation. If taciturn is more your style, an author bio like Chris Power’s will do the job just fine.

This is a small sample, but on book jackets out there, you’ll find an even greater variety. For inspiration, look for bios in the same genre and career stage as you, but try not to obsess about bios if you can help it. It’s worthwhile trying to write one thoughtfully, but it’s not important enough to warrant an existential crisis!

Kleopatra Olympiou is a writer of literary fiction from Cyprus, and holds an MA in Creative Writing from Durham University. She’s previously written for Electric Literature, LitReactor, and Reedsy’s blog.

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Meet the Teaching Artist: The Secret Formula to Writing Nonfiction Stories that Sell with Jon Small

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How to Write an Author Bio (Examples Included)

You’ve written a book that’s about to be published or an article that’s going live online. Congratulations!

But although this is a big accomplishment, your job isn’t done: You also need to write a short author biography — otherwise known as an author bio– so your readers can get to know you.

An author bio shares relevant information about your education and experience. This proves your credibility, showing that you know what you’re talking about. It also allows your readers to connect with you as a person.

Crafting your own bio can sometimes be a difficult task. These author biographies need to be short, yet engaging, so it can be hard to know what to include. After all, your bio may be one of the first things potential readers see when they pick up and open your book.

This blog post breaks down how to write an author bio and what to say in your short bio to connect best with your readers.

Author Bios: What They Include and Why to Write One

An author bio is a short paragraph that shares information about you, such as your education, your experience, and your personal life. Author bios are usually placed next to a professional photo or headshot of the author to further help humanize you, the writer.

While there’s no set word count on a bio, you’ll want to keep things short — think a paragraph or two.

The goal of an author bio is to provide a brief background about you, the author, and to show why you were qualified to write your book or article in order.

Essentially, an engaging author bio gives you credibility with your readers and allows you to connect with potential readers so you can encourage them to read more of your work.

For example, when you describe your past education, work experience, and skills in your author bio, you’re proving that you know what you’re talking about and that you are an expert in your field.

Another benefit of a well-written, short bio is that it humanizes you. Your bio should add personality and communicate to your readers who you are as a person.

For example, your author bio may include a sentence about how many books you’ve written in the past. Then, you may add another sentence about why you began writing in the first place.

Finally, you might share a bit about your family, passions outside of writing, and any formal education, awards, or certifications you’ve achieved in your writing career, like once being named a New York Times Bestselling Author.

You don’t have to be a master of creative writing to craft a well-written bio. The goal of your author bio should simply be to convince readers that you’re more than just an author or some faceless person who wrote an online article — you’re a person.

Who Needs an Author Bio?

The short answer: Every writer!

You might think author bios are only for authors — people who write novels or nonfiction books.

Whether you’ve written ten books or this is your first novel or piece of written work, you should at least have a generic bio that explains to your prospective readers a little more about who you are.

But the truth is, you don’t have to be a bestselling author to have a well-written author bio. Almost everyone who wants to publish their writing will need an author bio at some point.

This is true if you write blog posts, poetry, science fiction, short stories, thought leadership articles, or just about anything else.

There are only a couple of exceptions to this rule. The first is ghostwriting . As the name suggests, ghostwriters are anonymous writers who don’t get credit for their work.

A ghostwriter writes a work for the author. The author’s name is the only one on the cover of the book even though they didn’t actually write it.

If you are a ghostwriter, you won’t get your own author bio.

Second, some writers may want to remain anonymous, using a pen name or no name at all.

You might choose to use a pseudonym if you don’t want your boss at your day job to know about your writing, if you’re writing something controversial, or if your name is common and there are other authors out there with the same name.

If you use a pen name, you may or may not have an author bio. That choice is up to you.

When To Write Your Author Bio

You should write your author bio after you write the meat of your book. It can take a long time to write a book — months or even years.

The information that you’ll put in your author bio (such as your career details or where you live) could change during that time.

So don’t write your author bio too soon.

This is something you can leave until the end of the process of publishing a book.

However, if you’re feeling stuck with your book and you need to focus on something else, this could also be a good time to write your author bio.

It can be more inspiration and helpful to flex your writing muscles with something different.

Then you can jump back into your book or another writing project with a fresh perspective.

How to Write an Author Bio

Many people hate talking about themselves and find author bios difficult to write. Sometimes we also struggle with bios because they’re so short.

Often, the shorter something is, the harder we think it is to write. For instance, how long did it take you to write your book title ?

Because of this, some authors outsource the writing of their bio to a freelance writer or work with a creative consultant so they can focus on their book sales and complete the publishing process.

However, self-publishing authors and those who prefer to control the writing process don’t necessarily need a freelance writer to whip up a killer author bio.

If you know the general formula for how to use your best writing and craft a full bio, creating your own bio isn’t as daunting of a task as you may think. Take a look at these tips to help you write a good author bio.

Write in the Third Person

Typically, author bios are written in the third person, not the first person, point of view. You want your bio to sound like someone else wrote it about you.

Don’t use “I” — just use your name and last name. For example, instead of saying:

“I’m an author and I live in Chicago, Illinois.”

“John Doe is an author who lives in Chicago, Illinois.”

Writing your author bio in the third person sounds more professional and authoritative to most readers.

Third-person can sometimes run the risk of sounding impersonal, but you can avoid this by adding a brief detail about your life experience at the end.

Explain Your Credentials

What qualifies you to write this book or article?

Your author bio is the place to explain. Whether you have special skills, work experience, or professional certifications, here is where you’ll include them.

Don’t talk about what you would like to do in the future; this is a waste of space and doesn’t help establish credibility. Instead, talk about what you already have done.

If your educational experience is relevant to the subject matter you’re writing on, mention your degree(s) in your bio.

If you don’t have any degrees or the degrees are in a completely different field, don’t add them — save that space for something else.

You should also mention any recognition you’ve received. What awards have you won? Have you been recognized for your fiction writing anywhere?

Sharing your writing accomplishments lets your target audience know they can trust your writing skills. Adding things like if you are a Wall Street Journal or New York Times Bestseller, have won any national magazine awards, or even achieved your bachelor’s degree in some form of writing field are all great accomplishments to list in your bio.

Here’s an example of the first sentence in an author bio that explains the author’s credibility to help you understand how to write your own credibility into your bio.

“John Doe has a master’s degree in history and 15 years of experience working as an archivist. His first book, A History of Modern Japan , won a prestigious reader’s choice award.”

List Your Other Work

In addition to your work history, awards, and credentials, list a few other well-known works you’ve written

Think of this as in-book marketing or free space to share more ways for the readers to find your work.

Someone may even read your author bio and realize they’ve already read your other work, creating a feeling of trust.

If your author bio is being published online, you can include hyperlinks to your author website or to any online stores where people can publish your other books.

If you don’t have any other work to include, that’s okay. Skip this part and focus more on other parts of your bio, such as your education or any relevant experience.

On the flip side, if you have a lot of other work, don’t list everything you’ve ever published — stick to just a few of the ones that are most impressive, most relevant, or most recent.

Get Personal

When written correctly, your author bio has the potential to help you connect to readers on a deeper level.

Don’t stop with a dry list of your degrees or past positions — add some personal details to help your readers get to know you.

For example, where do you live? Do you have a spouse, children, or a pet? What hobbies do you enjoy when you aren’t working or writing?

These are simple details, but sharing a glimpse into your life experience goes a long way in helping readers remember that you’re human, too. This could sound something like this:

“John Doe lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife and three children. He enjoys playing tennis and going on bike rides with his dog.”

Don’t mention any topics that could be divisive. Stick to hobbies that are pure fun — nothing that involves controversial topics or reflects your political views (that is, unless you’re a politician writing a political book).

Keep It Short

Your author bio needs to be short. People have already spent a good chunk of their time reading your book or your article.

They aren’t going to read a long author bio, too. The shorter your author’s bio, the higher the chance that people will actually read it.

The ideal length for an author bio is around 50-100 words. This is about 3-5 sentences.

Consider dedicating one sentence to your education and experience, another sentence to your other published work, and the final sentence to your personal life.

Be Willing to Tweak

Your author bio will change over time. As you continue publishing new writing and advancing your career, you’ll have more published works, on-the-job experience, and awards to add to your bio.

That said, make sure you aren’t married to the final version of your author bio — be willing to tweak it in the future as needed.

Your author bio also might need to sound a little different for different platforms. Many publishers and websites have guidelines for how long an author bio should be and what it should include.

Even if you’re free to write whatever you wish, you may want to highlight certain parts of your experience or overlook others.

For instance, maybe John Doe felt his experience working as an archivist in London wasn’t important enough to include in his main author bio. But for a publication that circulates in the United Kingdom, it would be the perfect detail to add in.

At the end of the day, your goal is to come up with an author bio that you can use as a template.

Save this general author bio and use it to work off of any time you have a new piece of writing published. In the future, you won’t have to start from scratch — you can simply use this predefined template and add or subtract information as necessary.

Your base author bio might sound something like this:

“John Doe has a master’s degree in history and 15 years of experience working as an archivist in London. His first book, A History of Modern Japan , won a prestigious reader’s choice award. John currently lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife and three children, where enjoys playing tennis and going on bike rides with his dog.”

Examples of Engaging Author Bios

Here are a few different examples of author bios found on Amazon:

Brian Tracy

Helps individuals and businesses achieve goals through his expertise gained from consulting for over 1,000 companies and addressing millions of people globally. With 30 years of experience in various fields, he is a bestselling author with over 70 books translated into many languages.

Brian delivers talks on personal and professional development, leadership, sales, and success psychology to corporate and public audiences, driving immediate and lasting changes. His background includes successful careers in sales, marketing, real estate, and consulting, with extensive international experience.

Jack Canfield

America’s #1 Success Coach, is the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes forty New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor with Gay Hendricks of You’ve GOT to Read This Book!

An internationally renowned corporate trainer, Jack has trained and certified over 4,100 people to teach the Success Principles in 115 countries. He is also a podcast host, keynote speaker, and popular radio and TV talk show guest. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Tony Robbins

An international entrepreneur, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and philanthropist. Worth magazine recognized Robbins as one of the top 100 most influential people in global finance for two consecutive years.

Accenture honored Robbins as one of the “Top 50 Business Intellectuals in the World.” Robbins is a leader called upon by leaders: He’s consulted and coached some of the world’s greatest athletes, entertainers, Fortune 500 CEOs, and four US presidents.

Author of the best-selling See You at the Top is an internationally renowned speaker and authority on high-level performance. His I CAN course is taught in more than 3,000 schools, and hundreds of companies and businesses utilize his tapes, books, and videos to train their employees effectively.

He has taught his biblically-based principles for becoming a more effective persuader and person to sales organizations, church groups, schools, and businesses. He has addressed thousands more through numerous television and radio appearances and his films. His Sunday school class held at first Baptist church, Dallas, is broadcast each Sunday morning, via satellite.

Grant Cardone

Owns and operates seven privately held companies, and a private equity real estate firm, Cardone Capital, with a multifamily portfolio of assets worth over $5 Billion. He is one of the Top Crowdfunders in the world, raising over $880 million in equity via social media. He is featured on Season 2 of Discovery Channel’s Undercover Billionaire, where he takes on the challenge of building a million-dollar business in 90 days.

Grant is also a New York Times bestselling author of 11 business books, including The 10X Rule, which led to Cardone establishing the 10X Global Movement and the 10X Growth Conference, now the largest business and entrepreneur conference in the world. Cardone uses his massive 15 million plus following to give back via his Grant Cardone Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring underprivileged and troubled youth in financial literacy.

Write Your Author Bio Today

It turns out that learning how to write an author bio isn’t so hard after all. By following these simple tips, you can craft a bio that’s short, snappy, and helps you connect with your readers.

And if you’re still stuck, consider using an author bio template or some of the examples listed in this blog to inspire you on how to write your own author bio.

However, it goes without saying that before you can write an author bio, you need to have written a book or other piece of writing.

If you’re still in the main writing phase or have simply thought about writing and haven’t acted on it yet, my Book Writing Template can help. My system shows you how to map out your story and then piece it all together to write the best book that you can. Click here to download the template and start writing your book today.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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Table of Contents

Why Your Author Bio Is So Important

How To Write Your Author Bio

Template for author bio info.

Author Bio Examples
Your Bio Grows as You Grow

How To Write An About The Author (With Examples)

Don’t Have Time Right Now?

Unless you’re a household name author (Steven King, JK Rowling, Malcolm Gladwell), most people buying your book won’t know who you are.

So how will they learn about you?

And why is this even important?

That’s what this blog post will explain: how to properly write it, and why your author bio matters.

Why Your About The Author Is So Important

Even though very few authors think about it, and even fewer publishing guides talk about it, the “Author Bio” section impacts sales, reputation, book marketing and social media.

“Author reputation” is consistently cited as one of the main factors that influence a book buying decision. If you’re seen as an authority on your book topic, readers will buy your book and read it. One of the best ways to be seen as an authority is to have a great Author Bio.

For business the short bio can sometimes be more important than what’s actually in the book—the sad but true reality is that more people will read your author bio than your actual book.

It takes a long time to read a book, but it’s very easy to make a snap judgment based on a short paragraph, and most people do that.

This is doubly true for media and social media. Most people in media work very hard under tight deadlines and don’t have time to read long books or even pitch emails. But a good author bio cuts right to the point by saying: this is an important person I need to pay attention to.

Writing about yourself is a task that many even full time writers shy away from. Don’t make this mistake. A few simple steps can get an effective bio that will impress interested readers and help sell your book:

Step 1. Mention your credentials on your book subject:

It’s important to establish your credentials in your book’s topic area.

For example, if you’re writing a diet book, mention things like professional degrees, nutrition training or accomplishments, places you’ve worked, awards you’ve won, etc. Any credential that clearly signals your authority and credibility in your space works.

If you struggle with what to say about yourself, remember the idea is to make it clear why the reader should listen to you. What credential do you have–if any–that signals seriousness to the reader?

For some types of books and authors, this is harder to do. If there’s no clear way to signal direct authority or credentials—for example, you wrote a thriller or a romance novel—then don’t make up things or try to “invent” authority. Focus on the other parts of the author bio.

Step 2. Include achievements that build credibility or are interesting to the reader (without going overboard)

You’ll also want to include things you’ve accomplished in your life, especially if you don’t have direct credentials and authority in the book subject matter. This will help your audience understand why they should spend their time and money reading what you’ve got to say.

If you have something about you or your life that is unusual, even if it’s not totally relevant, you should still consider putting it in your bio.

For example, if you were a Rhodes Scholar, or you started a major national organization, or won a national championship in ping-pong—whatever. The point is to show the reader that you have done things that matter, even if they don’t matter to the book.

If you’re lacking on credentials or exciting things, you can always put in your passions and interests. Anything that you enjoy doing, writing about or consider a hobby, especially if they are relevant to the book topic.

That being said, do NOT ramble on and on about things that reader doesn’t care about. Put yourself in your readers shoes, and ask yourself, “Does this fact really matter to anyone but me?”

Step 3. Mention any books you’ve written, and your website (but don’t oversell them)

If you’ve written other books, especially on that subject, make sure to mention them. If you’re a bestselling author (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today or even Amazon) or won awards, even better.

If you’ve won multiple accolades and listing them all is becoming tedious, aim for brevity instead. Simply writing “John Smith is an award winning author whose works include …..” is more than enough to show your readers you know what you’re doing.

If you have an author website , an author page ( on Amazon or another 3rd party site) or anything else that helps promote your brand then you should make sure you include it at the bottom of your bio (assuming this meets your goals).

Again, you don’t want to brag here so just be humble and simply put something like “Find out more about John at www.johnsmithwriter.com”. It should be simple and have a clear call to action.

Step 4. Drop some relevant names, if they’re appropriate (without being crass)

Yes, name dropping can put off readers if it’s done wrong. But there’s a right way to do it.

For example, if you are relatively unknown, you can say something like, “The woman that Seth Godin called “the most important writer of our time” reveals to you the secrets of…” This way you are trading on Seth Godin’s reputation, and establishing your credentials at the same time (assuming he said this).

Also, if you’ve worked for or with very well-known people, name dropping is not seen as bad; it’s seen as an effective signal to the reader of your importance and ability. What matters is that there is a reason that you are using someone else’s name that makes sense, and is not just a gratuitous name drop.

Step 5. Keep short and interesting (without leaving anything important out)

While your readers are interested in finding out more about you, they don’t want to get bored, or listen to arrogant bragging about how great you are. If your bio is too long, or too full of overstated accomplishments and awards, it will turn your readers off and actually make you look less credible.

Typically, if you keep your word count around 100 words you’re ok. Anything longer than that means you’ve gone on too long about your accomplishments, your personal life or both. Cut it down to the most important things.

Step 6. Always Write in Third Person, Never First Person

Third person is “She is.” First person is “I am.” This is a small thing, but if you write in first person, it is a major sign of first-time amateurism.

This is a template to write your author bio. I’m not saying it’s the very best way to write an author bio, in fact, many of the best examples below do NOT fit this template. But, many people asked for an easy to follow template, and this is what we use with our authors.

First sentence: “[Author] is [statement to establish credibility on this subject and / or authorship of previous books]”
Second sentence(s): Statement(s) further establishing credibility or qualifications of author to write the book.
Third sentence (optional): Historical “before that” information that is at least tangentially relevant to the book, or very compelling in another way.
Fourth sentence: Endorsement of author’s credibility by others, awards, or some other social proof, if available.
Fifth sentence: Tidbit of personal information or insight into life experience.
Sixth sentence: Link to website or other resource (if relevant).

Here is how that looks in practice:

Will Leach is the founder of TriggerPoint Design, a leading behavior research and design consultancy specializing in using behavior economics and decision design to drive consumer decision making. He is a behavior design instructor at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and has more than twenty years of behavior insights experience working with Fortune 50 companies to solve their most important behavior challenges. Will is the only two-time winner of the EXPLOR Award for his work in behavior design and is known as America’s foremost authority in applying behavior science to marketing. Will lives in Dallas with his wife and family.

If You Can’t Write About Yourself, Have Friends Help You

People, especially writers, have a hard time writing about themselves. Often, the Author Bio is the most difficult part of the marketing process for an author to write effectively.

If you are unsure about whether your author bio seems either incomplete, or too arrogant, run it by a few friends for feedback.

For example, when I was doing my first bio, I made all the mistakes I outlined above. I eventually had to have my friend Nils Parker write my bio for me. It’s always easier for your friends to praise you and see the amazing things you do.

If you don’t have writer friends, then hire a freelance writer to help you. It won’t cost much, but their creative writing know how will pay big dividends for you.

Examples of Author Bios

I’m going to show you a lot of different bios. Some are the best author bios I’ve read, whereas some feel like they were written by cheap self-publishing companies. The point is to give you an idea of how many different authors did them, so you can find your own author bio writing style:

Example 1 – High Status And Short: Lynn Vincent

This bio is the perfect “less is more” for an author with a lot of credentials. When you have done what Lynn has done, you can just say it quickly and succinctly.

Lynn Vincent is the New York Times best-selling writer of Heaven Is for Real and Same Kind of Different As Me. The author or coauthor of ten books, Lynn has sold 12 million copies since 2006. She worked for eleven years as a writer and editor at the national news biweekly WORLD magazine and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Example 2 – High Status But Undersells: Michael Lewis

Contrast this to Michael Lewis, who is a very well known author, but still leaves quite a bit out of his bio that would help many readers understand who he is and why they should care (even Michael Lewis is not famous enough to assume people know him).

Michael Lewis, the author of Boomerang, Liar’s Poker, The New New Thing, Moneyball, The Blind Side, Panic, Home Game and The Big Short, among other works, lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, Tabitha Soren, and their three children.

Example 3 – Bad Amanda Ripley

Many authors have different bios on different books (because they leave the bio writing to their publisher, which is a huge mistake). You can see the difference in the author Amanda Ripley.

Her bad bio is strangely both boring and overselling:

Amanda Ripley is a literary journalist whose stories on human behavior and public policy have appeared in Time, The Atlantic, and Slate and helped Time win two National Magazine Awards. To discuss her work, she has appeared on ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX News, and NPR. Ripley’s first book, The Unthinkable, was published in fifteen countries and turned into a PBS documentary.

Example 4 – Good Amanda Ripley

Contrast that to this good bio, where she comes off as much more of an authority—mainly because her other books are mentioned, as were her awards.

Amanda Ripley is an investigative journalist for Time, The Atlantic and other magazines. She is the author, most recently, of THE SMARTEST KIDS IN THE WORLD—and How They Got That Way. Her first book, THE UNTHINKABLE: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes–and Why, was published in 15 countries and turned into a PBS documentary. Her work has helped Time win two National Magazine Awards.

Example 5 – Bad Doctor Bio: Dr. David Perlmutter

This is a long, uninterrupted string of hard to process things. Dr. Perlmutter is very qualified, but mentions everything (including medical school awards) which detracts from the overall effect.

David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, ABIHM is a Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition who received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine where he won the research award. Dr. Perlmutter is a frequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by such medical institutions as Columbia University, the University of Arizona, Scripps Institute, and Harvard University. He has contributed extensively to the world medical literature with publications appearing in The Journal of Neurosurgery, The Southern Medical Journal, Journal of Applied Nutrition, and Archives of Neurology. He is the author of: The Better Brain Book and the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Grain Brain. He is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of nutritional influences in neurological disorders. Dr. Perlmutter has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated radio and television programs including 20/20, Larry King Live, CNN, Fox News, Fox and Friends, The Today Show, Oprah, Dr. Oz, and The CBS Early Show. In 2002 Dr. Perlmutter was the recipient of the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders and in addition was awarded the Denham Harmon Award for his pioneering work in the application of free radical science to clinical medicine. He is the recipient of the 2006 National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year Award. Dr. Perlmutter serves as Medical Advisor for The Dr. Oz Show.

Example 6 – Good Doctor Bio: Dr. Benjamin Carson

Contrast this to Dr. Carson, who focuses only on the credentials and status signifiers that the reader would care about and understand, like his specialties and companies he works for.

Dr. Benjamin Carson is a Professor of Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Oncology, and Pediatrics, and the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He is also the author of four bestselling books—Gifted Hands, Think Big, The Big Picture, and Take the Risk. He serves on the boards of the Kellogg Company, Costco, and the Academy of Achievement, among others, and is an Emeritus Fellow of the Yale Corporation.

He and his wife, Candy, co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund (www.carsonscholars.org), a 501(c)3 established to counteract America’s crisis in education by identifying and rewarding academic role models in the fourth through eleventh grades, regardless of race, creed, religion and socio-economic status, who also demonstrate humanitarian qualities. There are over 4800 scholars in forty-five states. Ben and Candy are the parents of three grown sons and reside in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Example 7 – Good Balance: Tim Ferriss

Tim does lean aggressively into the idea of listing all the cool things he’s done and noteworthy outlets that have talked about him, but still makes his bio interesting and relevant to the reader of his books:

Timothy Ferriss is a serial entrepreneur, #1 New York Times best- selling author, and angel investor/advisor (Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, Uber, and 20+ more). Best known for his rapid-learning techniques, Tim’s books — The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, and The 4-Hour Chef — have been published in 30+ languages. The 4-Hour Workweek has spent seven years on The New York Times bestseller list.

Tim has been featured by more than 100 media outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, TIME, Forbes, Fortune, Outside, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and CNN. He has guest lectured in entrepreneurship at Princeton University since 2003. His popular blog www.fourhourblog. com has 1M+ monthly readers, and his Twitter account @tferriss was selected by Mashable as one of only five “Must-Follow” accounts for entrepreneurs. Tim’s primetime TV show, The Tim Ferriss Experiment (www.upwave.com/tfx), teaches rapid-learning techniques for helping viewers to produce seemingly superhuman results in minimum time.

Example 8 – Out of Balance (Confusing & Overselling): Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl is similar to Tim, but runs several unrelated things together in a confusing way, and mentions things that no reader would ever care about (e.g., the director of a movie based on her book). This same bio could be 25% shorter and much stronger.

Cheryl Strayed is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller WILD, the New York Times bestseller TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, and the novel TORCH. WILD was chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her first selection for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. WILD won a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, an Indie Choice Award, an Oregon Book Award, a Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, and a Midwest Booksellers Choice Award among others. The movie adaptation of WILD will be released by Fox Searchlight in December 2014. The film is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and stars Reese Witherspoon, with a screenplay by Nick Hornby. Strayed’s writing has appeared in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS, the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Salon, The Missouri Review, The Sun, Tin House, The Rumpus–where she wrote the popular “Dear Sugar” advice column–and elsewhere. Strayed was the guest editor of BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2013 and has contributed to many anthologies. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages around the world. She holds an MFA in fiction writing from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their two children.

Remember: Your Bio Grows as You Grow

Treat your author’s bio as a living document. Just because you’ve written it once, doesn’t mean it’s finished. As you grow and change as a writer so should your bio, and the best part is that it’s easy to change a byline.

Also, remember that if you are writing for different genres or different topics that some of your accomplishments and past works will be more relevant to your readers than others. It’s a good idea to tweak your author bio for the next book you release.

Getting your author bio right is an important task. In fact, this small section is usually the ONLY source of information potential readers have about you (except maybe Google), and that’s why it is one of the most important pieces of marketing material you write for your book.

Take it seriously, get it right, and it will help you sell books.

The Scribe Crew

10 Great Author Bio Examples and Tips to Write One for Yourself

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A great author bio is essential for any published writer. It’s how a reader gets to know the person behind the pages of a book, and done well, it can help you grow your fan base and sell more books. If you’re a new author and unsure where to begin with your author bio, this article is here to help.

Table of Contents

What is An Author Bio?

An author bio is a few short paragraphs that introduce you to your readers. It doesn’t need to only focus on your professional writing career; the best bios throw in a personal touch too. You can mention your home life, your hobbies, or include a couple of interesting facts about yourself. It’s all about engaging your readers with relevant and interesting information that helps you stand out from the crowd.

In this article, I’ll show you ten great examples of top-notch author bios from bestselling writers, and I’ll also provide you with some actionable tips to help you write your own.

10 Examples of Great Author Bios

1. farrah rochon.

USA Today bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Crescent City-set Holmes Brothers series and her Moments in Maplesville small town series. Farrah is a two-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award. In 2015, she received the Emma Award for Author of the Year. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows. An admitted sports fanatic, she feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons. Keep in touch with Farrah via the web: Website: https://www.farrahrochon.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farrahrochonauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FarrahRochon

2. Michael Siemsen

Michael Siemsen grew up in Venice, California, the second son of a Vietnam veteran turned policeman. Initially focusing on performing arts, Michael attended the prestigious Alexander Hamilton Academy in Los Angeles. After serving in the U.S. Army as a tracked vehicle operator, he returned to civilian life and began writing short stories and screenplays, and directing short films and music videos. Moving to Northern California in the late 90s, Michael met his future wife, Ana. The two now live near the San Joaquin River Delta with their equally adventurous children, as well as “the dogs,” “that cat,” and a fish or two. A USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author, Michael has released six novels selling over 200,000 copies, as well as audiobooks , short stories contributed to anthologies, and has won several awards, including the “Sundance of Books,” the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Michael’s latest release is RETURN, book three in his popular Matt Turner series.

3. Glynnis Campbell

Glynnis Campbell is a USA Today bestselling author of over two dozen swashbuckling action-adventure historical romances, mostly set in Scotland, and a charter member of The Jewels of Historical Romance — 12 internationally beloved authors. She’s the wife of a rock star and the mother of two young adults, but she’s also been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. Doing her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden, Glynnis loves to play medieval matchmaker… transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well! Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.glynnis.net

4. Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan’s books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today bestseller and a RITA® winner. Courtney lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, an exceptionally perfect dog, and an attack cat. Before she started writing historical romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships with some really important people who are way too dignified to be named here. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time. If you want to know when Courtney’s next book will come out, please visit her website at http://www.courtneymilan.com , where you can sign up to receive an email when she has her next release.

5. Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is a poet, an educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine books, including Rebound, the follow-up to his Newbery Medal–winning novel, The Crossover. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other picture books include Undefeated, Animal Ark, and Out of Wonder. A regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of several awards, including the Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, three NAACP Image Award nominations, and the 2018 inaugural Conroy Legacy Award. He believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his writing workshop, the Write Thing. Kwame is also the host and producer of the literary variety/talk show Bookish. You can visit him at www.kwamealexander.com .

6. Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is the NYT Bestselling author of YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, GROWN, and her forthcoming 2021 titles BLACKOUT, WHITE SMOKE, and SANTA IN THE CITY. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking. Tiffany grew up in Brooklyn Heights but also count places like Fort Greene, Far Rockaway, East New York, and Kingston, Jamaica as her home. She attended Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, NY, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, and her master of arts in media studies from the New School University. She has over a decade of experience in the television industry, working for various networks and media companies including National Geographic (focused on documentaries such as Lockdown, a prison subculture series) Roc Nation, BET, FUSE, BBC AMERICA, and EPIX. From managing live events, concerts, festival showcases such as BET AWARDS and SXSW Music Show Case, to TV series, specials, and pilots such as FUSE: TOP 20 Countdown, Trending 10, The Hustle: After Party Live and in-studio concert series to producing hip-hop documentaries and artist promotional spots. In 2009, she wrote and directed the short horror film, The Field Trip, receiving praise in the film festival circuit. WANT TO KNOW MORE? GO HERE →

7. J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison began her career as a presidential appointee in the White House, where a nuclear physicist taught her how to obsess over travel itineraries and make a seriously good pot of Earl Grey, spawning both her love of loose leaf and a desire for control of her own destiny. Jaded by the political climate in D.C., she made her way back to her first love, creative writing. More than 20 novels later, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with thrillers published in 27 countries and 15 languages. She is also the Emmy Award-winning cohost of A Word on Words, a literary interview television show. She lives in Nashville with her husband and two small gray minions, known as cats in some cultures. She thinks they’re furry aliens. Visit www.jtellison.com or @thrillerchick for more. ***Psst, J.T. here. Want a FREE ebook ? Visit www.jtellison.com/subscribe and sign up for my newsletter. Along with your free ebook, you’ll get my latest news and updates, insider exclusives, plus awesome recipes and book recommendations. It’s a lot of fun! Happy reading, y’all.

8. Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley writes Historical Fiction and Historical Romance (Georgian, Regency, & Victorian) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods. She promises to pull heart strings, offer a few laughs, and share tidbits of tantalizing history. This Southern, Irish, Trini girl holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Yet, her love of history and lattes have overwhelmed her passion for math, leading to the publication of over 20+ titles. She loves writing on her southern porch with proper caffeine. Vanessa has a very diverse background. She has been a radio anchorwoman and church announcer. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and President-Elect of The Beau Monde, a specialty RWA Chapter. She is also a member of Georgia Romance Writers, NINC, and Historical Novel Society. She is on the Board of Directors of Christian Book Lovers Retreat where readers escape for a weekend of fun, faith and connection to the author community. Her latest release, A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby is an Amazon Best of the Month Selection and a Publishers Weekly Summer Reads 2020 Editors’ Pick. A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby has been reviewed by Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Library Journal, and the New York Times and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. She’s currently working on Island Queen for William Morrow, a novel centering on Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a formerly enslaved person who becomes one of the wealthiest women in the Caribbean. Vanessa loves cooking her Trinidadian grandma’s cake recipes and collecting Irish crochet lace and writing on her southern porch with proper caffeination. Sarah Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency represents Vanessa.

9. Rick Mofina

USA Today bestselling author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He’s also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. His books have been published in nearly 30 countries, including an illegal translation produced in Iran. His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper. The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers, and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”

10. April White

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, lived on a gold mine in the Yukon, and survived a shipwreck. She and her husband live in Southern California with their two sons, dog, various chickens, and a lifetime collection of books. Facebook is a solid source of distraction for her, and therefore, her Facebook page, April White Books, is usually the first place to find news, teasers, quotes, and excerpts from her books. She also has a secret reader group on Facebook, called “Kick-Ass Heroines.” If you’d like to get in on some of those conversations, you can request an add here: Kick-Ass Heroines. Sometimes that news links to Twitter, but she hasn’t mastered the art of the pithy tweet, and therefore often avoids the medium for fear of sounding boring. Goodreads is another place to find her lurking around the stacks and spying on her friends’ reading habits. Become her Goodreads friend so she can see what you’re reading, too. Marking Time was the 2016 Library Journal Indie e-book winner for Young Adult books, and was chosen by Library Journal for national inclusion on both the fantasy and young adult SELF-e Library Select lists on Biblioboard, The whole series is also available for libraries nationwide through Overdrive, and April is very happy to participate in any library (or bookish) events to which she’s invited.

7 Tips for Writing Your Own Author Bio

Your author bio might only be a few short paragraphs in length, but every word counts. This is your opportunity to make a great first impression with your readership, so it’s important to take some time penning your bio in order to put your best foot forward.

Here are 7 important tips to consider when writing your author bio.

1. Write in the Third Person

Even though you are writing these words about yourself, never use the words like “I” or “my.” Instead, write from the third person point of view, referencing yourself by your first or second name.

2. Keep it Short

Your bio is about quality, not quantity. Keep it to under 300 words, and make sure that every sentence adds value. It might be tempting to list out all of your achievements but stick to the big stuff that will make the most impact. You can always include a section on your website where readers can view your full list of accolades, but they don’t need to be featured on the back of your new book under your author bio.

3. Know Your Audience

Get to know your readers so you can understand how best to speak to them in your author bio. A great way to do this is to hang out with your readers on Twitter or other social media platforms. Interacting with your readership builds a mutual bond and gives you much more insight into who they are and what makes them tick.

A good rule of thumb to engage your readers is to stick to the same writing style you use in your published work to talk to your audience in your author bio.

I’d also advise that you assemble a small group of readers who are willing to read your draft and provide feedback and ideas on how to improve it. And consider asking those closest to you to check whether they think it’s a good representation of who you are and what you’re all about.

4. Include Career Highlights

Note the word “highlights”; this is not the place to list every college course you ever completed and every short story you’ve ever published (see Tip #2) but be sure to include the most prominent relevant parts of your background in writing.

Higher education diplomas beyond college level are worth including, and of course, list a short selection of your previously published works if you have any.

If your work has been nominated for an award, but it didn’t quite make the cut, it could still be worth including. The “…. Award-nominated author…” has a great ring to it; it almost doesn’t matter that you didn’t win!

5. Let Your Personality Shine Through

This is your author bio, so your personality should shine through in every sentence. This really helps to create a rapport with your readership and give them a better picture of the person behind the words on the page. Done well, this can help you create a loyal fan base and a dedicated readership.

You can show your personality in your author bio by getting creative with how you present your information. You might want to tell your life story in an inventive way, linking events to each other to create a picture of who you are and how you got here. You can make it fun (see author J.T. Ellison’s example in the list above) and add a well-placed joke in there too.

6. Include Some Personal Information

A great way to connect with your audience is to show them that you’re not all business; you have a personal life with family, friends, pets, passions, and hobbies too. Readers want to know the human being behind the pages of the book, and this is a great opportunity to give them a little taster of who you really are.

Most authors choose to include where they live and where they grew up, plus a little bit about their family life too.

You might also want to include a major life event that has shaped who you are today.

Just remember to keep it relevant. If you write self-help books about quitting smoking, then a little bit about your struggle with addiction might be the perfect addition to your bio. But if your genre is historical fiction, then it’s best to leave this out.

7. Create a Basic Verison that can be Tweaked

Your author bio will primarily contain the same information wherever you use it, be it on the insert of your latest book, on your website, or promotional material for an upcoming book tour. But you can also tweak it a little to suit the situation and the audience.

These tips are designed to help you write a basic author bio, but you can spice it up or remove elements to create a more serious tone depending on the application.

I hope these examples and tips help you to write your own engaging author bio to share wherever you promote your work. Remember to keep it short and to the point, and add a little flair and personality so that your readers can get to know the person behind the pen.

How to Write an Author Bio: A Proven Guide with Examples

By c.s. lakin.

How to Write an Author Bio (with Examples)

One of the important marketing tools a writer needs is an author bio. This descriptive bit of writing informs readers, in a few words, who you are, what you write, and what makes you unique . It’s the marquee announcing your author’s presence in the world of publishing.

Think about your author bio as your “elevator pitch” that sells you rather than your book. It may seem odd and uncomfortable penning your own biography, and writing about yourself in the third person (which is what you need to do) can make it feel even weirder.

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To compound matters, most of us don’t like to toot our horns and share glowing praise about ourselves. We know how off-putting it is to hear someone brag about themselves and their accomplishments.

Yet … we authors need to do just that—with at least a modicum of modesty or humility, along with professionalism. All of this in just a few lines. However, the length of your bio will vary depending on where it will appear. On sales platforms, it’s best to have at least a few paragraphs.

Some places, such as in online book catalogs, social media sites, and guest blog posts, will limit word or character count.

Hands down, your website is the place to shine on your About page. Those first sentences are the most important—as with your book, if readers aren’t engaged right away, they’ll stop reading. Especially with nonfiction, people will quickly decide whether an author seems to have enough authority in a topic to be trusted.

In this age of speedy decisions, all it might take is a catchy, impressive author bio to get a potential reader checking out your books. How do you find the right balance? And how do you keep from boring readers?

You don’t want your bio to sound like a dry resume that features a laundry list of achievements. Yet you do need to tout the achievements or expertise that gives you credibility or clout.

How an Author Bio Can Help Your Career

Though you may not have considered this, your author bio can impact sales , draw in new readers, and affect the way potential readers formulate an opinion about you.

Yes, even just from a few lines.

Take this bio, for example, from author Maira Kalman, an Israeli-born American illustrator, writer, artist, and designer.

“She is known for her playful and witty illustrations and has been featured in publications such as The New York Times and The New Yorker .”

What kind of immediate impression do you get of her from reading this?:

In her own words:

“born. bucolic childhood. culture-stuffed adolescence. played piano. stopped. danced. stopped. wrote. discarded writing. drew. reinstated writing. married Tibor Kalman and collaborated at iconoclastic yet successful design studio. wrote and painted children’s books. worried. took up Ping-Pong. relaxed. wrote and painted for many magazines. cofounded the Rubber Band Society. amused. children: two. dog: one.”

Maira’s creativity bounces off the page with a unique voice and flair that presents her as both funny and approachable. What’s important to note is that her bio showcases her personality and implies the tone of her work.

Author Tanya Hall, in her book Ideas, Influence & Income , states that book sales are predominately author driven. According to Verson Digital’s 2009 Survey of Book-Buying Behavior, author reputation is the most important factor in a book purchase decision, followed by personal recommendation and price .

“… It comes down to a fundamental truth in the media world: we have a huge supply of and a limited demand for content. … Reading time is limited. … Information clutter is rampant. Think about your own behavior when you’re taking in a website, a blog, or even search results. You’re in speed mode, as you need to be in order to slog through all of the noise. … You’ve got to get [people] to stop and take notice.”

Grab attention and make an impression .

What are the 5 Elements of a Perfect Author Bio

There are varying strategies on how to write a terrific bio. Some say you should start with biographical detail that supports your expertise, then add bits to help people connect with you personally.

Others suggest you start with a bang—mentioning the biggest achievements first: “#1 NYT’s best-selling author of …” followed by sales numbers and how many languages your books have been translated into.

However, Maggie Lynch, writing in the ALLi blog, shares her results from a survey she took of her list of romance readers on what influences them to buy a book (nearly 4,000 responses), and out of fifteen ranked data points, the top three were prior familiarity with the author (68%), the book cover (53%—does that surprise you?), and a friend’s recommendation (38%).

I nterestingly, bestseller status and literary prizes ranked last (2% and <1% respectively).

That might surprise you too, as it did me.

Certainly, if you’ve hit the tops of coveted best-seller lists or have won prestigious writing awards, you’ll want to note that somewhere in your bio. Still, others state you should start with your education:

“Sally Smith is a professor of anthropology at Harvard …” followed by the title of the book or series and what it’s about.

What you don’t want to include are things that are unrelated to what you write (unless you’re trying to be funny or show a quirky side of yourself, which I particularly like when reading about an author).

Let’s look at five key elements in an author bio. Yours might include some or all of them.

1. Publishing credentials

Lisa Gardner is one of my favorite authors, and I love the way she spruces up the long list of her well-deserved achievements and published titles.

Of course, she has a shorter version of this where needed. Notice her hilariously named CTA at the end of her bio.

“Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she parlayed her interest in police procedure and twisted plots into a streak of internationally bestselling suspense novels, including her most recent release, Look for Me . With over 22 million books in print, Lisa is published in 30 countries. Her success crosses into the small screen with four of her novels becoming movies ( At the Midnight Hour ; The Perfect Husband ; The Survivors Club ; Hide ) and personal appearances on television shows (TruTV; CNN). Lisa Gardner’s novels have also received awards from across the globe. Her novel The Neighbor won the Best Novel from the International Thriller Writers while also receiving the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle, in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award for The Other Daughter in 2000. Finally, Lisa received the Silver Bullet Award in 2017, in honor of her work on behalf of at-risk children and the Humane Society. Readers are invited to get in on the fun by entering the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com , where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa’s latest novel. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected for Literary Immortality. It’s cheaper than therapy, and you get a great book besides. Lisa lives in New Hampshire with her family and an assortment of crazy canines.”

2. Review blurbs by influential people

You can start your bio with an endorsement, or put it after your self-description, as Jake Needham does:

“Jake Needham is an American screen and television writer who began writing crime novels when he realized he didn’t really like movies and television all that much. Since then, he has published eleven titles in The Mean Streets Crime Novels series. “Jake Needham’s the real deal,” says Brendan DuBois, New York Times bestselling author with James Patterson of The First Lady.” His characters are moral men and women struggling in an increasingly immoral world, his suspense and plotting are top-notch, and his writing is exquisitely fine. Highly, highly recommended. For nearly thirty years, Jake lived and worked in Europe and Asia. Now he, his wife, and their two sons divide their time between their homes in Washington DC and on the Gulf of Thailand. You can learn more about Jake Needham at his official website: www.JakeNeedhamNovels.com .”

To me, that last paragraph could be replaced by something more entertaining than the list of places he’s lived, which likely don’t influence his stories in any direct way—or, if they do, it would help to know how and why.

3. Expertise and work experience

It’s common to see bios begin with the author’s date of birth. Is that really something potential readers care about and will be impressed by?

I think not.

Having decades of experience in life isn’t going to intrigue readers as much as decades specializing in a field that pertains to their book.

Someone whose career as an astronaut launched her into space and who logged time on the International Space Station brings credibility to her thriller set on a space station.

Check out Sean Black’s bio:

“Sean Black grew up in Scotland, studied film in New York, and wrote [sic] the screenplays for many of Britain’s best-known TV dramas. To research the first two Ryan Lock thrillers, he underwent weeks of intensive bodyguard training and spent time inside America’s most dangerous maximum security prison, Pelican Bay Supermax in California. In Gridlock , he takes his readers deep inside the murky world of America’s multi-billion-dollar adult entertainment industry.”

By adding that bit about what he went through to do his research, he sparks interest and inspires respect for his diligence to get the facts straight before writing his novels .

Here’s another example of sharing expertise with a dash of humor to liven up what might be construed as a dry list of experiences:

“Z. Kelly is the author of the Hollywood Alphabet Thriller Series. He spent over thirty years in the field of law enforcement. His experience includes dealing with felony offenders, making sentencing recommendations to the courts, running a jail, and developing innovative programs to keep our streets safe. His law enforcement experience was in Southern California, not too far from the famous Sunset Strip, and includes run-ins with some of America’s craziest criminals, not to mention a few wannabe actors, and even an Oscar-award winner!”

Phillip Margolin’s bio succinctly ties in some of his best-selling titles with the trademark element of his series, with a nod to his expertise and background that gives him credibility:

“Phillip Margolin has written nineteen novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, including his latest novels Woman with a Gun, Worthy Brown’s Daughter, Sleight of Hand , and the Washington trilogy. Each displays a unique, compelling insider’s view of criminal behavior, which comes from his long background as a criminal defense attorney who has handled thirty murder cases. Winner of the Distinguished Northwest Writer Award, he lives in Portland, Oregon.”

A section of Kathy Reichs’s very long bio (which contains an impressive list of publications), shares her extensive and fascinating work experience (and it continues on way beyond this excerpt):

“Dr. Reichs is also a producer of the hit Fox TV series Bones , which is based on her work and her novels. From teaching FBI agents how to detect and recover human remains, to separating and identifying commingled body parts in her Montreal lab, as a forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs has brought her own dramatic work experience to her mesmerizing forensic thrillers. For years she consulted to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, and continues to do so for the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Québec. Dr. Reichs has travelled to Rwanda to testify at the UN Tribunal on Genocide, and helped exhume a mass grave in Guatemala. As part of her work at JPAC (Formerly CILHI) she aided in the identification of war dead from World War II, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Reichs also assisted with identifying remains found at ground zero of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.”

An author with such intriguing and relevant work experience is smart to include it in her bio.

You may not think you have any expertise worth including, but, with some creative effort, you might find something in your past that influenced the writing of, say, your novel about alien invasions.

Spending a good portion of your childhood on the roof with a cheap telescope looking for ET will at very least express your enthusiasm (or obsession) for the topic.

4. Humor and cleverness

Brian Rathbone keeps his bio short and eclectic:

“#1 International bestselling fantasy author Brian Rathbone is a bit odd. After growing up training standardbred racehorses, he went to work at a nuclear plant before helping to build the Internet. When he isn’t writing, Brian tells a few too many bad dragon jokes on Twitter and spends a lot of time thinking about unicorns.”

Granted, Brian’s bio could shed light on the types of stories he’s written (other than just stating they’re fantasy), but he’s opted with tickling readers’ fancies in the hopes that will be enough to check out his novels.

Here’s another short and fun bio that mixes expertise with humor and personal tastes:

“Jerry Hatchett is a digital forensic expert who works cases across the country and around the world. A lifelong technogeek, he has also consulted for hit TV shows like The Blacklist , Blind Spot , and more. When not forensicating or writing, he loves reading other authors, watching great movies, and trying to survive his too-smart dog Data.”

A famous author (whose real name is Daniel Handler) focuses solely on being clever, not needing (or wanting) to spend time listing all his many best-selling novels and the dozens of languages they’ve been translated into:

“Lemony Snicket had an unusual education which may or may not explain his ability to evade capture. He is the author of the 13 volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, several picture books including The Dark , and the books collectively titled All The Wrong Questions.”

While giving a lengthy personal history of your life might be wholly unrelated to your books, it can amuse readers who find the author’s voice engaging into wanting to know more. Take for example:

“Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at free-lance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves. Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last eight novels were all New York Times bestsellers.”

Interesting that, instead of starting with his acclaim, he launches into some of his unrelated work experience in an effort to be personable and come across as an eclectic guy.

5. Calls to Action (CTAs)

Here’s Kelly Collins’s author bio, which bolts out the gate with a CTA:

“ Like FREEBIES? Join the VIP readers at bit.ly/KellyCollinsVIP for members-only exclusives! ~ Tip: Just hit “FOLLOW” for notifications about deals and new releases! ~ Kelly Collins is an international bestselling author of over two dozen novels. Her two most popular series, The Aspen Cove Romance Series and The Second Chance Series feature irresistibly hot small-town heroes and sassy quick-witted heroines who find love in unlikely places. When not reading or writing romances, Kelly can be found walking the Colorado trails with her friends, sitting in front of her favorite slot machine in Cripple Creek, or sneaking into her favorite donut shop. She can also be found on: FACEBOOK – http://facebook.com/AuthorKelleyCollins TWITTER – http://twitter.com/kcollinsauthor INSTAGRAM – http://instagram.com/authorkellycollins You can learn more about Kelly at www.authorkellycollins.com “

Notice how she starts off with an offer, then shares her success (international bestselling author), followed by the names of her series, and a fun, sassy description of the kind of stories she writes.

Adding that personal section humanizes her so her bio isn’t just a list of her products. She wraps up by making it easy for readers to find and follow her.

Final Thoughts on Your Author Bio

It’s easy to impress readers with a long list of awards and successes.

But what if you aren’t there yet? What if you’ve only just published your first book? What if you’re not an expert in anything? How can you make your author bio impressive and engaging?

Focus on the elements of humor, creativity, and cleverness that help showcase your author voice .

And share something intriguing about your book that might make it stand out.

Author John Gwynne has published two novels, and while he doesn’t have a long list of awards, he’s created a nice blend of background, personal information, and modest acclaim for his first book:

“John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He’s been in a rock ’n roll band, playing the double bass, travelled the USA and lived in Canada for a time. He is married with four children and lives in Eastbourne, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture. His first novel, Malice , won the David Gemmell Morningstar award for best debut fantasy. Valour is his second novel.”

Joel Pitney, marketer, writes:

“Some authors don’t feel like they have enough to say about themselves; but just the fact that you’ve written a book makes you important enough to have at least a 3-4 line bio! Think creatively about what elements of who you are might be of interest to readers; don’t be shy!”

Don’t forget to regularly update your bio .

When you have new releases come out, a great new review blurb, win an award or hit the top of a best-seller list, go find all the places your bio is posted and update it. How to find all those places? The easiest way is to keep a spreadsheet listing them and their links. These include social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, your website, all sales platforms (Amazon, Apple iBooks, Kobo, etc.), and anywhere else your books are promoted or mentioned (that you have control over).

Try running your bio by some friends and see what they like or don’t like about it. If you really feel stuck, consider hiring an editor or a marketing-savvy copywriter. If you write in multiple genres, you may want to tweak the content and tone of each to be best suited for that genre.

For my fantasy novels, I mention that I write in other genres but don’t list those titles. For my nonfiction, my bio is all about my teaching expertise, the type of books (writing craft), and my related work as a writing coach and instructor.

While your bio may be one of the shortest pieces of writing you ever do, don’t discount its importance. A weak or boring bio might be off-putting to potential readers, but a glowing, creative bio could result in countless new fans of your books.

Put the time in and do it right!

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How to Write an Author Bio: E-A-T, SEO Tips & Great Examples

Looking for author bio writing tips? Learn why it's important for SEO, readers, E-A-T, and UX, plus see examples and a sample template here.

Since the disruptive algorithm update some in the industry call the “ Medic Update ,” SEO professionals have seen consecutive broad core algorithm updates from Google.

The search engine has indicated that “there is no ‘fix'” required to recover from these types of updates.

However, some SEO pros have put forward convincing studies, including this one from Lily Ray, that not demonstrating E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, and Trust) in a site’s content can be a demolishing factor in its search engine visibility.

In fact, Google mentions E-A-T 137 times in the current iteration of its 167-page search quality raters guidelines . It also advises that raters check to see if the page says who the author is and lists their biography and credentials.

We must not take the quality raters guidelines as indicators of ranking signals, as they do not directly influence rankings.

And Google has confirmed that they do not rank websites based on author reputation.

So why even care about author bios for SEO? In this column, you’ll learn why author bios matter and how to write an SEO-friendly author bio.

You’ll also find writing tips and an author bio template to help you get started.

Author Authority and Google

Google’s John Mueller downplayed the necessity of author bio pages for SEO. He has suggested that they do help, but are more for user experience.

“With regards to author pages and expertise, authority and trustworthiness, that’s something where I’d recommend checking that out with your users and doing maybe a short user study, specifically for your set up, for the different set ups that you have, trying to figure out how you can best show that the people who are creating content for your website, they’re really great people, they’re people who know what they’re talking about, they have credentials or whatever is relevant within your field.”

But Google has always cared about author authority.

Take the idea of “author rank” for a start.

This was discussed by Bill Slawski when Google filed its Agent rank patent in 2005 .

The idea was that the “reputation scores of all of the people who put together the content of a page played a role in the ranking of that page.”

Then in 2011, Google announced its authorship markup , “a way to connect authors with their content on the web.”

Back then, marking up author pages with an accompanying Google Plus profile link using Schema.org’s rel=”author” and rel=”me” was standard practice.

Authorship markup never claimed to offer any direct ranking benefit.

Instead, it was put forward as a means to help search engines have more confidence about the author’s identity and “highlight authors in search results.”

Google long ago stopped showing authorship in search results and shut down Google Plus .

Despite this, their recent announcement on how they rank news sources revealed ongoing interest in authorship on the search engine’s part.

It reaffirmed the importance of author authority to Google.

Within that announcement , author bylines and author bios featured as important ways to build trust:

“This includes information like clear dates and bylines , as well as information about authors , the news source, company or network behind it, and contact information”

In addition, on a recent SEO webinar for publishers, Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan stressed the importance of having a specific byline, not “By staff” for transparency.

Only recently, Google recently updated its article on structured data and recommends adding the author’s URL in article schema.

Google article structured data change to include Author URL.

Google also claims to know which content belongs to the same author.

They are testing new knowledge panels for journalists, highlighting their most recent articles.

The official word from Google may be that author bios are not a ranking factor, but there is benefit in having clear bylines and information demonstrating expertise in an author’s bio page.

It can only assist Google’s algorithms in understanding the author’s E-A-T.

And this, in turn, may help the rankings of those articles in search results. This is purely interpretation on my part, but this is what all of the evidence seems to tell us.

So how can you write a compelling author bio of your own?

8 Tips for Writing an SEO-Friendly Author Bio

1. write in the third person.

Writing in the third person increases the perceived authority and simply reads better than a biography one has written about who they are.

It may feel a bit self-congratulatory, but it adds more credibility.

2. Keep the Bio Short and Concise

A good author bio should be relatively short. Look around at other websites and you’ll see that between 50 and 100 words is the general norm that is found on most author bios online.

There also may be a fixed amount of space predetermined by the CMS.

3. Include Information on Job Title and Function

Including information about your work and function adds credibility to your writing.

For example, if you were writing on the topic of SEO, being an SEO specialist would be considered more credible than if you were a PPC specialist and vice versa.

Function is important, too.

Although SEO pros need to wear multiple hats, understanding if someone is a generalist or specialist adds further topical expertise when reading an author bio.

4. Include Your Experience

Here, you can include information about:

Years of experience working in relevant areas.
Published works.
Degrees and/or titles.
Conference appearances and other speaking engagements.
Media coverage.

5. Highlight Expertise & Trustworthiness

Summarize your expertise on the topic that you are writing about.

For example, if the topic you are writing about is health, letting your audience know about your credentials in that topic is far more credible than a similar article written by a blogger, or copywriter.

It is very important in the health and finance spaces, in particular, to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in their field. These are referred to as Your Money, Your Life (YMYL) , as misinformation has the potential to do a person serious harm.

Stating expertise on the author bio is important not only for SEO, for users to help them identify you as a credible source on a specific subject matter.

6. Include Social Media Profiles

Including links to social media on author pages is also another great way for users to be able to access more content from you, as you can link your personal or business website, and even your social media profiles.

It can also help people to find your social media handles to tag you and/or your company into their posts. As well as a means to help readers continue on the discussion.

7. Include a Good Photo

Adding a picture of yourself as part of your bio can be a great visual way to show the reader that there is a real human behind the words that they have read.

Using the same photo, ideally professionally taken can be a great way of associating a person with a profile image.

8. Inject Your Personality

Although not necessarily required for SEO, sharing personal interest and humor can make an author bio page more engaging and interesting.

However, readers may only be marginally interested in your personal life, so your bio is probably not the best place to share too much personal information.

Tips for Optimizing Your Author Bio

Use separate urls for author bio pages.

For SEO, having an author bio page on a separate URL is a lot easier to optimize for author names, than including all authors on a single about us page .

For example, let’s examine the Harvard Business Review (HBR) and The Guardian.

HBR uses a standalone about us page to list their authors.

Most author searches use the author’s first name.

If we take [Alison Beard] and use her as a random example we can see that Google has associated her with [HBR].

If we make a more navigational search [Alison Beard HBR], we actually get a third-party website with the featured snippet.

If we compare this search result to The Guardian for another author at random [Katharine Murphy].

This is a great place to read her latest articles.

Allow Author Bio Pages to Be Indexed

The common misconception around author bio pages is that they should be no-indexed.

Why have Googlebot drop that page entirely from Google Search results?

Similarly, the page may be blocked via the robots.txt file, as is the case with the Harvard Business Review:

People search for journalists or authors. Readers follow them and even subscribe to their personal newsletters.

This type of traffic suggests loyal, navigational search traffic.

There is the argument that some profile pages are low quality and used for link spam, and you may wish to no-index these.

However, if Author Bio Page SEO is the focus and authors have expertise in which they are writing, ensuring they are indexed and optimized is a no-brainer.

On-Page SEO Tips for Author Profile Pages

The keyword for author profile pages is understandably the author’s name.

On-page SEO best practice, using the keyword throughout, and hierarchy of the page are all important factors.

For example, if we take the same example of Katharine Murphy from the Guardian above:

Good on-page SEO example for author pages.

The Guardian also does a great job of author profile page internal linking.

On the article detail pages, their template links to their author profile pages via the byline on each article created;

As well as in their author HTML sitemap :

They also provide internal link equity to this page by placing a link to its page using “All writers” on their footer template:

Link to author authors Guardian website footer.

Use Structured Data

The use of article-specific structured data is required to appear in Google’s top stories , once the content meets the basic Google News policies.

Since December 2019, when Google launched its Publisher Center , a manual process is no longer required when submitting sites to Google News.

With authorship markup retired, marking up authors in article structured data may not only be beneficial for publisher sites, but may also be beneficial for all sites that create news content.

However, be warned, being eligible for Google News, and actually being included are two different things.

Using structured data may also support E-A-T by helping create new connections Google wouldn’t have otherwise made in its Knowledge Graph.

Common Types of Author Bio Pages

There are a few different types of author bio pages you’ll see around the web. Here are some examples.

The Author’s Name Only

Example: Dr. Jeff Grognet

Name written of Dr. Jeff Grognet in his author bio.

Author’s Name and Headshot

Example: Mike Eckstein

The Full Bio (Name, Headshot, Biography, and Supporting Features)

Dr Gayathri Perera’s profile on Top Doctors UK in the medical space is particularly strong for SEO , UX , and CRO .

For SEO, the metadata is well optimized:

Here’s what her profile does right:

Excellent use of breadcrumbs to display website hierarchy and provide internal link equity and relevance.

Home > Doctors > Dermatology > Dermatologists in Central London > Dr Gayathri Perera

Areas of her “expertise” listed which all link to treatment information pages.
A professional personal statement written in the third person listing credentials, areas of expertise, and qualifications.
A contact form to encourage lead generation “Book an appointment now.”

Doctor Gayathri Perera on Top Doctors Website.

Videos, articles written, verified reviews, and detailing her areas of expertise with publications in which she has written and links to her social media profiles.

Dr Gayathri Perera reviews on top doctor.

Structured data is on point.

Arguably, Top Doctors may have the best author bio page example out there.

Other Author Bio Page Examples for SEO

Top Doctors is particularly impressive in the medical space, however, the following are also good author bio examples for SEO.

David Leonhart’s profile in the New York Times is particularly impressive.

Here, the bio links to their “The Morning” newsletter to encourage sign-ups, his background, industry awards, internal links to his notable pieces including the “rise of digital media” as well as information on his education.

Outside of the good profile page basics such as written in the third person, information about experience and demonstration of expertise, the use of the CTA on Andy Crestodina’s profile page is what makes this particularly good for a marketing author bio example.

Jill Greenfield’s personal injury bio again follows the author bio SEO best practice as discussed above. The use of awards won in image format is powerful.

What’s smart here for SEO is the internal link equity that can be leveraged.

Example member event where Jill Greenfield was a speaker:

Health & Wellness

There is an abundance of good SEO examples of author bio pages on authoritative health and wellness websites.

These types of sites fall directly into the YMYL category. And those unlucky enough to be in that niche from an SEO perspective were believed to be hit the hardest from previous core updates.

Google’s John Mueller has stressed the importance of E-A-T for this niche and raters have been directed to put more weight on it when providing feedback to engineers.

This could be due to Google and other tech giants falling into the media spotlight for assisting the rise in misinformation and “fake news” , poor quality of online medical information, and vaccine misinformation.

Nevertheless, Verywellfit.com does a great job in this niche with its article pages and a great example to follow.

As displayed below, both the byline and the author bio page of the fact-checker pops out when either your finger or cursor hovers over them.

They create a great user experience and encourage reader engagement without necessarily taking them to a new URL or window.

The other smart move here to encourage reader trust is the quick link to their editorial process. This is a step some news websites fail to share despite having rigorous standards.

Very well fit author page example of E-A-T.

Sample Author Bio Template

Writing a good author bio should be considered as important as writing the article itself.

However, if you are stuck on time, or need a template you can share with your client/team member you could use the following template. Combine into one paragraph:

[Your Name] is [Your Role] with [Your Company] where [he/she] [information on job function]. [Interesting facts about your history that adds credibility to your authority on your subject.] [Your Name] [Include/mention and link if possible to professional achievement related to your subject]. [Fun fact with personality related to your subject].

Final Thoughts

There is more to writing a good author bio than SEO and demonstrating E-A-T.

At the end of the day, it is all about the reader and how you can best serve their needs, capture their interest, and keep their attention.

Take, for example, this Dutch publisher’s subscriber functionality on their author bio pages.

Ellen deckwitz NRC good example author page functionality

As a subscriber, it is possible to follow her writing by receiving a push alert when she publishes next and have her articles included in your daily newsletter.

For SEO, have standalone URLs for author profiles, allowing them to be indexed, and make sure their on-page optimization for the author’s name are fundamental best practices.

But if you are in a more scrutinized niche such as YMYL, make sure to go into the details that demonstrate E-A-T as the Top Doctors example above has shown.

Related Resources:

5 ways to evaluate your authors for SEO
How to improve your website’s E-A-T
How structured data can support E-A-T
How Google patents can help explain how E-A-T
5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your EAT for Google

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First Time Author Bio Writing Examples and Guidelines

by Gatekeeper Press | Jul 17, 2020 | Blog , Writing

how to write an author bio with no experience

You have sailed through your first manuscript, nailing each benchmark of the self-publishing formatting process while writing a truly captivating story. Suddenly, though, you hit stop when you arrive at that last step: writing your author bio.

Facing this final step in the writing process can leave a first-time author shuddering as they wonder, “How do I write an author bio with no experience in writing?”

Penning an unpublished author bio is not as difficult as it might initially appear. After all, an author has to start somewhere! Think about it—all great authors had to write their first book at some point, meaning they were faced with the same problem of how to write an author bio with no experience.

These great writers undoubtedly struggled to solve the dilemma, too, but managed to push through and establish amazing literary careers—as will you.

First Time Publishing? Here’s What to Include in Your Author Bio

Think of your author bio as an opportunity to connect with your readers, versus a staid resume outlining your professional accomplishments.

The author bio should cultivate a sense of relationship with prospective readers; to entice them just enough to buy your book. Even as a first-time author, you can craft an interesting synopsis, including who you are, what you write, and why someone should read your book.

When grappling with the challenge of writing your first author bio, it helps to know that there is a general format to follow. These guidelines can assist you in assembling the important aspects of your first author bio, providing the kinds of information about you that the reader will enjoy knowing.

Author bio guidelines include:

1. Keep it brief.

Instead of attempting to list every facet of your career or all your hobbies, it is always best to keep the bio under 300 words.

2. Use a third-person voice.

Author bios come across as more professional when using the third person point of view, versus the first person.

3. Start with a one-liner.

Write an interesting opening line that incorporates your name, your profession (generally relevant for non-fiction titles), and the title of your book.

4. Sell yourself.

An author’s bio is akin to an elevator pitch, an interesting summary of your life, and how it relates to the book you wrote. Everything mentioned should be relevant to the book’s theme. For example, if you are a pediatric psychotherapist by trade and have decided to write a non-fiction book about parenting, that connection will increase your credibility.

5. List achievements sparingly.

Noting your college alma mater and degree is fine, but resist the temptation to list every career achievement ever accomplished, as doing so may come across as somewhat boastful and unnecessary.

6. Include some personal tidbits.

Adding a few personal hobbies or interests helps the reader feel a sense of familiarity with the author. Be selective and include those interests that further complement the theme of the book or that target your reader persona.

7. Use a professional photo.

Include a high-quality photo that does not have a distracting background. An unprofessional headshot will appear amateurish.

The primary difference between a first-time author’s bio and a seasoned professional’s is that the latter will be able to include other titles he or she has written in their bio. In addition, a career writer can include in the bio their “best-seller” status and any awards they have won, if these accomplishments were achieved.

4 First Time Author Bio Examples that Rock

Figuring out exactly how to write an author bio with no former experience may feel like a daunting task. Sure, you can locate bio templates online, but templates only provide the framework. It is up to you to pen something catchy and engaging that shines the most flattering light on your background, sans prior authorship. Here are some first-time author bio examples to hopefully inspire you:

1. Hannah Lee, author of Bloom Where You’re Planted

Hannah Lee was born and raised outside the city of Charleston, in the beautiful mountain state of West Virginia. Hannah considers her faith and family to be most important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her around her sweet yellow Labrador retriever, Tupelo. Bloom Where You’re Planted is Hannah’s first children’s book.

Note: Hannah Lee paints a picture of a person who values her loved ones in her short, succinct bio. This gives the reader a comforting sense that the writer is compassionate, which is an attractive trait in a children’s book author.

2. Dan DalMonte, author of The Realm of Possibility

Dan DalMonte was born in 1984 in San Francisco, California. Growing up, he was fascinated with baseball, and this interest led to some early exposure to reading since he was drawn to stories related to baseball. Later, Mr. DalMonte, who now teaches philosophy at the college level, developed a passion for ideas. In The Realm of Possibility, Dan explores the issue of how past events are unchangeable by introducing an ability to manipulate past events. The Realm of Possibility is Mr. DalMonte’s first book.

Note: Dan DalMonte describes the trajectory of his background that culminates in his passion for ideas. He piques the curiosity of the reader as to how exactly one can manipulate past events.

3. Victoria Lee, author of The Fever King

Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. She’s been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitchhiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an ex-pat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. She’s also a bit of a snob about fancy whiskey. Victoria writes early in the morning, then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her Border collie puppy and make her experiments work.

Note: Victoria Lee conjures up an eclectic, even eccentric image through the diverse collection of endeavors she has experienced in her young life and delivers these with humor. Quirky is what you might expect from an author of a dystopian novel, which inspires the reader to go check out her book.

4. Bruce Clarke, author of Death by Grand Jury

Bruce Clarke practiced criminal law as a defense attorney in Washington, D.C., as a partner in the firm Clarke & Graae and as a staff attorney with the Public Defender Service (PDS) for the District of Columbia. He later worked at the Federal Judicial Center, where he served as Director of its Education Division. While on sabbatical from the law, Clarke studied script analysis in New York with Stella Adler and began writing plays. His plays Bluesman and Fifteen Rounds with Jackson Pollock have been produced in D.C. and regionally. He is the recipient of a playwrighting grant from the D. C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a playwrighting residency at the Edward Albee Foundation, and the Larry Neal Award for Dramatic writing.

Note: Bruce Clarke lays the foundation for his book by describing his vast experience in the field of law. Readers of his bio will quickly grasp by his background that he has the inside scoop, allowing him to create some intriguing short stories centering on Washington D.C.

Ready to Make Your Name Known?

Even the above author bio examples for first-time authors may not be enough to help you create your eloquent bio. Worry not, when you sign up for one of our editing packages, the editorial team at Gatekeeper Press will review your bio, and help you to create a captivating author bio. Contact us today!

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How To Write An Author’s Biography—7 Best Facets To Share With Readers

August 9, 2022

Writing an author bio is a crucial step in your writing career.

How your bio is written will give publishers, critics, and readers their first impression of you.

So, how do you portray yourself well in a short bio using 100-200 words, which is the standard author bio length?

Beyond the word limit, how do you write an author bio that makes an impact? Check out the tips and advice below, followed by examples of quality author bios from which to take inspiration.

If you are at a loss about how to write an author’s biography for your originally published work, this article is for you.

How to write an author’s biography

Readers, literary agents, and publishing companies want to know who you are. Artists are also businesses unto themselves, and a great pitch is key to good business.

Consider your author bio as your sales pitch. Why should a reader read your work ? What’s in it for literary agents and publishers?

How many words are in an author bio?

A typical author bio is only around 100 words. As a writer, you know that 100 words are very few to share your entire life experience.

The challenge in writing your own bio lies in condensing all the critical, relevant, and interesting information about yourself in such a short passage.

What to include in an author bio

With all the information about your life, which is relevant to most readers and will pique their interests?

1. Your background

Where are you from? And where do you live now?

Readers often naturally resonate with those from their hometown or favorite city. Your home and current city/country are one line in your bio and may be condensed to half a sentence (examples to follow).

2. Personal background

Who are you, and what made you that way? What experiences have you had that relate to your book’s theme or story?

What do you love to write about? Are you into creative writing focusing on poetry? What’s your niche, your style, your inspiration?

How about your relevant work experience? Have you worked in publishing? Have you been featured in reputable literary journals or magazines?

Use the questions and suggestions above as a guide. You don’t have to include all this information, or you can include more.

The critical thing to remember is to keep everything simple and concise.

Follow the basic author bio template outlined below to get started.

Start your author bio a strong opening line. This is the reader’s first point of contact with who you are, so make it relevant and memorable.

Consider mentioning where you’re from to connect with potential locals or establish yourself as a member of a cultural scene.

New York City and Portland, Oregon are famous scenes for writers, and mentioning that you’re from there (as long as you really are!) can improve how a potential reader views you and your work.

4. Reputation and achievements

After your introduction, show off your previous experience and success by mentioning awards you’ve won or for which you’ve been nominated and previous work published.

Highlighting your achievements in your author bio instills confidence in the readers that your work is high quality and worth their time.

5. Why should readers consider your work?

Now that you’ve introduced yourself and highlighted your achievements, it’s time to show potential readers why you’re a credible author in your niche. How does your experience make you an authority in the subject?

You do not need to be a published author of ten books just to be able to show your authority in the field or genre you’ve chosen.

If you write about war, were you in service? If you write about art, are you an artist or art critic? Help readers feel confident by establishing your authority in your particular field or niche through your author bio.

6. Themes, style, genre

You’ve shown the reader why you can write about the niche. Now it’s time to offer them even more information about what to expect for your work.

Over the next line or two, outline your style and themes.

Are you in to creative writing or are you more focused on academic writing?

Do you mostly write contemporary romance? Historical fiction? Satire?

Readers often choose books by their genre of preference, so it’s essential to highlight your genre , themes, and style in your author bio. Doing so attracts already-interested readers, whereby your style and themes are major selling points.

7. Off-time

What do you do when you’re not writing? You’re human, so you have other qualities, hobbies, and passions beyond your career.

Using your author bio, let readers know what your personal interests are, the activities you like to do in your spare time or causes you are passionate about.

Relatability is vital in readers’ purchasing decisions, so get vulnerable and show a more intimate side of yourself in your bio.

The template

Here are some helpful templates to give you an idea on how to structure your author bio:

[Author] was born in [location] and now resides in [location]. Known for their works [book title] and [book title] (or) published in [journal/publication], [author] has a lot to offer fans of [genre].

Having worked as [experience], [Author] offers experience-based insight into the world of [topic/niche]. [Author] explores [themes] with style, wit, and grace.

In their spare time, [Author] likes to spend time on [hobbies].

The above is a basic author bio template but a good starting point. Use the template to write your own author bio but feel free to edit and change the structure and content as you see fit.

Author bios: First person or third person?

Authors often write their own bios but write in the third person because doing so reads well and helps you sound more reputable and established.

If you write in the first person (using ‘I’ statements), it’s too easy to sound overconfident and conceited.

Keeping the bio narrative in the third person makes it much easier to talk yourself up without sounding arrogant or ‘tooting your own horn.’

The importance of an author bio

Your bio serves as a type of business card.

A bio is crucial, whether as self publishing authors or as someone who published traditionally. It informs potential readers of your background, style, and character.

Essentially, your bio is a sales pitch, one of y our book marketing tools. It’s the ‘why’ regarding a reader’s decision to read or purchase your work.

Your bio helps you establish and improve your reputation, by putting forward a specific perspective on who you are.

Credibility and authority

What qualifies you to write about your niche or topic? If you write a book about travel and you inform readers of your extensive traveling experience, that gives your credibility and authority on the subject.

Readers are more likely to engage with your book if you write a non-fiction book about self-care and have experience working as a therapist or counselor.

Similarly, suppose you inform readers of your past success, such as getting published in a reputable literary journal or magazines like the Wall Street Journal or USA Today. In that case, they feel more confident that your work is worth their time and money.

Relatability

Famous authors such as Stephen King or Haruki Murakami don’t need to rely on their author bio as much as lesser-known or first-time authors.

Such authors already have an established reputation that gives readers confidence and interest.

However, if you’re a first-time freelance writer or don’t have the level of fame as the authors mentioned, your bio is how you instill confidence in the reader.

If a reader chooses to read work by an author whom they’ve never heard of, they naturally want to know more about said author.

In what ways can you relate to the reader? For example, if you write a psychology book about anxiety, your experiences of struggling with and overcoming fear will be incredibly relevant and relatable information for the reader.

Several factors influence a potential reader’s purchasing decision when interested in a book from an author they’ve never heard. Book marketing covers a wide range of tools and activities.

These factors are often surface level, such as the book cover , the size of the book, and how they heard about it in the first place.

Another major factor is the author’s bio. Your bio is not the same as other ‘hard sell’ marketing tactics, but rather a soft sell, a gentle persuasion to give your work a chance.

Examples of Author Bios

If you want to write a killer bio, it’s wise to take inspiration from great author bio examples.

Below we’ve included the author bios of renowned authors John Scalzi ( Old Man’s War , Redshirts) , June Hur (The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls), and John Grisham (The Pelican Brief).

John Scalzi

John Scalzi writes books, which makes perfect sense considering where you’re reading this. He’s best known for writing science fiction, including the New York Times bestseller Redshirts, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes non-fiction on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film and was the Creative Consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series. He enjoys pie, as should all right-thinking people. You can get to his blog by typing the word “Whatever” into Google. No, seriously, try it.

Scalzi’s wit shines in his opening line. Following the opener, we learn about his genre (sci-fi), previously published work, and literary achievements.

Finally, he adds more humor to give the reader a warm, soft giggle. Scalzi’s personality shines through his bio and earns him the positive reputation he boasts today.

June Hur was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, except when she moved back to Korea and attended high school there. She studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. She began writing her debut novel after obsessing over books about Joseon Korea. She can be found wandering through nature or journaling at a coffee shop when she’s not writing. June is the Author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls and currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.

June Hur’s opening byline offers a crash course in her background. Following her opener, we learn about her education and early days as a writer.

What makes June Hur’s bio so great is that it offers readers a peek into her personal life outside of writing, which makes her more three-dimensional and relatable.

John Grisham

John Grisham is the author of forty-seven consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include The Judge’s List, Sooley, and his third Jake Brigance novel, A Time for Mercy, which is being developed by HBO as a limited series. Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. When he’s not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system. John lives on a farm in central Virginia.

Grisham’s bio highlights his writing achievements and provides the reader with a sense of his credibility. The personal details of his life emphasize his belief in justice and equality.

Grisham’s bio adds a personal touch that also makes him relatable – he offers the reader information about his home – a bit of information that also helps him come across as relatable to the reader, even amongst all of his accomplishments.

Your author biography is never really finished. The more you write , the more experience you gain, and the greater your reputation, the more you can adapt and come up with your own killer author bio.

Even if you’re a first-time author, don’t be intimidated by the bio. You may not have much experience now, but you can still introduce readers into your life and experience. In time, you will establish yourself as a respectable authority in your niche.

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How to write an author bio as a new writer

Your author bio is your calling card. A strong author bio establishes your authority, introduces readers to your background, and convinces them to buy your book.
An author bio is usually no longer than 100 words, so keep it short and simple. Include your location, relevant experience, and key themes in your work.
Avoid common mistakes when writing your author bio. Write in the third person, keep it succinct, and don’t be afraid to brag about your achievements.

As a writer, your author bio is one of the most important passages you’ll ever write. A well-written bio can make or break the sale of your book - whether you’re pitching it to an agent, a publisher, or a reader. As a result, you need to know how to write an author bio, especially if you don’t have a whole lot of experience yet. You can also use our free AI author bio generator which can help you get started!

Author bios are typically no longer than 100 words - so every character counts. In this guide, we’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about author bios, helping you get a handle on this tricky but vital task. You’ll see lots of successful author bio examples in our 6-step process for writing an author bio as a new writer.

The importance of a good author bio

Your author bio is your calling card. Whether you’re self-publishing or heading down the traditional publishing route, readers and agents alike want to know about you and your background. So it’s important to deliver the information in a way that makes them want to read your writing.

Some people will buy your book because they know you, or because you’ve been recommended to them. But most readers don’t seek out books by first-time novelists - so you should do everything you can to sell your book.

That’s where your author bio comes in. There are three key reasons why it’s so important to write a bio that stays with people:

A strong author bio establishes your authority . If your book is about a young soldier enduring his first military tour, and you spent years serving in the army, readers will automatically give your book more credibility. If you’ve had short stories published in a range of publications, agents will have confidence there’s a market for your work. ‍
Introduce potential readers to your background . Many people want to read books that offer a new perspective, so this is your chance to tell them who you are, and why they’ll be interested in what you have to say. Talk with pride about your culture, work history, and personal achievements. ‍
Convince people to buy your book . Along with your book blurb and quotes from reviews, your author bio should persuade people to read your book. It’s not the place for a hard sell, but it should be persuasive and powerful enough to convince readers to choose your book.

Your bio is a cog in a much larger wheel. Readers will look at your book cover, reviews, price, and length as well as your author bio. So the more of these you can make compelling and convincing, the more likely it is that readers will choose your book.

What should an author bio include?

Since you only have 100 words to make an impression in your author bio and you need to stay on track. Here are the key components every author should include in their bio:

Where you’re from and where you live. People connect with local authors, so be proud of your hometown and your adopted city (if they’re different).
Relevant personal background information. This can be cultural, geographical, or personal. Include any information that’s relevant to your book and your story.
The themes you love to write about. This helps readers make an informed decision about the books they buy, and helps you build a loyal readership when you deliver on your promise.
Relevant qualifications or experience. This isn’t your CV, so don’t list everything. But if you’ve worked at magazines or publishing houses, this can validate you as an accomplished writer.
Any awards you’ve won or publications you’ve been featured in. Authors with little or no experience may not have these (yet!), but if you do, your bio is a great place to feature them.

Before you start writing your author bio, make a list of everything you could include, using the above points as a guide. Not everything will make the cut, but it’s helpful to have this list to hand when you’re structuring and writing your author bio.

How to write an author bio for an agent

Now you know the purpose of your author bio, and what should be included, you can do what you do best - write it.

Before you start, here are some common mistakes new authors make:

Writing in first person . An author bio written in the first person is less authoritative than a third person bio. Writing about yourself in the third person may feel strange at first, but this is the standard format, so follow this to the letter.
Being too modest . A lot of writers are introverts, so boasting about their achievements doesn’t come naturally. But your author bio is going to be part of your sales pitch, so it needs to be convincing. Take off your humility hat and write with confidence.
Writing too much . Inexperienced writers sometimes compensate for their lack of experience by writing more. This is usually a telltale sign that you’re lacking confidence, so keep your author bio concise.

6 steps to writing a killer author bio

Ready to write the perfect author bio? Let’s get started.

1. Write an introductory byline

The first line of your author bio is the first thing your readers will learn about you - so make it count. Start with important, relevant facts that agents and readers will care about most - including the name of your new book.

As an example, here is the author bio of debut novelist Paul Mendez:

Paul Mendez was born in Dudley. He began writing in 2002, and has contributed to the Times Literary Supplement and the Brixton Review Of Books. He lives in London, and Rainbow Milk is his first novel.

For new authors, personal information acts as a point of connection between you and a potential reader. The takeaway here is to make sure your readers know enough about your background to read on and find out more.

If you have any awards or previous publications, this is a great place to include them. But if you haven’t, don’t be disheartened. Your author bio will evolve as you publish more work, so don’t worry if you don’t have lots of publications or awards you can include at this stage.

2. Establish your authority

Now you’ve captured your readers’ attention in the opening line, it’s time to show them you’re the real deal.

The next couple of sentences should deliver a concise explanation of your credibility, both as an author and on the subject of your book. Remember, the reader is still deciding whether to buy your book - so you need to explain why they should listen to you.

If you’re a Nobel Prize winner, this part of the bio will write itself. For the rest of us, the obvious things to highlight are degrees, awards, and training. If you have a lot of experience, focus on the most relevant information. If there’s nothing spectacular you can list, focus on your experiences and education.

Kevin Kwan, author of the blockbuster book Crazy Rich Asians, uses a very simple author bio in his debut novel:

Kevin Kwan was born and raised in Singapore. He currently lives in Manhattan. Crazy Rich Asians is his first novel.

It doesn’t matter that Kwan didn’t have lots of accolades or publications at the time of publishing; the fact he grew up in Singapore establishes Kwan as an authority on the affluent Asian community.

3. Outline your themes and style

For new authors, it’s important to acknowledge and emphasise your credibility - but once you’ve done this, readers will also want to know what to expect from your novel.

This final section is where you’ll outline the themes and style of your writing. Is it funny? Sad? Political? Historical? Does it draw on themes of love, war, or vengeance? Telling the reader what kind of writing you specialise in can add power to your pitch, and help draw in readers who are looking for books in your specialist genre.

Prolific author Joanna Trollope’s author bio begins:

Author of eagerly awaited and sparklingly readable novels often centred around the domestic nuances and dilemmas of life in contemporary England, Joanna Trollope is also the author of several historical novels and of Britannia’s Daughters, a study of women in the British Empire. ‍

This sentence tells the reader what they can expect when they pick up one of Trollope’s books. She’s likely to connect with people who enjoy reading other similar material.

4. Make it relatable, unique and concise

Authority crops up again and again in author bios - but while your content should be authoritative, your tone should remain friendly and relatable.

Now you have an initial draft of your author bio, read back through it and check the tone. If it seems swaggering or unfriendly, adjust the tone of your author bio to be more personable and matter-of-fact.

Here’s an extract from Eva Ibbotson’s author bio, demonstrating her trademark charisma and relatability:

Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna, but when the Nazis came to power her family fled to England and she was sent to boarding school. She planned to become a physiologist, but hated doing experiments on animals, and was rescued from some fierce rabbits by her husband-to-be.

If you can pull it off, some wry humour is a great way to ingratiate yourself with potential readers - especially if your book falls in the comedy book genre . Experimenting with different ways to make your author bio unique will help you stand out in a reader’s (or publisher’s) mind.

This step is also an opportunity to make sure your author bio is the perfect length, and trim any unwieldy adverbs or overlong sentences.

Tip: Many authors use this space to add a link to their website or a Twitter handle. In this case, even if the reader doesn't end up buying your book, you’ll still get an opportunity to connect with them and hopefully cultivate a further relationship.

5. Let it rest

The last step in writing an author’s bio is editing. Like your story manuscript, the best writing is allowed to breathe before you go back over it to create the final draft. Ideally, this process should take at least a few days.

In the meantime, share your author bio with your friends, family, and fellow authors. If you’ve shared your work with other people before, you’ll know that not everyone will come back with invaluable professional feedback. Most will just say ‘nice’ or ‘looks good’.

But, ideally, you should get three kinds of feedback:

Feedback from colleagues. Your colleagues might highlight other key professional achievements which should be included in your author bio.
Feedback from your family. This will help you determine whether the message is clear enough, and help you gauge the tone of your writing.
Feedback from fellow authors. Lots of other people have been through the torment of writing their own author bio. They may be able to share feedback they’ve had from editors and agents that could help you with your author bio.

Some feedback is more valuable than others, so don’t feel obliged to use the feedback you receive if you don’t feel it will add value to your bio. As long as you include all the relevant information, establish yourself as a credible author, and maintain a professional, friendly tone, you’re on the right track.

6. Keep your bio up-to-date

Don’t rely on a dusty old bio that’s no longer fit for purpose. Your author bio should evolve over time as you publish more work, get more experience, and earn more accolades.

Each time you submit your author bio, use this checklist to make sure it’s up-to-date:

Is it in the right format? Tweak your bio so it follows the guidelines set out by the publisher or agent.
Does it contain the right information for this audience? Like a CV, check your bio is tailored for the publication or audience who’ll be reading it. ‍
Does it include your most recent work? Check your author bio contains all the most relevant and recent information.

Where does the author bio go in a book?

Different publishers have different approaches to where they print the author bio. For hardback books, the bio is often found on the dust jacket at the end of the book. Paperbacks, meanwhile, usually include the author bio at the front of the book, before the publishing information. Occasionally, the author bio can be found on the back page of a paperback, or after the publishing information and before the introduction.

For more inspiration, check out the Penguin Random House authors page . You can see the bios of every author publishing with them.

If you’re self-publishing, or your book will be issued in ebook format, your author bio is likely to be a lot more visible. It often features on the product page for your book, as well as towards the front of the book itself. As a result, self-publishing authors need to write a particularly compelling bio.

There are no hard and fast rules about where your author bio should go, but by following these conventions, you’ll make it easy for potential readers to find and read your author bio before they buy.

Author bios are one of the most difficult things for many authors to write. Not only are there strict form and content rules, but you’re forced to go against human nature by boasting about your awards, experience, and accomplishments.

But if you can write a great bio, it can separate you from the bunch, whether you’re self-publishing or pitching to agents.

For more useful resources on self-publishing and writing a novel, take a look at our author advice hub . Check out our guide on book chapters where we explain how long they should be and provide examples of popular books.

Advice from a published writer

Alex Fisher, " Seadogs and Criminals"

You don’t need to write much for an author bio. Keep it short and sweet, just enough so that the reader gets the idea of who you are and can imagine who it is that has created this story they’ve just followed. Just a vague location of where you live (a county or country), who you live with, your job, and a few hobbies will do.

Achievements and qualifications can also be added but these don’t matter too much. You don’t have to be qualified to be a great writer; you just need experience and passion.

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25 Eye-Catching Author Bio Examples

Ranking high on the list of Things Authors Hate To Write, biographies are something that can make even the most seasoned writer pull their hair out. Why do we hate writing them so much? Probably because it involves writing about ourselves. We write stories about other people, so having to turn the spotlight on ourselves can be daunting at best and downright cringe-inducing at worse.

However, a solid author bio is actually an important marketing tool. It can impact sales, your reputation, and help you grow a fanbase. The more fans you have, it follows the more sales you'll see. If you're a nonfiction writer, your bio is particularly important as it establishes your authority/expertise to write about the topic in your book and also your credibility with readers.

Check out these 25 authors who absolutely nailed their authors bios, and don't be scared to take notes! If you want additional inspiration, you can always use HubSpot's AI Content Writer to generate an author bio example or two. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

In no particular order:

Courtney Milan's Author Bio
Sarah J. Maas' Author Bio
Michael Siemsen's Author Bio
Jonathan Maberry's Author Bio
Glynnis Campbell's Author Bio
Kwame Alexander's Author Bio
Nora Roberts' Author Bio
Alyssa Cole's Author Bio
Colleen Hoover's Author Bio
Gillian Flynn's Author Bio
David Baldacci's Author Bio
Adam Silvera's Author Bio
Mia Sosa's Author Bio
April White's Author Bio
Rick Mofina's Author Bio
Chuck Wendig's Author Bio
Skye Warren's Author Bio
J. T. Ellison's Author Bio
Karin Slaughter's Author Bio
Julia Quinn's Author Bio
Craig Martelle's Author Bio
Vanessa Riley's Author Bio
Aiden Thomas' Author Bio
Tiffany D. Jackson's Author Bio
Angie Fox's Author Bio

So, what makes a great author bio, and how can you write one?

Write in the third person

There's a reason this is called an author biography and not an author autobiography . Though you are the person who is more than likely writing your bio, you want it to sound as though someone else wrote it—someone who's objective and not biased toward you. Of course, being that you're the author, that sounds totally weird, since you more than likely are biased toward yourself. Still, establishing a third-person perspective when writing about yourself automatically establishes objectivity and professionalism, and inspires trust on the part of the reader.

Be mindful of tone

This is an important one, and what tone you use depends on the kind of writing you do. If you're a fiction author, you can usually get away with a more casual tone. Other subgenres lend themselves well to a bit of humor, too—generally lighthearted romance, chicklit, women's fiction, romantic comedies are good subgenres where humor tends to be well received. However, gauge this based on your writing and your understanding of your audience, or the type of audience you'd like to have. Conversely, if you're writing more serious fiction like literary fiction, hard sci-fi, epic fantasy or historical, then you might want to go easy on the humor and instead focus more on your expertise. Though it's fiction, readers might like to know that you have a Master's degree in Military History, or perhaps you've got a medical or science background that helped you write your biopunk novel. The same rules apply to nonfiction as well—humor or a light tone can be leveraged depending on the subject matter. If you're writing a lighthearted, uplifting personal development book, readers may appreciate your sense of humor. On the other hand, if you're writing a book about personal finance or navigating mental health issues, then perhaps you might focus on a more neutral tone and highlight your credentials instead.

Speaking of… discuss your credentials

The success of all books, whether they're nonfiction or fiction, rely on the credibility of the author. This credibility leaves the reader with a sense of trust, knowing that whatever they're reading was written by someone who could be called a subject matter expert. When readers trust you, they're more apt to tell the world about your book. And they're also apt to purchase your next one.

Credentials can look differently depending on the author and the kind of book being written, but they do need to align with the writing somehow. For instance, if you're a mechanic by education and experience, you're probably not the best person to write a nutrition book, unless you have those credentials. If you're a lawyer, you probably want to steer clear writing a book about medicine—unless you have those credentials as well. People want to read the work of someone who knows what they're talking about, so making it clear that you are indeed that subject matter expert immediately puts a reader's mind at ease.

You might be wondering how credentials work if you're a fiction writer. While it's certainly true that signaling authority in a field as a fiction writer is indeed more difficult—for instance, you don't have to be a scientist by education or profession to write a hard biopunk novel—subject matter expertise or at least thorough research can be indicated with a bibliography of sources, if you consulted actual medical journals or papers or textbooks on which to base your novel. If you write political thrillers, maybe your credentials come from the time you spent working for a three-letter agency, or maybe you write police procedurals because you were once a cop. You also don't need to have lived the life you're writing about. You don't need to have a law enforcement background to write an FBI series, and you don't need to have worked as a CIA asset in order to write an awesome spy thriller. But the authority you should have is a clear understanding of how storytelling mechanics function. Your writing should be top-notch and thoroughly edited—this is what establishes your authority as a professional writer, and when it comes to fiction, oftentimes that's enough.

Include your achievements

Did you graduate college with a degree in Creative Writing? Mention that. Did you attend graduate school and obtain an MFA? Have you won awards, scholarships, or fellowships for your writing? Readers need to know. Have you been published before? List those journals, magazines, anthologies, and/or individual publications.

This point correlates directly to the previous one about credentials, because they indicate to the reader that, essentially, you know what you're doing, and they're in the hands of an expert writer who is going to tell them an amazing story.

Say you don't have many—or any—achievements like the ones mentioned. That's okay, too! This could be a good place to list your relevant interests and hobbies. For instance, if you've written a political thriller, maybe you have a well-documented interest in politics, the American government, and conspiracies. Maybe in between novels, you spend your time reading tons of books about the subject. Maybe your serial killer novel is inspired by your interest in true crime, and for the writing of the book you read as many serial killer biographies you could get your hands on and conducted hundreds of hours of research. This, too, shows the reader why your book will be written as expertly as possible.

Mention your backlist

The author bio is a great place to mention your other books, if you have them. Perhaps the book the reader's holding is part of a series—do they know that there are more books? Point them in the direction of relevant work. You could briefly mention other works you have that are totally different than the one they're reading. For example, if they just completed your serial killer novel, they may or may not be interested in your contemporary romance. A safe way to introduce readers to your other work is to direct them to your website, but keep in mind you're not selling them on this, only pointing it out.

Keep it short

While you might be able to write about yourself for pages and pages, the truth is most readers only want to read about a couple of paragraphs about you, just enough to get to know, learn why you wrote the novel if that's applicable, and where they can keep up with your work. Unless you have a huge resume related to writing—you've got TV shows and movies and merch related to your books—you'll probably want to keep it short and sweet. The challenge is to weave in as much relevant information about yourself in as few words as possible, in order to entice the reader to stick with you but not overwhelm with information they simply won't care about. But, hey, we are writers, after all!

Hopefully taking a peek at these varied author bios that each feature something we touched on in this article will get your creative juices flowing—about yourself! Don't be daunted by thought of writing about yourself. This is your opportunity to show the world what an excellent writer you are, and why they definitely need to get into your book. Happy writing!

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How to Write An Author Bio That Attracts Readers

Has a stranger ever asked you, “What can you tell me about yourself?”

And did you feel all the blood drain from your face as you thought, “Who even am I?!”?

Pretty much everyone can relate to that feeling…but it’s even worse for authors.

Because a reader is not just trying to get to know you. They’re trying to figure out if they want to buy your books.

Calling this a daunting task is an understatement…so we’re going to walk you through writing an author bio that grabs attention. And we’ve included over 20 unique examples because seeing them in action is the best way to learn!

What is An Author Bio

An author biography briefly tells the reader everything they need to know about the author’s credentials, writer journey, and previous works.

It’s not just a simple overview, it’s a book marketing tool used to summarize who you are while convincing them that your books are worth buying.

Do You Need An Author Bio?

With 99.9% confidence, we can say that most readers don’t know who you are. Your author biography will be the first contact for them. You need one because:

It helps build trust with the reader.
It allows the reader to relate to you.
It promotes your books and other work.
It increases book sales.

The biography of an author carries the same essence as their books. Therefore, if a reader likes yours, they’ll feel more confident that they’ll like your books too.

How to Write an Author Bio

A successful author bio will paint yourself as interesting and your books as worthwhile. These tips will help you create one that fits you best:

Aim for the target audience

You can only nail your author bio if you’ve considered who you’re writing it for. If it helps, you can create an image in your head about who this reader could be. Use these to help you form that picture:

Their age group,
Their hobbies and lifestyle,
Where they are from, etc.

Then you need to write what this type of reader wants to get out of reading your bio.

For example, if you’ve written cookbooks about quick meals for busy parents, it would be worth mentioning that you’re also a parent and how many kids you have so the reader can build trust in your brand.

How long should it be?

It can be anywhere from 60-150 words, but never over (unless you’re doing a tasteful ‘About’ page on your website).

If you’re using it for your book, we suggest 60-90 words, but you could do much less if it suits you.

The length will be determined by a few factors:

How much privacy would you like to maintain about your personal life
What else would you like to promote, for example, a podcast or your organization
How many awards have you won
How many quotes or endorsements would you like to share
What perception of your brand do you want to create

Want To Give Your Readers An Engaging Online Experience?

Get an author website that showcases your books, grows your list, and attracts publishers and promoters.

Write in the Third Person

Why does it have to be in the third person, you ask?

It’s a tale as old as time. Or in other words, it’s industry standard.

You come off as professional if it’s in the third person and it can be used anywhere.

Speaking of…

Where will you use it?

You’ll have to write a few variations of your author bio so you’re prepared for every situation.

You’ll need:

A longer one for your author website ,
A punchy one for social media,
A captivating one for your book’s product page (for example your Amazon book page – you can use Amazon Author Central to do this),
A compelling one to go alongside a book blurb
A convincing one for book proposals
An informative one for book signings , interviews, speaking engagements articles, book press releases , etc.

Balance facts with personality

Let the readers into your world with some cool facts about you, whether it’s awards you’ve won or accomplishments of the company you’re a part of – if it relates to your work. This creates an outline for your professional prowess.

Without professionalism, readers may be tempted to run for the hills. But that doesn’t mean your author bio can’t have personality.

As a matter of fact, when you add some personal details that’s your chance to reel them in.

With personal details, you can color in that outline to form a fuller, beautiful image for readers to have in their minds when they think of you.

Author Bio Example: Christopher Paolini

Check out this example:

Christopher Paolini is the creator of the World of Eragon and the Fractalverse. Holder of the Guinness World Record for youngest author of a bestselling series. Qualified for marksman in the Australian army. Scottish laird. Dodged gunfire . . . more than once. As a child was chased by a moose in Alaska. Has his name inscribed on Mars. Firstborn of Kenneth and Talita. Husband. Father. Asker of questions and teller of stories. His latest novel, Fractal Noise, will be published on May 16th, 2023.

Why it works

The biography of this author has many personal tidbits but the one that may appeal the most to a reader is near the top of the paragraph.

Keep it concise and relevant

An author bio includes a magnitude of information, and you are tasked with keeping all of it concise and to the point.

To do this you have to share your accolades and achievements with caution. If you add too much then you’ll likely leave the reader snoring. And if there’s irrelevant information, the reader will just be confused.

An author bio is about saying a lot in a few words.

Include contact links

There’s nothing wrong with plugging your social media and author website links at the bottom of your author bio.

It’s a great way to get your readers to stay connected with you and it serves as a neat CTA (call-to-action).

And that leads us to…

Call them to action

If the reader is interested after reading your author bio, you’ll want to have a CTA that tells them what to do next.

It could be as simple as asking the reader to follow you on your social media profiles or to check out your latest book release.

If they’ve made it to the end of your biography, you might as well try and keep that momentum going!

Author Bio Example: Suzanne Leonhard

Check out the CTA in this author bio for example:

Suzanne Leonhard is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Formerly published with Harper Collins, she now writes post apocalyptic thrillers to satisfy her love for end times fiction. She lives on the beautiful Florida coast with her husband and a whole lotta cats. You can email Suzanne at [email protected], visit her website at suzanneleonhard.com, or join her on her Facebook page @TheGoliathCode.

Suzanne’s bio briefly shares what she’s comfortable with and effectively ends off with a few CTAs that encourage her fans and newcomers to keep in touch.

19 Inspiring Author Bio Examples

Authors are not just limited to the words they write on the page, and no one author is the same as another.

So, to make sure you write the best author bio you can, we’ve included 20 examples that highlight a different element. You have the pick of the bunch!

1. Fantasy author bio

Author Bio Example: Chloe Gong

Check out this Fantasy author bio:

Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in The New York Times, People, Forbes, and more. She is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she double-majored in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Chloe is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok under @thechloegong, or visit her website at www.thechloegong.com.

Chloe’s author bio is classy and shares just the right amount. Her accoladed books followed by her reach to twenty countries show off her worldwide appeal and her writing ability. Fantasy readers will be intrigued by the book names and have more trust in her after seeing her many achievements. Her last line does all the heavy lifting on her personality. Her target readers will definitely relate to her.

2. Romance author bio

Author Bio Example: Maggie Carpenter

Check out this Romance author bio:

International and Amazon Best-Selling Author Maggie Carpenter, pens thrilling, romantic tales starring Rope Wrangling Cowboys, Motorcycle Bad Boys, Mafia Masters, Amorous Aliens, and Sexy Shifters. Regardless of love’s challenges, her books always end in a heart warming HEA. For her daily brain break, she heads off to a barn where she spends time with her beautiful, smart, dark bay mare, Miss Bonny. Social Media Links. Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/MaggieNL (Free book at sign up) https://www.MaggieCarpenter.com https://www.facebook.com/MaggieCarpenterWriter/ https://www.facebook.com/MaggieCarpenterWriter/ (Friends Page) https://tinyurl.com/MaggiesGroup (Facebook Group) https://www.instagram.com/maggiesub/ https://twitter.com/magcarpenter2 https://tinyurl.com/MaggiesAmazonPage https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maggie-carpenter Email: [email protected]

Maggie’s author bio has all the markings to get romance readers’ eyes widened. It cleverly mentions the types of tales you may encounter in her novels while using a well-known acronym in the community (HEA – Happily Ever After). This actively engages the target reader along with the backing in the first-line hook: “International and Amazon Best-Selling Author.” We then get to peek inside her life as she ends the paragraph with a personal anecdote. Don’t forget the plentiful links she’s shared – endless possibilities to connect with her!

3. Thriller Adventure author bio

Author Bio Example: Andrew Clawson

Check out this Thriller Adventure author bio:

Andrew Clawson writes thriller and adventure novels that make readers think and keep them turning pages long into the night, blurring the line between fact and fiction. He is the Amazon best-selling author of multiple series, including the Parker Chase thrillers, all of which have been #1 Amazon category best-sellers. His other series include the TURN novels and the Harry Fox adventures. Andrew’s books are action-packed journeys blending fact and fiction, often taking a wild ride through the past to reveal mysteries and conspiracies that threaten the world today in stories where the action never stops and each page turns faster than the last. Andrew lives in Pittsburgh with his family and their rescued black cat, a wonderful little guy who thinks he’s a dog. To learn more, please visit his website at andrewclawson.com.

We like Andrew’s author bio because the purpose is clear: convince the reader to buy the book. The first sentences describe how readers experience his book. Then he backs that up with past work done and a notable accolade. He sells the themes inside his books with a pacey middle paragraph that again hints at what to expect.

4. Sci-Fi author bio

Author Bio Example: Andy Weir

Check out this Sci-Fi author bio:

ANDY WEIR built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail. He lives in California.

Which Sci-FI reader wouldn’t want to read Sci-Fi from a nerd with experience in software and knowledge of physics? This author’s biography says so much in very little time, expanding on both his personal and writing life in a concise manner.

5. Children’s author bio

Author Bio Example: Tonya Flores’s

Check out this Children’s author bio:

Children’s author Tonya Flores is an outgoing, energetic, busy mom of two who believes in real life superheroes! Passionate about child development, Tonya is thrilled to now be able to dedicate her time to pursue a long-time dream of helping children grow to become the best version of themselves. Known for her dedication in the pursuit of goals, Tonya is committed to helping children around the world recognize their unique abilities and grow up to be happy, confident, and fulfilled.

Tonya’s author bio does less to sell her books and more her background. This will instill confidence in the parents who are looking to read books to their children which will impact them positively while entertaining them.

6. Non-fiction author bio

Author Bio Example: Robert M. Sapolsky

Check out this Non-Fiction author bio:

Robert M. Sapolsky is the author of several works of nonfiction, including A Primate’s Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone, and Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. He is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant. He lives in San Francisco.

This author bio screams non-fiction with a sophisticated voice. This short piece manages to list a few past books, an accolade, and share Robert’s field of knowledge. This biography’s main purpose is to show the link between the author’s expertise to the books written.

7. Multiple genres author bio

Author Bio Example: Macy Blake

Check out this Multi-genre author bio:

Macy Blake believes in unicorns and fairies, in moonbeams and stardust, and that happily ever after comes in all colors of the rainbow. She loves to lose herself in paranormal romance, living vicariously through her favorite sexy fictional heroes. These days you can often find her lost in her imagination, trying to capture the magic of her own worlds. When she’s not writing, she’s busy arguing with her feisty German Shepherd, Minerva, and attempting to train her adorable pound puppies, Pomona and Severus.

Macy’s bio skillfully expands upon the themes and genres of her work in the first sentence, leaving the rest of her bio the responsibility of laying out her personal side. This author bio is full of personality, giving the reader an idea of the writing style inside her many genres.

8. Achievements

Author Bio Example: Fonda Lee

See how this author bio displays achievements:

Fonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the Green Bone Saga, beginning with Jade City and continuing in Jade War and Jade Legacy. She is also the author of the acclaimed young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo and Cross Fire, and has written comics for Marvel. Fonda is a three-time winner of the Aurora Award, and a multiple finalist for the Nebula and Locus Awards. Fonda is a recovering corporate strategist, black belt martial artist, Eggs Benedict enthusiast, and action movie aficionado. Born and raised in Canada, she now resides in Portland, Oregon. Follow Fonda online at www.fondalee.com and on Twitter @fondajlee.

We’re hit immediately with an achievement to grab our attention in this author bio. Some of Fonda’s popular work is sprinkled in and a coating of wonderful accolades solidifies the author’s impressive CV. The end of the paragraph lets us get to know Fonda in a way that intrigues and makes the reader relate.

9. Experience & Expertise

Author Bio Example: Brit Bennett

See how this author bio provides proof of expertise:

Born and raised in Southern California, Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University and earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction as well as the 2014 Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. She is a National Book Foundation “5 under 35” honoree, and her essays are featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel.

This author bio example is packed with lines that explain the author’s experience and expertise. Although it can seem harder to show expertise in fiction writing, Brit has represented it well here. Her work with the publications will go a long way to bolster her author brand for readers and industry professionals.

10. A nice picture

Author Bio Example: Angie Thomas

Check out the headshot to the left and the author bio below:

Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She can also still rap if needed. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, was acquired by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in a 13-house auction. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg set to star.

This author bio example is all about the headshot. Picking the right picture to go alongside your bio is vital. It needs to suit the text next to it while corresponding to your brand. We love Angie’s picture because it conveys personality while being very welcoming. With some good lighting and camera work, you can do your headshot that hits all the checkmarks.

11. Past jobs

Author Bio Example: J. Z. York

Check out how this author bio reveals past jobs:

J Z York is new to fiction writing, with Pulse her debut novel. An Air Force Veteran, she enthusiastically accepted assignment as a first woman in an all-male career field. She’s been a professional photographer, cat rancher, dog magnet, miniature horse breeder, and unlucky guinea pig grandmother (sorry Jenniva). Working in several aspects of the film and television industry, she enjoyed collecting anecdotes while crashing numerous Cannes and Telluride Film Festivals, and L.A. gold statue award events. She loves things that zoom, above, or over the ground. This week she’s living in Southern California.

As a new author, you may want to share your past jobs to either show how interesting a life you’ve led or how your experiences relate to your writing. This a fun way to provide an overview while engaging the target reader with your personality and your life pre-writing career.

12. Endorsements

Author Bio Example: Katherine Center

See how this author bio displays endorsements:

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including How to Walk Away, Things You Save in a Fire, The Bodyguard, and her newest, Hello Stranger. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The movie adaptation of her novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and the movie of her novel Happiness for Beginners, starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes, opens July 27 on Netflix. Katherine’s summer 2022 book, The Bodyguard, was an instant New York Times bestseller, a People Best New Books pick, and nominated for Book of the Year by Book of the Month Club. Bestselling author Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “a shot of pure joy,” and bestselling author Helen Hoang calls it “a perfect feel-good rom-com.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.

You could either pick one stellar review or decorate your bio with a few. This author bio example uses endorsements to further expand on Katherine’s branding as well as the themes of her books. Sometimes it’s overkill to go all in on so many aspects in a bio, other times, like in Katherine’s case, it’s the right amount to attract your ideal reader.

13. First-Time Author

Author Bio Example: Jennifer Ballow

This is how you do an author bio if you’re a first-time author:

Jennifer Ballow is a licensed master-level social worker & holds a degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a devoted mother to twin girls and a passionate advocate for children, people with disabilities, and older adults. As a children’s book author, Jennifer hopes to inspire children and their caregivers to connect through reading, imagination, and creative writing activities.

When you’ve just put out a debut novel, you need to immediately build trust with your audience and appeal to their needs. Jennifer Ballow’s author bio takes into account her branding and her personal life to provide a mixture just perfect for a newcomer’s bio.

14. Keeping it short

Author Bio Example: Veronica Rossi

Here’s how you keep an author bio short and sweet:

VERONICA ROSSI is the NY Times and USA Today Best Selling author of the UNDER THE NEVER SKY series for young adults. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, grew up in California and graduated from UCLA. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two sons, one of whom just surpassed her in height.

Veronica’s author bio is short, concise, and informative. She includes her past work, her genre, and some personal elements from her life. However, the personal element that stands out is her cultural background. It’s subtle yet effective at representing what is important to her – where she came from.

15. Your image and brand

Author Bio Example: Marie Forleo

This is how you let your brand shine:

A born-and-raised Jersey girl with nothing more than passion, a laptop, and a dream, Marie Forleo has created a socially conscious digital empire that inspires millions across the globe. Named by Oprah as a thought leader for the next generation, she’s the star of the award-winning show MarieTV, with over 52 million views, and host of The Marie Forleo Podcast, with almost twelve million downloads. Marie has taught entrepreneurs, artists, and multipassionate go-getters from all walks of life how to dream big and back it up with daily action to create results. She runs the acclaimed business training program B-School and the writing program The Copy Cure. Her latest book, Everything is Figureoutable, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Learn more at www.MarieForleo.com.

This author bio is more focused on branding than the book itself – which is fine given this author’s goal! Marie name-drops and showcases her main cause. It all supports her image and gives the reader justification for why she was equipped to write her book. The lesson is if you have statistics and endorsements to work with, let them speak for themselves.

16. Pen names

Author Bio Example: Lily Menon

This is how you reveal your pen name:

Lily Menon has always been enamored of romantic comedies and happily-ever-afters in all shapes and sizes. Her very first love story, written at age nine, was about a handsome young boy who wooed the heroine with books, chocolates, and a very fat puppy. Now Lily lives with her own handsome boy (who indeed wooed her with books, chocolates, and fat puppies) in the mountains of Colorado, where she spends her days dreaming up kissing scenes and meet-cutes. When she’s bored, Lily also masquerades as New York Times bestselling YA author Sandhya Menon. MAKE UP BREAK UP is her first adult romance. Visit her online at www.lilymenon.com.

By day you may be an author, and by night you may be…a different author. And you can share that in your author biography too! Just in case your ideal target may be interested in other genres, you leave the door open for them to discover your pseudonym’s work. Lily (or Sandhya) does this well. She’s curated an engaging author bio with her books’ themes and personal aspects. She finally caps it off with a clever line leading to her pen name’s work.

17. Author website

Author Bio Example: maggiecarpenter.com

Check out this ‘About The Author’ Page example:

WHO IS MAGGIE CARPENTER? The Answer May Surprise You. Yes, she is prolific author, penning over a hundred published titles, with heroes ranging from hunky cowboys, Harley-riding bikers and handsome billionaires, to brawny barbarians and amorous aliens. She’s known for page turning, nail biting suspense, steamy scenes and dreamy HEA’s. But Maggie has a history as colorful as one of her characters. Hailing from a tiny town in New Zealand, her first taste of notoriety came as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. Then it was off to Los Angeles where she was picked up by a modeling agency, and went on to star in film and episodic television. But her foray into the entertainment world didn’t stop there. She launched a highly successful live show as a stage hypnotist. Known as Sonjia: The Mistress of Mesmerism, she performed for the boys in uniform at Camp Pendleton, thrilled crowds in L.A. nightclubs, flew down to Sydney, where she incorporated illusions into her act, then returned to her homeland and wowed the audiences across the country. Now she works late into the night writing sexy, intriguing stories. Always at her side is her adorable terrier mix rescued from a junk yard in Tijuana, and she never misses a day riding her beloved dark bay mare .

The limit on word count kind of goes out the window on an author website – which, if used well, can really pull in your ideal audience. Maggie Carpenter has a colorful background matched with a conversational tone that can grab the reader’s attention. She starts by describing themes and then she gives some context to her personal life, intertwined with her writing life.

18. Your book’s themes

Author Bio Example: Lauren Eckhardt

Check out this example on how to use themes:

Lauren Eckhardt is an award-winning Young Adult and Women’s Fiction author, who has a particular love of writing stories centered around second chances in life and the self-strengthening journeys of the characters through them. She currently lives in Illinois with her husband and two boys, happily surrounded by books . www.AuthorLaurenEckhardt.com

In the first line, the genre and the author’s accolades are planted as hooks. Lauren understands her target readers and what they’re looking for so she displays her genre’s themes in a conversational tone.

19. Social media bio

Author Bio Example: Susan Dennard – @stdennard

Check out this Instagram author bio:

✍️ NYT bestselling author. 🎮 Come for the #ChooseWithSooz… 📚 Stay for the awesome books. 🌙 Next up: #TheHuntingMoon, in stores Nov 7! 🔗 linktr.ee/stdennard

Susan’s Instagram bio is excellent for the fast-paced social media world. It’s laid out in a bullet point format with appropriate emojis. It’s catchy and straight to the point while clearly aiming at the target audience.

A Simple Author Bio Template

You can be creative with your author bio while still being concise and brief. But if you’re stuck and you need an outline, we’ve got you covered with this author bio template:

Credibility: Establish the author’s credibility with accolades, popular books published, experience and expertise, etc.
Endorsements (if none, leave out): Add Endorsements that back up the credibility well.
Other Work: Include other works like podcasts, TV shows, pen name’s works, or any other ventures the target reader would find of interest.
Personal Touch: 1-2 lines of personal information that add flare and color to the author bio – only add what you are comfortable with.
Call To Action: Include a call to action (CTA) and links to social media profiles, newsletters, new book releases, etc.

Remember to keep your author bio between 60-150 words and only include what you think readers would want to know!

Author Bio Mistakes To Avoid

Avoid these common author bio mistakes if you don’t want readers rolling their eyes or falling off to sleep:

Qualification overload: Please refrain from adding your irrelevant qualifications and awards – but if you have a lot of relevant ones (good for you!), keep them to the headliners.
The salesman: Your readers shouldn’t feel like they’re avoiding eye contact with the Mall kiosk employees selling samples when they read your bio – keep the sales talk to a minimum
Missing the target: Make your genres’, themes, and selling points clear, so you don’t make your target reader feel like they’re in the wrong place.
The time-traveler: Some phrasing may have worked back in the day but it’s outdated now, so steer clear of cliches and putting dates in your bio that will make it very clear when you haven’t updated it in a while.

Where You Can Put Your First Author Bio

It’s easy for a reader to find an author on the all-knowing online oracle (Google!), so an author bio is an essential part of building an online presence. This is how readers will learn about you and your work, so you must make sure it’s as appealing as possible.

That means the words you use and the style in which it’s delivered. While you can’t exactly make your Amazon book page any color you like, you can do that on your author website.

Unlike social media, with an author website , you get to set the rules. And it’s a great place to put your first author bio too.

You’re just one inquiry form away from a stunning online presence that represents your brand. If you’re interested, get in touch!

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About the Author: How to Write a Quality Author Bio

Updated: March 08, 2022

Published: March 29, 2017

If contributing guest posts is part of your content distribution and promotion strategy, you're probably familiar with the following scenario: You write a great article for a guest publication, and at the end, you’re compensated with a teeny, tiny paragraph about yourself.

Unless you wrote the article for purely altruistic reasons, this paragraph, though short, is quite critical. Not only does it connect you to the article on a level beyond your byline, but also, it provides space for links back to your website or social profiles. And who wouldn't want even that little bit of glory?

But what are you supposed to write in that brief paragraph, anyway? How do you make your author bio compelling, powerful, and effective -- without a whole lot of space?

How to Write an Author Bio

1) Write in the third person.

Different publications will have different standards -- Forbes , for example, seems to encourage guest contributors to write in the first person, as per below:

However, the general practice is to write your bio in the third person. If it feels a bit self-congratulatory, that's okay -- you can even turn it into a joke, like Mark John Hiemstra did in his bio for a post on the Unbounce blog :

Once you've written the bio, be sure to re-read it to make sure you're not overusing “he” or “she.” And if you are, try replacing some instances of these pronouns with your name to improve the flow.

2) Remember: It's not really about you .

Even though this paragraph is allegedly about the author, it’s not actually about you . It’s about your reader, and what that person is looking to learn or gain from your article. It helps to think of this setup as a well-composed sentence -- you're the object , and the reader is the subject.

That concept can be a bit confusing without context, so have a look at how Matt Southern pulled that off below:

Notice how Southern's bio focuses on both himself and the reader. By explaining that his real passion is to help marketers, it serves as a nod to his readership -- after all, your readers are the ones who ultimately decide if your piece is worth sticking around until the end, sharing, or discussing. Write for them.

3) Establish credibility -- truthfully.

As the digital landscape only becomes increasingly crowded, it's important to have a prepared, accurate way to answer the masses asking, "Why should I listen to you?"

Readers are right to ask that question, especially with many now questioning the accuracy and reliability of news . So, in your bio, establish your credibility, and be honest. Why are you qualified to write on this subject? Why should readers believe you?

If you write about conversion optimization, for example, explain what kind of experience you have with it. If you have academic degrees, list them -- but only if they're relevant to the publication or article. A bachelor's degree might not be considered outstanding enough to warrant a mention in your bio, though there are exceptions to that rule. Let's say you're writing about women's issues. If you attended a women's college, it might be worth mentioning in that particular instance.

Let's have a look at how this concept looks "in the wild."

When Forbes contributor Ian Morris wrote the above article on a mobile device, he used his one-line bio to explain why he's qualified to write on that subject. "I cover mobile," he explains, as well as "internet services and the good and bad of tech.” And in his full bio, he expanded even further on that:

4) And while you're at it, explain what you do.

It's the inevitable -- and often dreaded -- question of any social or networking gathering. "What do you do?"

Chances are, someone reading your work will have the same question -- it goes along the same lines of explaining why you're credible enough to be writing about a certain topic. So think of your bio as an opportunity to answer it -- after all, it’s a meaningful fact about you, and it deserves a line.

Notice how Yvette Tan immediately addresses that question in the first sentence of both her author and Twitter bio, highlighting the importance of keeping information consistent across different channels:

And Kiel Berry does the same thing for his contribution to the Harvard Business Review :

5) Be (appropriately) personal.

You've probably come across the occasional author bio that features a personal tidbit thrown in, like "cat lover" or "coffee addict." But when is that okay or smart -- or even more important, appropriate?

To answer that question, you need to think about where your article is appearing, and who's likely reading it. Not every publication, for instance, is going to be the best fit for a quip about your affinity for craft beer. That said, it's also good to remind readers that you're human, especially among your professional credentials. Still, keep it to a minimum -- readers are only marginally interested in your personal life, so your bio isn't the place to divulge a lot of those details.

Buffer's Alfred Lua uses his bio to share his hobbies like swimming. But by keeping it short, and sandwiching his personal interests between his job title and his personal one, he's able to show personality, while maintaining his credibility:

6) Focus on value.

It can be tempting to turn your bio into a celebratory display of your interests and accomplishments -- you’ve won awards, started a billion companies, and have been published in top journals. But readers, more often than not, might be responding with, "Who cares?"

That's because they want to know what's in it for them. By putting content out there, you're essentially asking readers to borrow their time for what you've written. Sure, your status might be impressive, but they don’t really care unless they have something to gain from it. That’s where the idea of value comes in.

Use your bio to communicate that bio, and what you can do for your readers. Danny Wong does that well in his guest bio on ConversionXL's blog:

Notice the key word in the second sentence: "Teach." That’s the kind of value that might help Wong connect in a meaningful way -- by telling them, "I teach people, and I can teach you, too."

7) Don't be afraid to brag.

Let's have one more look at Wong's bio:

After he explains the value he can provide to readers, he uses the opportunity to mention a pretty big accomplishment: Founding what sounds like a highly profitable business.

When done correctly -- like Wong did above, by combining it with a value proposition -- bragging can be both effective and appropriate. But it might be easier to do so in the third person. "She co-founded a multi-million dollar company" sounds a bit more humble than, "I co-founded a multi-million dollar company."

Don't be afraid to toss out a few awards that make you the proudest -- just make sure that they’re relevant to the subject matter and the publication.

8) Avoid writing something obnoxiously long.

Just as you want to avoid bragging too much, you should probably avoid saying too much in general. Writing a super long bio might make you seem less than humble -- if all the other authors on the site have three lines and you have thirty, it only emphasizes your sense of self-importance, even if that's not what you intended. A great way to control the length of your bio is by using a dedicated author box that limits the space of your bio.

Author Richard Ridley recommends that authors “keep it brief.” Here’s how he explains it :

Brevity is the soul of wit. Even if you're William Shakespeare, you don't want to write an author bio that fills up the entire back cover. In an odd twist of logic, the more accomplished you are as an author, the shorter your author bio can be."

It's okay -- we all have an ego. We just have to keep it in check sometimes. Here's a great example of a short-and-sweet bio from Orbit Media's Andy Crestodina:

9) Customize it.

If the publication allows you to occasionally update your bio according to the season, take advantage of the ability to customize it. A universal bio that you copy/paste everywhere is okay, but tailoring it to a specific scenario can help enhance it for a particular outlet.

Here's how HubSpot's Lindsay Kolowich does that with her bio:

By fine-tuning it to resonate with the season, your bio stands out against some generic messaging you might be used to seeing.

10) Add a CTA.

Ah, the call to action, or CTA. It's a powerful force in the marketing world, and it’s no different in your bio.

After your audience reads about you, they should take further action -- but what action do you want them to take? Most often, it's reading more of your material, or following you on social media.

In those cases, common CTAs would be to follow you on Twitter, or visit your blog. And while these options are effective, make sure the CTA is strategic within the given context.

For example, when Heather Hummel's work is syndicated by Huffington Post , her author bio contains a CTA to check out her books, creating a source of possible sales:

Of course, some outlets might not have the bandwidth or allow such a full-scale dedication to this kind of CTA within an author bio. But if the opportunity is available, use it to your advantage.

11) Steer clear of the word "freelance."

Freelance writers are an exceptional group of people who are skillful, qualified, and expertly positioned to write great content. But there's something about the word "freelance" that, for whatever reason, can chip away at credibility. It suggests that you might be more of a generalist, and less of an expert -- which, while not necessarily true, has grown to connote that while you might be good at writing, you might not excel at a particular subject.

If you’re a freelance writer, we tip our hats to you. But in your bio, there are ways to replace the word “freelance,” for the reasons above. Here are some examples:

"Fred is a conversion optimization writer, specializing in split testing best practices and cognitive biases."
"Angie, a Portland-based author, helps people unleash their inner interior designer."
"As a marketing writer, Todd’s favorite place to publish uncensored marketing content is his own blog."

Ready to Write?

The best way to create a meaningful bio is to write it with care and intention. Think about your readers, establish your credibility, and make it memorable. But go ahead and have some fun with it -- you want to prove that you’re human, too.

At the end of the day, your little bio matters. People care. They’re going to read it. Make it count.

And please -- don’t judge me by my bio.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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15 Great Writer Bio Examples for Your Next “About the Author”

Need to write an “about the author,” or change up the writer bio you’re using? Here are 15 great about the author examples from authors who have promoted with us. Be creative and have fun!

Writer bio examples that focus on what they write, with some personal information:

Barbara lohr.

Barbara Lohr writes heartwarming, sweet romance with a flair for fun. In her novels, feisty women take on hunky heroes and life’s issues. Family often figures in her stories. Her series include Windy City Romance, set in Oak Park, a Chicago suburb. The Kirkpatrick family take readers on journeys of the heart to Savannah, Italy and Guatemala. Her Man from Yesterday series is set in Gull Harbor, a charming Lake Michigan beach town where lovers discover that the second time around might just be the best. Dark chocolate is her favorite food group and she makes a mean popover. When she’s not writing, she loves to bike, kayak, or golf. Barbara lives in the South with her husband and a cat that claims he was Heathcliff in a former life. For more information on the author and her work, please see www.BarbaraLohrAuthor.com or www.Facebook.com/barbaralohrauthor.

Alisa Woods

Alisa Woods is a bestselling author of sexy paranormal romances about complicated men and the strong women who love them. Her stories teem with shifters, witches, dragons, and angels—magick thrills her stories on every page, but romance is the heart that drives them. Alisa firmly believes that love triumphs over all.

Get a free story: https://smarturl.it/AlisaNewsletter

Alisa’s website: www.AlisaWoodsAuthor.com

Madison Kent

Madison Kent developed her passion for writing as a young girl in the city of Chicago at the library near Humboldt Park where all dreams came alive. She believed the written word could unlock doors as well as the imagination and unite our spirit through our visions.

Madison Kent is a published poet and mystery novelist whose books include Stalking Jack, The Harrison, The Mystery at Belle Magnolia, Some Saints Prey, Silver Bells Slaying, A Smidgeon of Ghosts, and Devil on Deck, Sweet Murder, and the ninth Smoked in Ybor. She is currently working on the tenth in the series.

All books feature the aggressive but flawed female sleuth, Madeline Donovan.

Please visit the Madison Kent website to read excerpts and view book trailers.

Website and trailers: www.madisonkentbooks.com

Writer bio examples that focus mostly on the personal information:

Teyla branton.

Internationally bestselling author Teyla Branton grew up avidly reading science fiction and fantasy and watching Star Trek reruns with her large family. They lived on a little farm where she loved to visit the solitary cow and collect (and juggle) the eggs, usually making it back to the house with most of them intact. On that same farm she once owned thirty-three gerbils and eighteen cats, not a good mix, as it turns out. Teyla always had her nose in a book and daydreamed about someday creating her own worlds. She is now married, mostly grown up, and has seven kids, so life at her house can be very interesting (and loud), but writing keeps her sane. Grabbing any snatch of free time from her hectic life, she escapes to her office to write. She loves traveling, martial arts, shooting, and belly dancing. Teyla writes urban fantasy ( Unbounded series), paranormal romance ( Imprints series), and science fiction ( Colony Six series). She also writes contemporary romance ( Lily’s House and Finding Home series) and romantic suspense under the name Rachel Branton. For a free ebook and to hear about new releases, please visit https://www.TeylaRachelBranton.com.

Emma St. Clair

Hey! I’m Emma , the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen sweet romance novels.

I’ve been crafting stories since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Though I write in the clean and wholesome romance genre, I like heroines sassy and their struggles to be real. You’ll find happy endings, yes, but a lot of mess along the way—and maybe some laughs. Just like real life.

Confession: I didn’t start out as a romantic. In fact, I might have rolled my eyes at happy endings.

Somewhere between watching Hallmark Christmas movies and finally reading Pride and Prejudice, something shifted. I’m writing romance, but on my own terms. Readers will always get their happy ending, but also sassy heroines and snappy dialogue. No cheese.

When I’m not writing, I am helping my husband wrangle our five children and Great Dane. (If only we could teach the dog to watch the kids…) We live in Katy, Texas and yes, the stars at night are big and bright.

You can find many of all my books on Amazon and the Sandover Beach series on multiple retailers like Apple and Kobo and Nook.

Margaret Watson

I’ve made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember—I put myself to sleep at night when I was young by rewriting the plots and endings of books I’d read. I assumed this was normal and everyone else did it, too, until I began getting weird looks when I talked about it. Finally, when I was twelve, I figured it out and decided I’d be a writer when I grew up.

I got sidetracked by my love of animals and the need for a “real” job, so I became a veterinarian instead. Twenty-five years ago, when I realized I was making up stories about my clients and their pets, I decided to try putting them down on paper.

The result? After writing thirty books for Harlequin and selling millions of copies of them, I’m now writing The Donovan Family series, romantic suspense novels about a family of Chicago cops.

I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to be involved in two careers that I love. But more important than either career is my family—my husband and my three daughters. We live in a Chicago suburb with a menagerie of pets.

A native New Englander, Tom Turner dropped out of college and ran a Vermont bar. Limping back a few years later to get his sheepskin, he went on to become an advertising copywriter, first in Boston, then New York. After 10 years of post-Mad Men life, he made both a career and geography change and ended up in Palm Beach, renovating houses and collecting raw materials for his novels. He now lives on Skidaway Island, outside of Savannah, where he’s writing books about passion and murder among his neighbors.

R.V. Bowman

R.V. Bowman spends her days wrangling middle-school students while secretly trying to instill a love of language without any of them realizing it. By night, she picks up her pen (okay, it’s really a keyboard, but pen has a nicer ring, don’t you think?) and writes fantastical adventures full of magic and heart.

Although her major was in English and journalism, R.V. Bowman decided that she preferred the imaginative to the realistic. Her love of books began as a child when she would pester anyone within earshot to read her a story. Once she learned to read on her own, her grandmother fed her reading addiction by supplying her with classics such as Stuart Little, The Black Stallion, and The Hobbit for every birthday and Christmas.

R.V. Bowman lives in Northwest Ohio with her husband, two sons, and a very hairy dog named Kipper.

Amelia Addler

Amelia Addler writes always sweet, always swoon-worthy romance and women’s fiction stories and believes that everyone deserves their own happily ever after. Her soulmate is a man who once spent five weeks driving her to work at 4AM after her car broke down (and he didn’t complain, not even once). She is lucky enough to be married to that man and they live in Pittsburgh with their little yellow mutt.

Visit her website at AmeliaAddler.com.

Krista Wagner

Krista Wagner is a product of the 70’s who loves all things 80’s. A lover of suspense and young adult realistic fiction, Krista finds herself meeting new intriguing characters all of the time in her own fictional worlds. When she’s not writing novels, you can find her watching suspenseful movies, playing 80’s video games, reading the best book in the world, The Bible, and spending time with her incredibly entertaining family.

Krista is the author of several titles including the YA Small Town Secrets Novel standalone series and the MG/YA Magical Forest series as well as her psychological thriller Shrouded Memory.

“Dealing with danger and handing out hope” Krista Wagner, author of mysteries, thrills, and all that is real

Find out more about Krista here: kristawagner.wixsite.com/author/bio Follow her on Facebook: facebook.com/kristawagnerofficial/ Twitter:twitter.com/IntentBook04 Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8509957.Krista_Wagner

Writer bio examples that reveal something neat, followed by personal information:

Chelsea thomas.

Everyone loves a secret.

So here’s a good one . . .

. . . Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.

Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY, and CBS.

Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they’re USA Today Bestselling authors.

Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.

Join the Chelsea Thomas Reader Club: www.chelseathomasauthor.com

Writer bio examples that take more of a humorous slant:

Holly cortelyou.

Holly Cortelyou is a romance author who pens sweet and spicy small town, contemporary romances that just might have a hint of mystery or a dollop of magic.

On any given day Holly can be found sipping coffee and surfing Facebook for gossip on royals, college football (Go Ducks!), knitting, and ghosts!

After trying on many hats as a meeting planner, political scientist, long haul trucker, and financial services specialist, she’s finally found the perfect fit as a romance writer!

Holly’s living her own Happily Ever After with an uber-handy and sexily broad-shouldered husband, a sweet silver lab and a fluffball kitty in sun-kissed Southern Oregon.

She has hazel eyes and a goofy sense of humor . . . all the rest is subject to change without notice.

Please come chat over on . . . www.HollyCortelyou.com. www.facebook.com/HollyCortelyouAuthor www.instagram.com/HollyCortelyou

Whitney Dineen

Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there’s been a plethora of validation that she’s a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she’s decided to just let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there’s that.

Whitney loves to play with her kids (a.k.a. dazzle them with her amazing flossing abilities), bake stuff, eat stuff, and write books for people who “get” her. She thinks french fries are the perfect food and Mrs. Roper is her spirit animal.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016, 2018, 2019.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Baileigh Higgins

South African writer and coffee addict Baileigh Higgins lives in the Free State with hubby and best friend Brendan and loves nothing more than lazing on the couch with pizza and a bad horror movie. Her unhealthy obsession with the end of the world has led to numerous books on the subject and a secret bunker only she knows the location of. Visit her website at www.baileighhiggins.com for more information on her upcoming projects, new releases, and giveaways. Sign up for her Newsletter and get your Free Ebook, Tales from the Apocalypse, today.

Kyle Robert Shultz

Kyle Robert Shultz developed the power of creating zany, fantastical worlds in his early teens, when he was bitten by a radioactive book. He is the author of multiple series set in the Afterverse, a parallel universe where myths, fairy tales, and classic stories are real events and part of history. He lives in self-imposed exile in the southern Idaho desert, far enough away from humanity to protect innocent lives should he lose control of his awesome fictional powers and rip a hole in the space-time continuum or something.

Kyle is a Christian who believes in writing high-quality stories free from agendas, politics, and objectionable content. His stories are clean, but not remotely safe. In reading them, you assume all risks—Kyle cannot be held responsible for any damage wrought upon your emotional well-being or cardiovascular health by unforeseen plot twists.

Have you read any great about the author examples or writer bios recently? We’d love to hear in the comments below!

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Hi, thanks for sharing fantastic examples: about the author. This is what I was looking for. As I’m an author in the making. My debut upcoming poetry book ‘Reborn’ is coming soon on Amazon and Flipkart. I’m sharing some lines: Know your desire and light that fire Know your desire, And light that fire.

Who are you? You are to recognise. What is your worth? You are to improvise. Death is not just physical, There is death of soul. Your soul dies the day, When you forget your goal. Then, you pay like a liar. Naresh Kumar Saroay© from upcoming book ‘Reborn’ [email protected]

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Posted on Sep 14, 2018

About the Author Examples (That You'll Actually Want to Read)

We’ve all heard the cliché that writers have big egos — so it makes sense that there’s a section in every book where you’re required to talk about the author (meaning yourself).

That said, it’s crucial to get the About the Author right. Whether it appears on the back of your book, your Amazon Author page , your social media or all of the above, you should make every sentence count (and tailor it depending on where it will appear). For non-fiction authors, who you are can be more important than what you write about. For indie fiction writers, this is an opportunity to let your growing readership get to know you.

If you're here to learn the ropes, we’ve already published an extensive guide on how to write an author bio . In this post, we'll be looking at 13 About the Author examples to further illustrate what works (and what doesn't).

About the Author Examples: Fiction

For fiction writers (especially self-published ones), who you are matters little in comparison to the quality of the story you've written — and an attention grabbing synopsis . But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take full advantage when you’re encouraged to talk about yourself. Here are some examples of how to pull it off without soliloquizing.

1. Veronica Roth, Divergent

“ Veronica Roth is the New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, the first book in a trilogy that she began writing while still a college student. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth and her husband call the Chicago area home. You can visit her online at www.veronicarothbooks.com or on Twitter (@VeronicaRoth). ”

Why it works: Is this the flashiest bio in the world? Of course not. But that’s exactly why it works. Each word builds on the last, adding new information to her story: her name, her qualifications, her books, their history, her home life, and, finally, her online presence. It’s short and simple… but then again, a bestselling author can afford to be.

2. Glynnis Campbell, Danger’s Kiss

“ Glynnis Campbell is a USA Today bestselling author of swashbuckling action-adventure romance. She’s the wife of a rock star, and the mother of two young adults, but she’s also been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. She does her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden. Glynnis loves to play medieval matchmaker, transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well! ”

Why it works: Glynnis Campbell isn’t a household name — but this will definitely make her readers remember her. Why talk about your books themselves, when you can make your whole life sound more interesting than a romance novel. This is the ideal approach for emerging genre authors who have plenty of exciting material, but might not be able to carry a bio off the strength of their work alone.

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3. Jomny Sun, Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too

“ Jonathan Sun is the author behind @jonnysun. He is an architect, designer, engineer, artist, playwright, and comedy writer. His work across multiple disciplines broadly addresses narratives of human experience. As a playwright, Jonathan has had his pieces performed at the Yale School of Drama, and in Toronto at Hart House Theatre and Factory Theatre. As an artist and illustrator, he has had his art exhibited at MIT, Yale, New Haven ArtSpace, and the University of Toronto. His work has appeared on NPR and BuzzFeed, as well as in Playboy, GQ, and McSweeney’s. In his other life, he is a doctoral student at MIT and a Berkman Klein fellow at Harvard. ”

Why it works: For authors better known by aliases than real names, this section can be instrumental in lifting the curtain to discover the person behind the account. Jomny Sun might have written some funny, irreverent Tweets (and a great book to boot), but here Jonathan covers all his bases. He has his fingers in plenty of pies, but the list still never runs too long — only about one sentence per accomplishment. This leaves a comprehensive list of his life’s work, not just his writing.

4. Min Jin Lee, Pachinko

“ Min Jin Lee’s debut novel, Free Food for Millionaires, was one of the “Top 10 Novels of the Year” for The Times (London), NPR’s Fresh Air, and USA Today. Her short fiction has been featured on NPR’s Selected Shorts. Her writings have appeared in The Times Literary Supplement, Condé Nast Traveler, The Times (London), Vogue, Travel+Leisure, Wall Street Journal, New York Times Magazine, and Food & Wine. Her essays and literary criticism have been anthologized widely. She served as a columnist for the Chosun Ilbo, the leading paper on South Korea. She lives in New York with her family. ”

Why it works: On the flip side, you have this About the Author example from Min Jin Lee. She's not an artist/playwright/architect on the side, so instead, she doubles down on her extensive writing experience. While we surely haven’t all written for Vogue and the New York Times , a list of published works (no matter how small) can give a sense of your well-roundedness as a writer.

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5. Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar

“ Eric Carle invented writing, the airplane, and the internet. He was also the first person to reach the North Pole. He has flown to Mars and back in one day, and was enthusiastically greeted by the Martians. ‘Very strange beings,’ he reported on his return. He has written one thousand highly regarded books; a team of experts is presently attempting to grasp their meaning. ‘It might take a century,’ said the chief expert. Carle is also a great teller of stories — but not all of them are true, for instance those in this book. ”

Why it works: We might not all be Eric Carle, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a page out of his beautifully illustrated books. No matter who you are, a sense of humor will always set you aside from the pack — and the vivid (albeit surreal) imagery he uses here goes a long way towards establishing his writing chops, too.

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About the Author Examples: Nonfiction

When it comes to nonfiction, creativity is outweighed by certainty. The latter is a pretty hard thing to prove, but the About the Author is as good a place as any to give it a shot.

6. Rebecca Solnit, Men Explain Things to Me

" Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of sixteen books about civil society, popular power, uprisings, art, environment, place, pleasure, politics, hope, and memory. She is a Harper’s contributing editor. ”

Why it works: This is an excellent About the Author example, fitting all four elements of a great one — start with a byline, state the theme of your work, mention your credentials, and include a personal touch — into two breezy sentences that can fit on a dust jacket.

7. Alex Ross, The Rest is Noise

“ Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, is the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including two ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for music criticism, a Holtzbrinck Fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin, a Fleck Fellowship from the Banff Centre, and a Letter of Distinction from the American Music Center for significant contributions to the field of contemporary music. The Rest is Noise is his first book. ”

Why it works: Most nonfiction authors will not have sixteen books under their belt. Alex Ross, for instance, has just one. So instead of listing his previous works, he uses this bio to establish why he's qualified to speak on the particular subject at hand — crucial for a form of writing that values facts above all else.

8. Michael Lewis, Moneyball

“ Michael Lewis, the author of Boomerang, Liar’s Poker, The New New Thing, Moneyball, The Blind Side, Panic, Home Game and The Big Short, among other works, lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, Tabitha Soren, and their three children. ”

Why it works: Even in nonfiction, where the author’s qualifications hold more weight, the simple approach works. Michael Lewis rattles off his writing in a workmanlike fashion. But when you've written as many well-known bestsellers Lewis has, you can start resting on your laurels too. This ends on just enough of a personal touch to give the reader a peek into his life, without ever distracting from his work itself.

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9. Mindy Kaling, Why Not Me?

“ Mindy Kaling lives in rural New Hampshire and does not own a TV. ”

Why it works: Not everyone is as funny as Mindy Kaling (and she may only get away with this because she's Mindy Kaling), but still… we can always try.

10. Samantha Irby, Meaty: Essays

“ Samantha Irby writes a blog called bitches gotta eat. ”

Why it works: Or, of course, you could go with this hilarious, deadpan approach that also tells you everything you need to know about the author. After this particularly memorable About the Author example, do you really need to know anything else about Samantha Irby?

About the Author Examples: Social Media

Social media bios don’t need to be about how much you love long walks on the beach or Netflix, especially if you’re a writer. Creativity is your selling point, so don’t shy away from some creative problem solving when it comes to filling the 160 character quota in your Twitter bio.

11. Joanna Penn, podcaster

“ NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Thriller Author JFPenn.com. Creative Entrepreneur. Podcaster. Professional speaker. INFJ. Travel junkie. ”

Why it works: This word count optimized bio cuts right to the point: qualifications, website, occupation, insight. It couldn’t get any more straightforward.

12. Joyce Carol Oates, author

“ Author. ”

Why it works: Guess it could get more straightforward. When working within a word count, filling it up isn’t always the best approach. Some prefer to take full advantage of the excuse to cut away excess information, leaving just enough room for the stuff that really matters.

13. Tom McLaughlin, poet

“ Please buy my book, I owe people money. ”

Why it works: Once again, humor always works for new authors who might not have the extensive qualifications, but have enough natural talent to carry their writing. Plus, no one has broken his kneecaps yet — so we’re just assuming it worked.

Contrary to popular belief, writing about yourself can be the hardest thing for authors. But hopefully, these About the Author examples demonstrate how to do it well enough that you’ll want to skip to the end to read it… and not just skip it entirely.

How would you write your bio? Short? Sweet? Side-splitting? We want to know! Show us in the comment box below.

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Town and Country

The 50 Best Biographies of All Time

Posted: May 24, 2024 | Last updated: May 24, 2024

<p class="body-dropcap">Biographies have always been controversial. On his deathbed, the novelist Henry James told his nephew that his “sole wish” was to “frustrate as utterly as possible the postmortem exploiter” by destroying his personal letters and journals. And one of our greatest living writers, Hermione Lee, once compared biographies to autopsies that add “a new terror to death”—the potential muddying of someone’s legacy when their life is held up to the scrutiny of investigation. </p><p>But despite its long history dating back to ancient Rome and Sumeria, biography as a genre didn’t really pop off until the middle of the twentieth century, when we became obsessed with celebrity culture. Since then, biographies of presidents, activists, artists, and musicians have regularly appeared on bestseller lists, while Hollywood continues to adapt them into <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/g26824807/best-movies-about-musicians/">Oscar bait</a> like <em>A Beautiful Mind, The Imitation Game</em>, and <em>Steve Jobs</em>. </p><p>Why do we read so many books about the lives and deaths of strangers, as told by second-hand and third-hand sources? Is it merely our love for gossip, or are we trying to understand ourselves through the triumphs and failures of others?</p><p>To keep this list from blossoming into hundreds of titles, we only included <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g38675785/best-books-2022/">books</a> currently in print and translated into English. We also limited it to one book per author, and one book per subject. In ranked order, here are the best biographies of all time.</p>

Biographies have always been controversial. On his deathbed, the novelist Henry James told his nephew that his “sole wish” was to “frustrate as utterly as possible the postmortem exploiter” by destroying his personal letters and journals. And one of our greatest living writers, Hermione Lee, once compared biographies to autopsies that add “a new terror to death”—the potential muddying of someone’s legacy when their life is held up to the scrutiny of investigation.

But despite its long history dating back to ancient Rome and Sumeria, biography as a genre didn’t really pop off until the middle of the twentieth century, when we became obsessed with celebrity culture. Since then, biographies of presidents, activists, artists, and musicians have regularly appeared on bestseller lists, while Hollywood continues to adapt them into Oscar bait like A Beautiful Mind, The Imitation Game , and Steve Jobs .

Why do we read so many books about the lives and deaths of strangers, as told by second-hand and third-hand sources? Is it merely our love for gossip, or are we trying to understand ourselves through the triumphs and failures of others?

To keep this list from blossoming into hundreds of titles, we only included books currently in print and translated into English. We also limited it to one book per author, and one book per subject. In ranked order, here are the best biographies of all time.

<p><strong>$22.61</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/030738246X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>You’re probably familiar with <em>The Count of Monte Cristo</em>, the 1844 revenge novel by Alexandre Dumas. But did you know it was based on the life of Dumas’s father, the mixed-race General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, son of a French nobleman and a Haitian slave? Thanks to Reiss’s masterful pacing and plotting, this rip-roaring biography of Thomas-Alexandre reads more like an adventure novel than a work of nonfiction. <em>The Black Count</em> won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2013, and it’s only a matter of time before a filmmaker turns it into a big-screen blockbuster.</p>

50) The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, by Tom Reiss

You’re probably familiar with The Count of Monte Cristo , the 1844 revenge novel by Alexandre Dumas. But did you know it was based on the life of Dumas’s father, the mixed-race General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, son of a French nobleman and a Haitian slave? Thanks to Reiss’s masterful pacing and plotting, this rip-roaring biography of Thomas-Alexandre reads more like an adventure novel than a work of nonfiction. The Black Count won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2013, and it’s only a matter of time before a filmmaker turns it into a big-screen blockbuster.

<p><strong>$14.58</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374906041?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Few biographies are as genuinely fun to read as this barnburner from the irreverent English critic Craig Brown. Princess Margaret may have been everyone’s favorite character from Netflix’s <em>The Crown</em>, but Brown’s eye for ostentatious details and revelatory insights will help you see why everyone in the 1950s—from Pablo Picasso and Gore Vidal to Peter Sellers and Andy Warhol—was obsessed with her. When book critic Parul Sehgal says that she “ripped through the book with the avidity of Margaret attacking her morning vodka and orange juice,” you know you’re in for a treat.</p>

49) Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, by Craig Brown

Few biographies are as genuinely fun to read as this barnburner from the irreverent English critic Craig Brown. Princess Margaret may have been everyone’s favorite character from Netflix’s The Crown , but Brown’s eye for ostentatious details and revelatory insights will help you see why everyone in the 1950s—from Pablo Picasso and Gore Vidal to Peter Sellers and Andy Warhol—was obsessed with her. When book critic Parul Sehgal says that she “ripped through the book with the avidity of Margaret attacking her morning vodka and orange juice,” you know you’re in for a treat.

<p><strong>$19.39</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062947222?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>If you want to feel optimistic about the future again, look no further than this brilliant biography of Buckminster Fuller, the “modern Leonardo da Vinci” of the 1960s and 1970s who came up with the idea of a “Spaceship Earth” and inspired Silicon Valley’s belief that technology could be a global force for good (while earning plenty of critics who found his ideas impractical). Alec Nevala-Lee’s writing is as serene and precise as one of Fuller’s geodesic domes, and his research into never-before-seen documents makes this a genuinely groundbreaking book full of surprises.</p>

48) Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller, by Alec Nevala-Lee

If you want to feel optimistic about the future again, look no further than this brilliant biography of Buckminster Fuller, the “modern Leonardo da Vinci” of the 1960s and 1970s who came up with the idea of a “Spaceship Earth” and inspired Silicon Valley’s belief that technology could be a global force for good (while earning plenty of critics who found his ideas impractical). Alec Nevala-Lee’s writing is as serene and precise as one of Fuller’s geodesic domes, and his research into never-before-seen documents makes this a genuinely groundbreaking book full of surprises.

<p><strong>$14.89</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439190461?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The late American jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk has been so heavily mythologized that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. But Robin D. G. Kelley’s biography is an essential book for jazz fans looking to understand the man behind the myths. Monk’s family provided Kelley with full access to their archives, resulting in chapter after chapter of fascinating details, from his birth in small-town North Carolina to his death across the Hudson from Manhattan.</p>

47) Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, by Robin D.G. Kelley

The late American jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk has been so heavily mythologized that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. But Robin D. G. Kelley’s biography is an essential book for jazz fans looking to understand the man behind the myths. Monk’s family provided Kelley with full access to their archives, resulting in chapter after chapter of fascinating details, from his birth in small-town North Carolina to his death across the Hudson from Manhattan.

<p><strong>$23.00</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0226744140?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>There are dozens of books about America’s most celebrated architect, but Secrest’s 1998 biography is still the most fun to read. For one, she doesn’t shy away from the fact that Wright could be an absolute monster, even to his own friends and family. Secondly, her research into more than 100,000 letters, as well as interviews with nearly every surviving person who knew Wright, makes this book a one-of-a-kind look at how Wright’s personal life influenced his architecture.</p>

46) Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography, by Meryle Secrest

There are dozens of books about America’s most celebrated architect, but Secrest’s 1998 biography is still the most fun to read. For one, she doesn’t shy away from the fact that Wright could be an absolute monster, even to his own friends and family. Secondly, her research into more than 100,000 letters, as well as interviews with nearly every surviving person who knew Wright, makes this book a one-of-a-kind look at how Wright’s personal life influenced his architecture.

<p><strong>$21.95</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375408274?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel, <em>Invisible Man</em>, is about a Black man who faced systemic racism in the Deep South during his youth, then migrated to New York, only to find oppression of a slightly different kind. What makes Arnold Rampersand’s honest and insightful biography of Ellison so compelling is how he connects the dots between <em>Invisible Man</em> and Ellison’s own journey from small-town Oklahoma to New York’s literary scene during the Harlem Renaissance.</p>

45) Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad

Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel, Invisible Man , is about a Black man who faced systemic racism in the Deep South during his youth, then migrated to New York, only to find oppression of a slightly different kind. What makes Arnold Rampersand’s honest and insightful biography of Ellison so compelling is how he connects the dots between Invisible Man and Ellison’s own journey from small-town Oklahoma to New York’s literary scene during the Harlem Renaissance.

<p><strong>$35.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525656367?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Now remembered for his 1891 novel <em>The Picture of Dorian Gray,</em> Oscar Wilde was one of the most fascinating men of the fin-de-siècle thanks to his poems, plays, and some of the earliest reported “celebrity trials.” Sturgis’s scintillating biography is the most encyclopedic chronicle of Wilde’s life to date, thanks to new research into his personal notebooks and a full transcript of his libel trial.</p>

44) Oscar Wilde: A Life, by Matthew Sturgis

Now remembered for his 1891 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde was one of the most fascinating men of the fin-de-siècle thanks to his poems, plays, and some of the earliest reported “celebrity trials.” Sturgis’s scintillating biography is the most encyclopedic chronicle of Wilde’s life to date, thanks to new research into his personal notebooks and a full transcript of his libel trial.

<p><strong>$21.93</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0807025046?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The poet Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, but because she spent most of her life in Chicago instead of New York, she hasn’t been studied or celebrated as often as her peers in the Harlem Renaissance. Luckily, Angela Jackson’s biography is full of new details about Brooks’s personal life, and how it influenced her poetry across five decades.</p>

43) A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun: The Life & Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks, by Angela Jackson

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, but because she spent most of her life in Chicago instead of New York, she hasn’t been studied or celebrated as often as her peers in the Harlem Renaissance. Luckily, Angela Jackson’s biography is full of new details about Brooks’s personal life, and how it influenced her poetry across five decades.

<p><strong>$26.98</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501134191?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Was Buster Keaton the most influential filmmaker of the first half of the twentieth century? Dana Stevens makes a compelling case in this dazzling mix of biography, essays, and cultural history. Much like Keaton’s filmography, Stevens playfully jumps from genre to genre in an endlessly entertaining way, while illuminating how Keaton’s influence on film and television continues to this day.</p>

42) Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, by Dana Stevens

Was Buster Keaton the most influential filmmaker of the first half of the twentieth century? Dana Stevens makes a compelling case in this dazzling mix of biography, essays, and cultural history. Much like Keaton’s filmography, Stevens playfully jumps from genre to genre in an endlessly entertaining way, while illuminating how Keaton’s influence on film and television continues to this day.

<p><strong>$29.34</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616201754?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Dean Jobb is a master of narrative nonfiction on par with Erik Larsen, author of <em>The Devil in the White City</em>. Jobb’s biography of Leo Koretz, the Bernie Madoff of the Jazz Age, is among the few great biographies that read like a thriller. Set in Chicago during the 1880s through the 1920s, it’s also filled with sumptuous period details, from lakeside mansions to streets choked with Model Ts.</p>

41) Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation, by Dean Jobb

Dean Jobb is a master of narrative nonfiction on par with Erik Larsen, author of The Devil in the White City . Jobb’s biography of Leo Koretz, the Bernie Madoff of the Jazz Age, is among the few great biographies that read like a thriller. Set in Chicago during the 1880s through the 1920s, it’s also filled with sumptuous period details, from lakeside mansions to streets choked with Model Ts.

<p><strong>$17.58</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804170495?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Hermione Lee’s biographies of Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton could easily have made this list. But her book about a less famous person—Penelope Fitzgerald, the English novelist who wrote <em>The Bookshop, The Blue Flower</em>, and <em>The Beginning of Spring</em>—might be her best yet. At just over 500 pages, it’s considerably shorter than those other biographies, partially because Fitzgerald’s life wasn’t nearly as well documented. But Lee’s conciseness is exactly what makes this book a more enjoyable read, along with the thrilling feeling that she’s uncovering a new story literary historians haven’t already explored.</p>

40) Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life, by Hermione Lee

Hermione Lee’s biographies of Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton could easily have made this list. But her book about a less famous person—Penelope Fitzgerald, the English novelist who wrote The Bookshop, The Blue Flower , and The Beginning of Spring —might be her best yet. At just over 500 pages, it’s considerably shorter than those other biographies, partially because Fitzgerald’s life wasn’t nearly as well documented. But Lee’s conciseness is exactly what makes this book a more enjoyable read, along with the thrilling feeling that she’s uncovering a new story literary historians haven’t already explored.

<p><strong>$16.19</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/030795126X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Many biographers have written about Sylvia Plath, often drawing parallels between her poetry and her death by suicide at the age of thirty. But in this startling book, Plath isn’t wholly defined by her tragedy, and Heather Clark’s craftsmanship as a writer makes it a joy to read. It’s also the most comprehensive account of Plath’s final year yet put to paper, with new information that will change the way you think of her life, poetry, and death.</p>

39) Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark

Many biographers have written about Sylvia Plath, often drawing parallels between her poetry and her death by suicide at the age of thirty. But in this startling book, Plath isn’t wholly defined by her tragedy, and Heather Clark’s craftsmanship as a writer makes it a joy to read. It’s also the most comprehensive account of Plath’s final year yet put to paper, with new information that will change the way you think of her life, poetry, and death.

<p><strong>$50.00</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375503056?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Compared to most biography subjects, there isn’t much surviving documentation about the life of Pontius Pilate, the Judaean governor who ordered the execution of the historical Jesus in the first century AD. But Ann Wroe leans into all that uncertainty in her groundbreaking book, making for a fascinating mix of research and informed speculation that often feels like reading a really good historical novel.</p>

38) Pontius Pilate, by Ann Wroe

Compared to most biography subjects, there isn’t much surviving documentation about the life of Pontius Pilate, the Judaean governor who ordered the execution of the historical Jesus in the first century AD. But Ann Wroe leans into all that uncertainty in her groundbreaking book, making for a fascinating mix of research and informed speculation that often feels like reading a really good historical novel.

<p><strong>$69.70</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439110190?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>In the early nineteenth century, Simón Bolívar led six modern countries—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela—to independence from the Spanish Empire. In this rousing work of biography and geopolitical history, Marie Arana deftly chronicles his epic life with propulsive prose, including a killer first sentence: “They heard him before they saw him: the sound of hooves striking the earth, steady as a heartbeat, urgent as a revolution.”</p>

37) Bolívar: American Liberator, by Marie Arana

In the early nineteenth century, Simón Bolívar led six modern countries—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela—to independence from the Spanish Empire. In this rousing work of biography and geopolitical history, Marie Arana deftly chronicles his epic life with propulsive prose, including a killer first sentence: “They heard him before they saw him: the sound of hooves striking the earth, steady as a heartbeat, urgent as a revolution.”

<p><strong>$21.53</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393069621?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Ever read a biography of a fictional character? In the 1930s and 1940s, Charlie Chan came to popularity as a Chinese American police detective in Earl Derr Biggers’s mystery novels and their big-screen adaptations. In writing this book, Yunte Huang became something of a detective himself to track down the real-life inspiration for the character, a Hawaiian cop named Chang Apana born shortly after the Civil War. The result is an astute blend between biography and cultural criticism as Huang analyzes how Chan served as a crucial counterpoint to stereotypical Chinese villains in early Hollywood.</p>

36) Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History, by Yunte Huang

Ever read a biography of a fictional character? In the 1930s and 1940s, Charlie Chan came to popularity as a Chinese American police detective in Earl Derr Biggers’s mystery novels and their big-screen adaptations. In writing this book, Yunte Huang became something of a detective himself to track down the real-life inspiration for the character, a Hawaiian cop named Chang Apana born shortly after the Civil War. The result is an astute blend between biography and cultural criticism as Huang analyzes how Chan served as a crucial counterpoint to stereotypical Chinese villains in early Hollywood.

<p><strong>$17.00</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/039457589X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Edna St. Vincent Millay was one of the most fascinating women of the twentieth century—an openly bisexual poet, playwright, and feminist icon who helped make Greenwich Village a cultural bohemia in the 1920s. With a knack for torrid details and creative insights, Nancy Milford successfully captures what made Millay so irresistible—right down to her voice, “an instrument of seduction” that captivated men and women alike.</p>

35) Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford

Edna St. Vincent Millay was one of the most fascinating women of the twentieth century—an openly bisexual poet, playwright, and feminist icon who helped make Greenwich Village a cultural bohemia in the 1920s. With a knack for torrid details and creative insights, Nancy Milford successfully captures what made Millay so irresistible—right down to her voice, “an instrument of seduction” that captivated men and women alike.

<p><strong>$23.29</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1451648537?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Few people have the luxury of choosing their own biographers, but that’s exactly what the late co-founder of Apple did when he tapped Walter Isaacson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. Adapted for the big screen by Aaron Sorkin in 2015, <em>Steve Jobs</em> is full of plot twists and suspense thanks to a mind-blowing amount of research on the part of Isaacson, who interviewed Jobs more than forty times and spoke with just about everyone who’d ever come into contact with him.</p>

34) Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Few people have the luxury of choosing their own biographers, but that’s exactly what the late co-founder of Apple did when he tapped Walter Isaacson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. Adapted for the big screen by Aaron Sorkin in 2015, Steve Jobs is full of plot twists and suspense thanks to a mind-blowing amount of research on the part of Isaacson, who interviewed Jobs more than forty times and spoke with just about everyone who’d ever come into contact with him.

<p><strong>$50.80</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679447903?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov once said, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have written a single novel.” And while Stacy Schiff’s biography of Cleopatra could also easily make this list, her telling of Véra Nabokova’s life in Russia, Europe, and the United States is revolutionary for finally bringing Véra out of her husband’s shadow. It’s also one of the most romantic biographies you’ll ever read, with some truly unforgettable images, like Vera’s habit of carrying a handgun to protect Vladimir on butterfly-hunting excursions.</p>

33) Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), by Stacy Schiff

The Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov once said, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have written a single novel.” And while Stacy Schiff’s biography of Cleopatra could also easily make this list, her telling of Véra Nabokova’s life in Russia, Europe, and the United States is revolutionary for finally bringing Véra out of her husband’s shadow. It’s also one of the most romantic biographies you’ll ever read, with some truly unforgettable images, like Vera’s habit of carrying a handgun to protect Vladimir on butterfly-hunting excursions.

<p><strong>$19.96</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393050572?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>We know what you’re thinking. Who needs another book about Shakespeare?! But Greenblatt’s masterful biography is like traveling back in time to see firsthand how a small-town Englishman became the greatest writer of all time. Like Wroe’s biography of Pontius Pilate, there’s plenty of speculation here, as there are very few surviving records of Shakespeare’s daily life, but Greenblatt’s best trick is the way he pulls details from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets to construct a compelling narrative. </p>

32) Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, by Stephen Greenblatt

We know what you’re thinking. Who needs another book about Shakespeare?! But Greenblatt’s masterful biography is like traveling back in time to see firsthand how a small-town Englishman became the greatest writer of all time. Like Wroe’s biography of Pontius Pilate, there’s plenty of speculation here, as there are very few surviving records of Shakespeare’s daily life, but Greenblatt’s best trick is the way he pulls details from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets to construct a compelling narrative.

<p><strong>$14.34</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525575324?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>When Kiese Laymon calls a book a “literary miracle,” you pay attention. James Baldwin’s legacy has enjoyed something of a revival over the last few years thanks to films like <em>I Am Not Your Negro </em>and <em>If Beale Street Could Talk</em>, as well as books like Glaude’s new biography. It’s genuinely a bit of a miracle how he manages to combine the story of Baldwin’s life with interpretations of Baldwin’s work—as well as Glaude’s own story of discovering, resisting, and rediscovering Baldwin’s books throughout his life.</p>

31) Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

When Kiese Laymon calls a book a “literary miracle,” you pay attention. James Baldwin’s legacy has enjoyed something of a revival over the last few years thanks to films like I Am Not Your Negro and If Beale Street Could Talk , as well as books like Glaude’s new biography. It’s genuinely a bit of a miracle how he manages to combine the story of Baldwin’s life with interpretations of Baldwin’s work—as well as Glaude’s own story of discovering, resisting, and rediscovering Baldwin’s books throughout his life.

<p><strong>$12.69</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312560850?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>If you’ve never seen the 2008 film <em>Milk</em> starring Sean Penn, you might not be familiar with the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California before his assassination in 1978. Shilts’s biography provides a much more detailed look at the policies and politics Milk fought against in San Francisco to become one of the most crucial advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in American history.</p>

30) The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, by Randy Shilts

If you’ve never seen the 2008 film Milk starring Sean Penn, you might not be familiar with the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California before his assassination in 1978. Shilts’s biography provides a much more detailed look at the policies and politics Milk fought against in San Francisco to become one of the most crucial advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in American history.

<p><strong>$28.14</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375412778?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Without Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, we’d have no <em>Wuthering Heights</em>, no<em> Jane Eyre</em>, no <em>The Tenant of Wildfell Hall</em>—and something like half as many BBC television and radio adaptations. The thing that makes Lucasta Miller’s “metabiography” so absorbing is that she doesn’t just recount the lives of the three Brontë sisters in Victorian Yorkshire; she also narrates her own process of discovery as she realizes just how much their first biographer—a family friend who tried to sugarcoat their personal lives—misrepresented the Brontë family.</p>

29) The Brontë Myth, by Lucasta Miller

Without Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, we’d have no Wuthering Heights , no Jane Eyre , no The Tenant of Wildfell Hall —and something like half as many BBC television and radio adaptations. The thing that makes Lucasta Miller’s “metabiography” so absorbing is that she doesn’t just recount the lives of the three Brontë sisters in Victorian Yorkshire; she also narrates her own process of discovery as she realizes just how much their first biographer—a family friend who tried to sugarcoat their personal lives—misrepresented the Brontë family.

<p><strong>$24.50</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0816645930?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Yuri Kochiyama is best known as the woman who held Malcolm X in her arms as he died in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, but she was also “the most prominent Asian American activist to emerge during the 1960s.” Fujino’s biography traces Kochiyama’s life from her family’s experience in an internment camp for Japanese Americans to her advocacy for a variety of causes as an activist—some of which remain extremely controversial to this day, resulting in a remarkable story that will challenge you in every chapter.</p>

28) Heartbeat of Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Yuri Kochiyama, by Diane C. Fujino

Yuri Kochiyama is best known as the woman who held Malcolm X in her arms as he died in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, but she was also “the most prominent Asian American activist to emerge during the 1960s.” Fujino’s biography traces Kochiyama’s life from her family’s experience in an internment camp for Japanese Americans to her advocacy for a variety of causes as an activist—some of which remain extremely controversial to this day, resulting in a remarkable story that will challenge you in every chapter.

<p><strong>$49.00</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1844570290?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>In just ten films released between 1988 and 2013—including <em>In the Mood for Love </em>and <em>Fallen Angels</em>—the Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai established himself as a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind director. This engrossing book covers Kar-Wai’s story up until his seventh film, but where it really shines is when Teo turns his attention to the interplay between Kar-Wai’s life and the movies themselves. One can only hope for a follow-up that examines Kar-Wai’s three most recent releases—<em>2046, My Blueberry Nights</em>, and <em>The Grandmaster</em>.</p>

27) Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time, by Stephen Teo

In just ten films released between 1988 and 2013—including In the Mood for Love and Fallen Angels —the Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai established himself as a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind director. This engrossing book covers Kar-Wai’s story up until his seventh film, but where it really shines is when Teo turns his attention to the interplay between Kar-Wai’s life and the movies themselves. One can only hope for a follow-up that examines Kar-Wai’s three most recent releases— 2046, My Blueberry Nights , and The Grandmaster .

<p><strong>$10.69</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143036211?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>You probably learned about the Battle of Little Bighorn in grade school, but this well-paced biography of the Lakota warrior known as Crazy Horse reveals many new details, thanks to Marshall III’s extensive on-the-ground research with oral historians in the Black Hills and beyond. At just over 300 pages, it’s also one of the shortest biographies on this list, which makes it a great gift for readers who are leery of 1,000-page doorstoppers. </p>

26) The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History, by Joseph M. Marshall III

You probably learned about the Battle of Little Bighorn in grade school, but this well-paced biography of the Lakota warrior known as Crazy Horse reveals many new details, thanks to Marshall III’s extensive on-the-ground research with oral historians in the Black Hills and beyond. At just over 300 pages, it’s also one of the shortest biographies on this list, which makes it a great gift for readers who are leery of 1,000-page doorstoppers.

<p><strong>$24.83</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/019508957X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Speaking of 1,000-page doorstoppers! Despite his status as the “father of the Harlem Renaissance,” Alain Locke isn’t quite the household name that many of his mentees became, like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence. Stewart’s massive biography is absolutely worth its page count—not just because of its velvet-smooth writing about Locke himself, but also because of its revelations about other members of the Harlem Renaissance who were influenced by Locke.</p>

25) The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke, by Jeffrey C. Stewart

Speaking of 1,000-page doorstoppers! Despite his status as the “father of the Harlem Renaissance,” Alain Locke isn’t quite the household name that many of his mentees became, like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence. Stewart’s massive biography is absolutely worth its page count—not just because of its velvet-smooth writing about Locke himself, but also because of its revelations about other members of the Harlem Renaissance who were influenced by Locke.

<p><strong>$15.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060797363?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Born into slavery in Mississippi, Ida B. Wells became an investigative journalist after she was thrown from a train car she was attempting to desegregate in 1884. With the eye of a novelist and an exquisite mix of historical summary and dramatic scenes, Giddings traces Wells’s career fighting for civil rights and women’s suffrage from Memphis to Chicago.</p>

24) Ida: A Sword Among Lions, by Paula J. Giddings

Born into slavery in Mississippi, Ida B. Wells became an investigative journalist after she was thrown from a train car she was attempting to desegregate in 1884. With the eye of a novelist and an exquisite mix of historical summary and dramatic scenes, Giddings traces Wells’s career fighting for civil rights and women’s suffrage from Memphis to Chicago.

<p><strong>$24.01</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374191972?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Bobrow-Strain’s suspenseful book is the story of an undocumented immigrant, Aida Hernandez, whose mother brought her from Mexico to Arizona to escape her abusive father. After having a child of her own, Aida was deported back to Mexico, and had to fight the American immigration system to be reunited with her son. It’s a chilling look at how U.S. detention centers and immigration courts wreak havoc on the lives of impoverished and vulnerable people.</p>

23) The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story, by Aaron Bobrow-Strain

Bobrow-Strain’s suspenseful book is the story of an undocumented immigrant, Aida Hernandez, whose mother brought her from Mexico to Arizona to escape her abusive father. After having a child of her own, Aida was deported back to Mexico, and had to fight the American immigration system to be reunited with her son. It’s a chilling look at how U.S. detention centers and immigration courts wreak havoc on the lives of impoverished and vulnerable people.

<p><strong>$147.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1471155935?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>On the heels of his books about Jackie Robinson and Lou Gehrig, the celebrated Chicago sports biographer Jonathan Eig turns his eye to Muhammad Ali in this soaring book based on more than five hundred interviews. It’s also filled with new revelations from long-classified FBI and U.S. Department of Justice files on Ali—and it’s the basis for an upcoming Ken Burns documentary.</p>

22) Ali: A Life, by Jonathan Eig

On the heels of his books about Jackie Robinson and Lou Gehrig, the celebrated Chicago sports biographer Jonathan Eig turns his eye to Muhammad Ali in this soaring book based on more than five hundred interviews. It’s also filled with new revelations from long-classified FBI and U.S. Department of Justice files on Ali—and it’s the basis for an upcoming Ken Burns documentary.

<p><strong>$12.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345408772?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>All four of Massie’s Romanov books are fantastic. His biography of Peter the Great earned a Pulitzer Prize, but it can’t help but feel like a prequel to the main event when Catherine (the queen who overthrew Peter in 1724) is an infinitely more fascinating character. If you loved the Hulu TV series <em>The Great</em> (of course you did!) based on Peter and Catherine’s marriage, this book is the perfect entry point into Russia’s imperial dynasty, which reigned from 1613 until the 1917 revolution.</p>

21) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman, by Robert K. Massie

All four of Massie’s Romanov books are fantastic. His biography of Peter the Great earned a Pulitzer Prize, but it can’t help but feel like a prequel to the main event when Catherine (the queen who overthrew Peter in 1724) is an infinitely more fascinating character. If you loved the Hulu TV series The Great (of course you did!) based on Peter and Catherine’s marriage, this book is the perfect entry point into Russia’s imperial dynasty, which reigned from 1613 until the 1917 revolution.

<p><strong>$19.59</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679741828?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Shortlisted for the National Book Award in 1991, Middlebrook’s shocking biography of Anne Sexton made waves for detailing the poet’s infidelity and incest—including the sexual assault of her husband and children. Many of its revelations came from recordings of Sexton’s psychiatric sessions, which were given to Middlebrook by the poet’s therapist and sparked a controversy upon the book’s publication for violating doctor-patient confidentiality. More than thirty years later, it remains a truly chilling read.</p>

20) Anne Sexton: A Biography, by Diane Wood Middlebrook

Shortlisted for the National Book Award in 1991, Middlebrook’s shocking biography of Anne Sexton made waves for detailing the poet’s infidelity and incest—including the sexual assault of her husband and children. Many of its revelations came from recordings of Sexton’s psychiatric sessions, which were given to Middlebrook by the poet’s therapist and sparked a controversy upon the book’s publication for violating doctor-patient confidentiality. More than thirty years later, it remains a truly chilling read.

<p><strong>$17.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062384406?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Castor’s spellbinding biography of Joan of Arc never really feels like a biography—it feels more like an HBO adaptation of a George R. R. Martin novel. There’s a throne, quite a few castles, and a whole lot of blood in her vivid and violent portrait of fifteenth-century France, as Castor narrates how the fates of nations were swayed by a teenage warrior-woman who believed she could hear the voice of God.</p>

19) Joan of Arc: A History, by Helen Castor

Castor’s spellbinding biography of Joan of Arc never really feels like a biography—it feels more like an HBO adaptation of a George R. R. Martin novel. There’s a throne, quite a few castles, and a whole lot of blood in her vivid and violent portrait of fifteenth-century France, as Castor narrates how the fates of nations were swayed by a teenage warrior-woman who believed she could hear the voice of God.

<p><strong>$20.18</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1524733059?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>In the 1960s, five extraordinary women met at Radcliffe College’s experimental Institute for Independent Study: the writers Anne Sexton, Maxine Kumin, and Tillie Olsen, and the artists Barbara Swan and Marianna Pineda. Doherty’s moving and masterful group biography shows how these women influenced one another while reshaping conversations about American feminism and culture.</p>

18) The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s, by Maggie Doherty

In the 1960s, five extraordinary women met at Radcliffe College’s experimental Institute for Independent Study: the writers Anne Sexton, Maxine Kumin, and Tillie Olsen, and the artists Barbara Swan and Marianna Pineda. Doherty’s moving and masterful group biography shows how these women influenced one another while reshaping conversations about American feminism and culture.

<p><strong>$17.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375756787?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The first of three books in Morris’s series on Teddy Roosevelt won both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award for biography—the closest thing a biographer can get to an EGOT. As the title indicates, <em>The Rise</em> covers the first four decades of Roosevelt’s life between 1858 and 1901, when he “transformed himself from a frail, asthmatic boy into a full-blooded man.” You might expect a presidential biography to be a solemn affair, but reading Morris feels like watching a rock opera.</p>

17) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris

The first of three books in Morris’s series on Teddy Roosevelt won both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award for biography—the closest thing a biographer can get to an EGOT. As the title indicates, The Rise covers the first four decades of Roosevelt’s life between 1858 and 1901, when he “transformed himself from a frail, asthmatic boy into a full-blooded man.” You might expect a presidential biography to be a solemn affair, but reading Morris feels like watching a rock opera.

<p><strong>$7.69</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/125013188X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Few biographers write about their own fathers, but after winning multiple awards for her memoir, <em>The Latehomecomers</em>, Kao Kalia Yang retold the life of her dad in this powerful book written with a daughter’s unique sense of compassion and awe. Bee Yang, a Hmong refugee who immigrated to Minnesota during the Laotian Civil War, shared the story of his people through singing poetry. His own story will absolutely make you cry.</p>

16) The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father, by Kao Kalia Yang

Few biographers write about their own fathers, but after winning multiple awards for her memoir, The Latehomecomers , Kao Kalia Yang retold the life of her dad in this powerful book written with a daughter’s unique sense of compassion and awe. Bee Yang, a Hmong refugee who immigrated to Minnesota during the Laotian Civil War, shared the story of his people through singing poetry. His own story will absolutely make you cry.

<p><strong>$16.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416590323?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>If you write a book about Frederick Douglass, the influential abolitionist who escaped from slavery in Maryland, you have to compete with Douglass’s own autobiographies, including 1845’s gripping <em>Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave</em>. But Blight’s biography—the literary equivalent of a six-season character-study television series like <em>The Sopranos</em>—is among the best ever written, garnering a Pulitzer Prize and the Lincoln Prize in 2019. </p>

15) Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, by David W. Blight

If you write a book about Frederick Douglass, the influential abolitionist who escaped from slavery in Maryland, you have to compete with Douglass’s own autobiographies, including 1845’s gripping Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave . But Blight’s biography—the literary equivalent of a six-season character-study television series like The Sopranos —is among the best ever written, garnering a Pulitzer Prize and the Lincoln Prize in 2019.

<p><strong>$16.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743253299?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Zora Neale Hurston is on this list twice: once for a book she wrote, and again for a book written about her. Hurston’s latest biographer, Valerie Boyd, was an exquisite narrative journalist who explored every facet of Hurston’s life—her writing, of course, but also her friendships, her sexuality, and her spirituality.</p>

14) Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, by Valerie Boyd

Zora Neale Hurston is on this list twice: once for a book she wrote, and again for a book written about her. Hurston’s latest biographer, Valerie Boyd, was an exquisite narrative journalist who explored every facet of Hurston’s life—her writing, of course, but also her friendships, her sexuality, and her spirituality.

<p><strong>$12.69</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1324091053?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The Paynes’s biography of Malcolm X won both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, a stunning achievement they absolutely deserved. Les Payne spent almost thirty years writing the bulk of the book, while his daughter Tamara completed it and added additional materials after his death. <em>The Dead Are Arising</em> is a perfect companion to Malcolm X’s autobiography, filling in the gaps and adding new context to his tumultuous life story.</p>

13) The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, by Les Payne and Tamara Payne

The Paynes’s biography of Malcolm X won both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, a stunning achievement they absolutely deserved. Les Payne spent almost thirty years writing the bulk of the book, while his daughter Tamara completed it and added additional materials after his death. The Dead Are Arising is a perfect companion to Malcolm X’s autobiography, filling in the gaps and adding new context to his tumultuous life story.

<p><strong>$28.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805088059?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Originally published as two volumes in 1993 and 2000—both of which won Pulitzer Prizes—this 900-page omnibus is a remarkably told chronicle of the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, the “premier architect of the civil rights movement in America.” With its attention to detail and sweeping historical context, reading it is akin to watching a Ken Burns documentary.</p>

12) W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography 1868-1963, by David Levering Lewis

Originally published as two volumes in 1993 and 2000—both of which won Pulitzer Prizes—this 900-page omnibus is a remarkably told chronicle of the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, the “premier architect of the civil rights movement in America.” With its attention to detail and sweeping historical context, reading it is akin to watching a Ken Burns documentary.

<p><strong>$12.79</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143119966?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Best known for writing the book that inspired the Broadway musical <em>Hamilton</em>—as well as biographies of Ulysses S. Grant, John D. Rockefeller, and the J.P. Morgan dynasty—Chernow’s best book might be this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of America’s first president, George Washington. Why? Because Chernow will change your impression of Washington from a boring, frowning statesman to something like an 18th-century punk rocker who liked to dance with women and hunt foxes, all while pulling no punches when it comes to Washington’s military failures and ownership of slaves. </p>

11) Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow

Best known for writing the book that inspired the Broadway musical Hamilton —as well as biographies of Ulysses S. Grant, John D. Rockefeller, and the J.P. Morgan dynasty—Chernow’s best book might be this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of America’s first president, George Washington. Why? Because Chernow will change your impression of Washington from a boring, frowning statesman to something like an 18th-century punk rocker who liked to dance with women and hunt foxes, all while pulling no punches when it comes to Washington’s military failures and ownership of slaves.

<p><strong>$15.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0140455167?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>One of the earliest biographies still in print is this chronicle by the Roman historian Suetonius, written in 121 AD. Two millennia later, it remains the best record of the lives of the first twelve Roman emperors—Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian—and it’s surprisingly easy to read for something almost as old as the Colosseum.</p>

10) The Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius

One of the earliest biographies still in print is this chronicle by the Roman historian Suetonius, written in 121 AD. Two millennia later, it remains the best record of the lives of the first twelve Roman emperors—Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian—and it’s surprisingly easy to read for something almost as old as the Colosseum.

<p><strong>$14.49</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1451628420?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p><em>A Beautiful Mind</em> is a powerful, heart-wrenching book about the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and is now famous following a 2001 film about his life starring Russell Crowe. More than most books on this list, <em>A Beautiful Mind</em> is full of great dialogue, like the opening exchange between Nash and a Harvard professor who asks, “How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?” Nash responded, “Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did.”</p>

9) A Beautiful Mind, by Sylvia Nasar

A Beautiful Mind is a powerful, heart-wrenching book about the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and is now famous following a 2001 film about his life starring Russell Crowe. More than most books on this list, A Beautiful Mind is full of great dialogue, like the opening exchange between Nash and a Harvard professor who asks, “How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?” Nash responded, “Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did.”

<p><strong>$15.95</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/069116472X?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>The 2014 Benedict Cumberbatch film, <em>The Imitation Game</em>, was based on this heartbreaking 1983 biography of Alan Turing, the English mathematician who invented one of the earliest mechanical computers and helped the Allied Powers win World War II, only to be chemically castrated by the British government under laws prohibiting “homosexual acts.” But like Heather Clark’s biography of Sylvia Plath, Hodges doesn’t overemphasize the worst parts of Turing’s life, and the WWII material is as thrilling as a John Le Carré novel. </p>

8) Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges

The 2014 Benedict Cumberbatch film, The Imitation Game , was based on this heartbreaking 1983 biography of Alan Turing, the English mathematician who invented one of the earliest mechanical computers and helped the Allied Powers win World War II, only to be chemically castrated by the British government under laws prohibiting “homosexual acts.” But like Heather Clark’s biography of Sylvia Plath, Hodges doesn’t overemphasize the worst parts of Turing’s life, and the WWII material is as thrilling as a John Le Carré novel.

<p><strong>$17.95</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0807039837?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Imani Perry just won a National Book Award for her memoir, <em>South to America</em>, but she also wrote a stunning biography of Lorraine Hansberry, the queer Chicago playwright behind <em>A Raisin in the Sun</em> whose social activism drew the attention of the FBI. The MacArthur Fellow writer Jacqueline Woodson said reading <em>Looking for Lorraine</em> “feels as though Ms. Hansberry has walked into my living room and sat down beside me”—the highest praise a biographer could possibly hope for. </p>

7) Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry, by Imani Perry

Imani Perry just won a National Book Award for her memoir, South to America , but she also wrote a stunning biography of Lorraine Hansberry, the queer Chicago playwright behind A Raisin in the Sun whose social activism drew the attention of the FBI. The MacArthur Fellow writer Jacqueline Woodson said reading Looking for Lorraine “feels as though Ms. Hansberry has walked into my living room and sat down beside me”—the highest praise a biographer could possibly hope for.

<p><strong>$12.15</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062748211?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Written nearly 100 years ago but never published until 2018, this book from the author of <em>Their Eyes Were Watching God</em> is the riveting story of the last presumed survivor of the Altantic slave trade, Cudjo Lewis, including his capture in Africa, his journey on the Middle Passage, and his life as a slave in Alabama before the Civil War. Thanks to Hurston’s intimate first-person narration and her preservation of Lewis’s vernacular dialect, it feels like listening to the most fascinating conversation you’ve ever eavesdropped on, and it provides a devastating first-hand account of what it was like to live through the worst atrocity in American history.</p>

6) Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", by Zora Neale Hurston

Written nearly 100 years ago but never published until 2018, this book from the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God is the riveting story of the last presumed survivor of the Altantic slave trade, Cudjo Lewis, including his capture in Africa, his journey on the Middle Passage, and his life as a slave in Alabama before the Civil War. Thanks to Hurston’s intimate first-person narration and her preservation of Lewis’s vernacular dialect, it feels like listening to the most fascinating conversation you’ve ever eavesdropped on, and it provides a devastating first-hand account of what it was like to live through the worst atrocity in American history.

<p><strong>$22.49</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060085894?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Herrera’s 1983 masterpiece is the definitive biography of Frida Kahlo, adapted by Julie Taymor into the 2002 film <em>Frida</em> starring Salma Hayek. It’s all here in gorgeously written detail: Kahlo’s accident, her paintings, her marriage, her affairs, and her impact on both Mexican history and art. It’s also extremely valuable for correcting the historical record that Kahlo herself sometimes misrepresented for effect—like when she changed her own birth year to match the beginning of Mexico’s revolution.</p>

5) Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo, by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 masterpiece is the definitive biography of Frida Kahlo, adapted by Julie Taymor into the 2002 film Frida starring Salma Hayek. It’s all here in gorgeously written detail: Kahlo’s accident, her paintings, her marriage, her affairs, and her impact on both Mexican history and art. It’s also extremely valuable for correcting the historical record that Kahlo herself sometimes misrepresented for effect—like when she changed her own birth year to match the beginning of Mexico’s revolution.

<p><strong>$16.28</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631493418?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>It’s rare for the biography of a great writer to be just as good as said writer’s best work, but that’s certainly the case with Ruth Franklin’s captivating book about Shirley Jackson. Her sentences are so good! Her plotting is so smooth! Plus, fans of <em>The Haunting at Hill House </em>and <em>We Have Always Lived in the Castle</em> will eat up Jackson’s real-life inspiration behind those unforgettable novels.</p>

4) Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, by Ruth Franklin

It’s rare for the biography of a great writer to be just as good as said writer’s best work, but that’s certainly the case with Ruth Franklin’s captivating book about Shirley Jackson. Her sentences are so good! Her plotting is so smooth! Plus, fans of The Haunting at Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle will eat up Jackson’s real-life inspiration behind those unforgettable novels.

<p><strong>$12.99</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250182484?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Fraser’s first-ever biography is a genuine masterpiece, both for the quality of its writing and the depth of insights it brings to the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Midwestern author of the <em>Little House on the Prairie</em> books between 1932 and 1943. It won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award for biography in 2018, and it conveys such a strong sense of place, you can smell the Dakota milkweed and switchgrass.</p>

3) Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser

Fraser’s first-ever biography is a genuine masterpiece, both for the quality of its writing and the depth of insights it brings to the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Midwestern author of the Little House on the Prairie books between 1932 and 1943. It won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award for biography in 2018, and it conveys such a strong sense of place, you can smell the Dakota milkweed and switchgrass.

<p><strong>$22.50</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394720245?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>Every volume of Caro’s four-part (so far) series on Lyndon Johnson is amazing, but his crowning achievement might still be this biography of Robert Moses, the urban planner who reshaped New York City in the mid-twentieth century. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1975, and you can instantly see why from page one: Caro can set a scene and establish characters as well as Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola.</p>

2) The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, by Robert A. Caro

Every volume of Caro’s four-part (so far) series on Lyndon Johnson is amazing, but his crowning achievement might still be this biography of Robert Moses, the urban planner who reshaped New York City in the mid-twentieth century. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1975, and you can instantly see why from page one: Caro can set a scene and establish characters as well as Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola.

<p><strong>$16.79</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393337766?tag=syndication-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10067.g.60027476%5Bsrc%7Cmsn-us">Shop Now</a></p><p>“Until very recently, American historians were no more receptive to arguments about a sexual relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings than <em>The Da Vinci Code</em>'s Catholic Church was to a romance between Jesus and Mary Magdalene,” wrote the historian Jane Dailey in 2010. But everything changed thanks to Annette Gordon-Reed’s groundbreaking research proving that Jefferson had children with one of his own slaves. This comprehensive biography of Hemings’s family before, during, and after their lives at Monticello belongs on the biography genre’s Mount Rushmore thanks to Gordon-Reed’s revelatory investigation and her stellar narration of history from a previously hidden perspective.</p>

1) The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family, by Annette Gordon-Reed

“Until very recently, American historians were no more receptive to arguments about a sexual relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings than The Da Vinci Code 's Catholic Church was to a romance between Jesus and Mary Magdalene,” wrote the historian Jane Dailey in 2010. But everything changed thanks to Annette Gordon-Reed’s groundbreaking research proving that Jefferson had children with one of his own slaves. This comprehensive biography of Hemings’s family before, during, and after their lives at Monticello belongs on the biography genre’s Mount Rushmore thanks to Gordon-Reed’s revelatory investigation and her stellar narration of history from a previously hidden perspective.

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Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

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Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. Paperback – March 30, 2004

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Print length 832 pages
Language English
Publisher Vintage
Publication date March 30, 2004
Dimensions 6.1 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches
ISBN-10 1400077303
ISBN-13 978-1400077304
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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; 2nd edition (March 30, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 832 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1400077303
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400077304
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches
#22 in Company Business Profiles (Books)
#54 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals
#65 in Rich & Famous Biographies

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Ron Chernow won the National Book Award in 1990 for his first book, The House of Morgan, and his second book, The Warburgs, won the Eccles Prize as the Best Business Book of 1993. His biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Titan, was a national bestseller and a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist.

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A 3D bioprinter in the Skylar-Scott lab prints a sample of heart tissue in 2022. (Image credit: Andrew Brodhead)

Under a new $26.3 million federal contract from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a multidisciplinary team of researchers at Stanford University aims to bioprint a fully functioning human heart and implant it in a living pig within five years.

“It’s truly a moonshot effort, but the raw ingredients for bioprinting a complete and complex human organ are now in place for this big push,” said Mark Skylar-Scott , assistant professor of bioengineering in the Schools of Engineering and Medicine , a member of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute , and principal investigator on the project.

The vision of fabricating bespoke, patient-specific human organs – livers, lungs, kidneys, brain, and, yes, a human heart – has been a tantalizing dream of modern medicine for years, but only recently has stem cell science, the scale of cell production, and 3D bioprinting advanced to a point where the dream is within reach.

Bioprinting is a 3D printing technology that, instead of using plastic or metal, prints living tissues cell by cell. The key development, Skylar-Scott said, is that we can now print cells and blood vessels into those tissues.

“With vasculature comes the ability to make large and thick tissues that can be implanted and survive,” Skylar-Scott said. “Thus begins the era of organ biofabrication.”

Leap in scale

That bioprinting expertise is coupled with a dramatic leap in scale in cell production, from the petri dish of old to today’s reactors able to turn out heart-specific cells billions at a time. These will become the bioprinter’s “ink.”

“We are going to use an automated bank of bioreactors to produce the different cell types of the heart,” Skylar-Scott said.

This bank of bioreactors will turn out billions of ventricular and atrial cardiomyocytes, specialized conduction cells that form the Purkinje fibers, nodal cells that are the heart’s pace-making cells, as well as smooth muscle cells, macrophages that support tissue development, and, of course, the blood vessel endothelial cells needed to keep the tissue alive. Skylar-Scott estimates that the team will be able to generate sufficient cells for a heart every two weeks.

“We will use these vast numbers of cells to practice, practice, practice and learn all the design rules of the heart and optimize viability and function at the whole-heart scale for eventual implantation into a pig,” he said. The bioprinted human heart will be transplanted into a pig with severe congenital immunodeficiency to prevent rejection. However, the team’s approach uses patient-specific stem cells that, when transplanted into that same patient, may not require immunosuppression. “Your own heart, made out of your own cells; that is the dream,” Skylar-Scott added.

The dramatic scope of the project prompts vision of a day when similar biofabrication plants manufacture new hearts, lungs, livers, and other organs for implantation into ailing humans – each bioprinted organ a perfect genetic match for its patient. Such aspirations are to be expected, Skylar-Scott said, but he adds that he believes that day is still decades off, if not more. Still, this bioprinting initiative will serve as a necessary and powerful proof-of-concept to accelerate the commercialization and translation of organ engineering.

Ecosystem of expertise

Discussion of such possibilities brings Skylar-Scott full circle to the challenge ahead. Bioprinting and implanting a heart into a living creature will require a profound collection of expertise well beyond the skills of any one researcher. In that regard, Skylar-Scott returns to the Stanford research ecosystem that makes this project a possibility.

While he is the principal investigator on the project, the full team of Stanford experts needed to make the dream a reality is remarkable in its depth and breadth (see sidebar). It includes experts in engineering, biochemistry, computer modeling, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, biology, materials science, and more. Only Stanford concentrates leadership in all these disparate but interrelated fields within walking distance of one another.

Stanford is a real center of excellence for cardiovascular medicine, Skylar-Scott said – the Cardiovascular Institute, stem cell derivation expertise, and vascular experts to provide the raw materials combined with a great ecosystem of 3D bioprinting and materials faculty to think how to use and assemble the materials.

“When you have all these resources in one place, it makes it easier to collaborate and to do some pretty amazing things,” Skylar-Scott said.

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Jill Wu, Stanford University School of Engineering: (386) 383-6061, [email protected]

Open access
Published: 24 May 2024

Rosace : a robust deep mutational scanning analysis framework employing position and mean-variance shrinkage

Jingyou Rao 1 ,
Ruiqi Xin 2 na1 ,
Christian Macdonald 3 na1 ,
Matthew K. Howard 3 , 4 , 5 ,
Gabriella O. Estevam 3 , 4 ,
Sook Wah Yee 3 ,
Mingsen Wang 6 ,
James S. Fraser 3 , 7 ,
Willow Coyote-Maestas 3 , 7 &
Harold Pimentel ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8556-2499 1 , 8 , 9

Genome Biology volume 25 , Article number: 138 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Deep mutational scanning (DMS) measures the effects of thousands of genetic variants in a protein simultaneously. The small sample size renders classical statistical methods ineffective. For example, p -values cannot be correctly calibrated when treating variants independently. We propose Rosace , a Bayesian framework for analyzing growth-based DMS data. Rosace leverages amino acid position information to increase power and control the false discovery rate by sharing information across parameters via shrinkage. We also developed Rosette for simulating the distributional properties of DMS. We show that Rosace is robust to the violation of model assumptions and is more powerful than existing tools.

Understanding how protein function is encoded at the residue level is a central challenge in modern protein science. Mutations can cause diseases and drive evolution through perturbing protein function in a myriad of ways, such as by altering its conformational ensemble and stability or its interaction with ligands and binding partners. In these contexts, mutations may result in a loss of function, gain of function, or a neutral phenotype (i.e., no discernable effects). Mutations also often exert effects across multiple phenotypes, and these perturbations can ultimately propagate to alter complex processes in cell biology and physiology. Reverse genetics approaches offer a powerful handle for researchers to investigate biology via introducing mutations and observing the resulting phenotypic changes.

Deep mutational scanning (DMS) is a technique for systematically determining the effect of a large library of mutations individually on a phenotype of interest by performing pooled assays and measuring the relative effects of each variant (Fig. 1 A) [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. It has improved clinical variant interpretation [ 4 ] and provided insights into the biophysical modeling and mechanistic models of genetic variants [ 5 ]. Taking enzymes as an example, these phenotypes could include catalytic activity [ 6 ] or stability [ 7 , 8 ]. For a transcription factor, the phenotype could be DNA binding specificity or transcriptional activity [ 9 ]. The relevant phenotype for a membrane transporter might be folding and trafficking or substrate transport [ 10 ]. These phenotypes are often captured by growth-based [ 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], binding-based [ 9 , 17 , 18 ], or fluorescence-based assays [ 8 , 10 , 19 ]. Those experiments are inherently differently designed and merit separate analysis frameworks. In growth-based assays, the relative growth rates of cells are of interest. In a binding-based assay, the selection probabilities are of interest. In fluorescence-based assays, changes to the distribution of reporter gene expression are measured. In this paper, we focus solely on growth-based screens.

Deep mutational scanning and overview of Rosace framework. A Each amino acid of the selected protein sequence is mutated to another mutant in deep mutational scanning. B Cells carrying different variants are grown in the same pool under selection pressure. At each time point, cells are sequenced to output the count table. Replications can be produced either pre-transfection or post-transfection. C Rosace is an R package that accepts input from the raw sequencing count table and outputs the posterior distribution of functional score

In a growth-based DMS experiment, we grow a pool of cells carrying different variants under a selective pressure linked to gene function. At set intervals, we sequence the cells to identify each variant’s frequency in the pool. The change in the frequency over the course of the experiment, from initial frequencies to subsequent measurements, serves as a metric of the variant’s functional effects (Fig. 1 B). The functional score is often computed for each variant in the DMS screen and compared against those of synonymous mutations or wild-type cells to display the relative functional change of the protein caused by the mutation. Thus, reliable inference of functional scores is crucial to understanding both individual mutations and at which residue location variants tend to have significant functional effects.

The main challenge of functional score inference is that even under the simplest model, there are at least two estimators required for each mutation (mean and variance of functional change), and in practice, it is rare to have more than three replicates. As a result, it has been posited that under naïve estimators that have been commonly employed, there are likely issues with the false discovery rate and the statistical power of detecting mutations that significantly change the function of the protein [ 20 ]. Regardless, incorporating domain-specific assumptions is required to make inference tractable with few samples and thousands of parameters.

To alleviate the small-sample-size inference problem in DMS, four commonly used methods have been developed: dms_tools [ 21 ], Enrich2 [ 18 ], DiMSum [ 20 ], and EMPIRIC [ 22 ]. dms_tools uses Bayesian inference for reliable inference. However, rather than giving a score to each variant, dms_tools generates a score for each amino acid at each position, assuming linear addition of multiple mutation effects and ignoring epistasis coupling. Thus, dms_tools is not directly comparable to other methods and is excluded from our benchmarking analysis. Enrich2 simplifies the variance estimator by assuming that counts are Poisson-distributed (the variance being equal to the mean) and combines the replicates using a random-effect model. DiMSum , however, argues that the assumption in Enrich2 is not enough to control type-I error. As a result, DiMSum builds upon Enrich2 and includes additional variance terms to model the over-dispersion of sequencing counts. However, as presented in Faure et al. 2020 [ 20 ], this ratio-based method only applies to the DMS screen with one round of selection, while many DMS screens have more than two rounds of selection (i.e., sampling at multiple time points) [ 10 , 11 , 23 ]. Alternatively, EMPIRIC fits a Bayesian model that infers each variant separately with non-informative uniform prior to all parameters and thus does not shrink the estimates to robustly correct the variance in estimates due to the small sample size. Further, the model does not accommodate multiple replicates. In addition, mutscan [ 24 ], a recently developed R package for DMS analysis, employed two established statistical models edgeR and limma-voom . However, these two methods were originally designed for RNA-seq data and the data generation process for DMS is very different. One of the key differences is consistency among replicates. In RNA-seq, gene expression is relatively consistent across replicates under the same condition, while in DMS, counts of variants can vary much since the a priori representation in the initial variant library can be vastly inconsistent among replicates.

While these methods provide reasonable regularization of the score’s variance, additional information can further improve the prior. One solution is incorporating residue position information. It has been noted that amino acids in particular regions have an oversized effect on the protein’s function, and other frameworks have incorporated positions for various purposes. In the form of hidden Markov models (HMMs) and position-specific scoring matrices (PSSMs), this is the basis for the sensitive detection of homology in protein sequences [ 25 ]. These results directly imply that variants at the same position likely share some similarities in their behavior and thus that incorporating local information into modeling might produce more robust inferences. However, no existing methods have incorporated residue position information into their models yet.

To overcome these limitations, we present Rosace , the first growth-based DMS method that incorporates local positional information to increase inference performance. Rosace implements a hierarchical model that parameterizes each variant’s effect as a function of the positional effect, thus providing a way to incorporate both position-specific information and shrinkage into the model. Additionally, we developed Rosette , a simulation framework that attempts to simulate several properties of DMS such as bimodality, similarities in behavior across similar substitutions, and the overdispersion of counts. Compared to previous simulation frameworks such as the one in Enrich2 , Rosette uses parameters directly inferred from the specific input experiment and generates counts that reflect the true level of noise in the real experiment. We use Rosette to simulate several screening modalities and show that our inference method, Rosace , exhibits higher power and controls the false discovery rate (FDR) better on average than existing methods. Importantly, Rosace and Rosette are not two views of the same model— Rosette is based on a set of assumptions that are different from or even opposite to those of Rosace . Rosace ’s ability to accommodate data generated under different assumptions shows its robustness. Finally, we run Rosace on real datasets and it shows a much lower FDR than existing methods while maintaining similar power on experimentally validated positive controls.

Overview of Rosace framework

Rosace is a Bayesian framework for analyzing growth-based deep mutational scanning data, producing variant-level estimates from sequencing counts. The full (position-aware) method requires as input the raw sequencing counts and the position labels of variants. It outputs the posterior distribution of variants’ functional scores, which can be further evaluated to conduct hypothesis testing, plotting, and other downstream analyses (Fig. 1 C). If the position label is hard to acquire with heuristics, for example, in the case of random multiple-mutation data, position-unaware Rosace model can be run without position label input. Rosace is available as an R package. To generate the input of Rosace from sequencing reads, we share a Snakemake workflow dubbed Dumpling for short-read-based experiments in the GitHub repository described in the “ Methods ” section. Additionally, Rosace supports input count data processed from Enrich2 [ 18 ] for other protocols such as barcoded sequencing libraries.

Rosace hierarchical model with positional information and score shrinkage

Here, we begin by motivating the use of positional information. Next, we describe the intuition of how we use the positional information. Finally, we describe the remaining dimensions of shrinkage which assist in robust estimates with few experiment replicates.

A variant is herein defined as the amino acid identity at a position in a protein, where that identity may differ from the wild-type sequence. In this context, synonymous, missense, nonsense, and indel variants are all considered and can be processed by Rosace (see the “ Methods ” section for details). The sequence position of a variant p ( v ) provides information on the functional effects to the protein from the variant. We define the position-level functional score $\phi _{p(v)}$ as the mean functional score of all variants on a given position.

To motivate the use of positional information, we take the posterior distribution of the position-level functional score estimated from a real DMS experiment, a cytotoxicity-based growth screen of a human transporter, OCT1 (Fig. 2 A). In this experiment, variants with decreased activity are expected to increase in abundance, as they lose the ability to import a cytotoxic substrate during selection, and variants with increased activity will decrease in abundance similarly. We observe that most position-level score estimates $\widehat{\phi }_{p(v)}$ significantly deviate from the mean, implying that position has material idiosyncratic variation and thus carries information about the protein’s functional architecture.

Rosace shares information at the same position to inform variant effects. A Smoothed position-specific score (sliding window = 5) across positions from OCT1 cytotoxicity screen. Red dotted lines at score = 0 (neutral position). B A conceptual view of the Rosace generative model. Each position has an overall effect, from which variant effects are conferred. Note the prior is wide enough to allow effects that do not follow the mean. Wild-type score distribution is assumed to be at 0. C Plate model representation of Rosace . See the “ Methods ” section for the description of parameters

To incorporate the positional information into our model, we introduce a position-specific score $\phi _{p(v)}$ where p ( v ) maps variant v to its amino acid position. The variant-specific score $\beta _v$ is regularized and controlled by the value of $\phi _{p(v)}$ . To illustrate the point, we conceptually categorize position into three types: positively selected ( $\phi _{p(v)} \gg 0$ ), (nearly) neutral ( $\phi _{p(v)} \approx 0$ ), and negatively selected ( $\phi _{p(v)} \ll 0$ ) (Fig. 2 B). Variants in a positively selected position tend to have scores centered around the positive mean estimate of $\phi _{p(v)}$ , and vice versa for the negatively selected position. Variants in a neutral position tend to be statistically non-significant as the region might not be important to the measured phenotype.

Regularization of the score’s variance is achieved mainly by sharing information across variants within the position and asserting weakly informative priors on the parameters (Fig. 2 C). Functional scores of the variants within the position are drawn from the same set of parameters $\phi _{p(v)}$ and $\sigma _{p(v)}$ . The error term $\epsilon _{g(v)}$ in the linear regression on normalized counts is also shared in the mean count group (see the “ Methods ” section) to prevent biased estimation of the error and incorporate mean-variance relationship commonly modeled in RNA-seq [ 26 , 27 ]. Importantly, while we use the position information to center the prior, the prior is weak enough to allow variants at a position to deviate from the mean. For example, we show that the nonsense variants indeed deviate from the positional mean (Additional file 1: Fig. S3). The variant-level intercept $b_v$ is given a strong prior with a tight distribution centered at 0 to prevent over-fitting.

Rosace performance on various datasets

To test the performance of Rosace , we ran Rosace along with Enrich2 , mutscan (both limma-voom and edgeR ), DiMSum , and simple linear regression (the naïve method) on the OCT1 cytotoxicity screen. DiMSum cannot analyze data with three selection rounds, so we ran DiMSum with only the first two time points. The data is pre-processed with wild-type normalization for all three methods. The analysis is done on all subsets of three replicates ( $\{1\}, \{2\}, \{3\}, \{1,2\}, \{1,3\}, \{2,3\}, \{1,2,3\}$ ).

While we do not have a set of true negative control variants, we assume most synonymous mutations would not change the phenotype, and thus, we use synonymous mutation as a proxy for negative controls. We compute the percentage of significant synonymous mutations called by the hypothesis testing as one representation of the false discovery rate (FDR). The variants are ranked based on the hypothesis testing statistics from the method ( p -value for frequentist methods and local false sign rate [ 28 ], or lfsr ) for Bayesian methods). In an ideal scenario with no noise, the line of ranked variants by FDR is flat at 0 and slowly rises after all true variants with effect are called. Rosace has a very flat segment among the top 25% of the ranked variants compared to DiMSum , Enrich2 , and the naïve method and keeps the FDR lower than mutscan(limma) and mutscan(edgeR) until the end (Fig. 3 A). Importantly, we note that the Rosace curve moves only slightly from 1 replicate to 3 replicates, while the other methods shift more, implying that the change in the number of synonymous mutations called is minor for Rosace , despite having fewer replicates (Fig. 3 A).

False discovery rate and sensitivity on OCT1 cytotoxicity data. A Percent of synonymous mutations called (false discovery rate) versus ranked variants by hypothesis testing. The left panel is from taking the mean of analysis of the three individual replicates. Ideally, the line would be flat at 0 until all the variants with true effects are discovered. B Number of validated variants called (in total 10) versus number of replicates. If only 1 or 2 replicates are used, we iterate through all possible combinations. For example, the three points for Rosace on 2 replicates use Replicate $\{1, 2\}$ , $\{1, 3\}$ , and $\{2, 3\}$ respectively. (DiMSum can only process two time points, and thus is disadvantaged in experiments such as OCT1)

While lower FDR may result in lower power in the method, we show that Rosace is consistently powerful in detecting the OCT1-positive control variants. Yee et al. [ 10 ] conducted lower-throughput radioligand uptake experiments in HEK293T cells and validated 10 variants that have a loss-of-function or gain-of-function phenotype. We use the number of validated variants to approximate the power of the method. As shown in Fig. 3 B, Rosace has comparable power to Enrich2 , mutscan(limma) , and mutscan(edgeR) regardless of the number of replicates, while the naïve method is unable to detect anything in the case of one replicate. Rosace calls significantly fewer synonymous mutations than every other method while maintaining high power, showing that Rosace is robust in real data.

In OCT1, loss of function leads to enrichment rather than depletion, which is relatively uncommon. To complement findings on OCT1, we conducted a similar analysis on the kinase MET data [ 11 ] (3 replicates, 3 selection rounds), whose loss of function leads to depletion. Applied to this dataset, Rosace and its position-unaware version have comparable power to Enrich2 , mutscan(limma) , and mutscan(edgeR) with any number of replicates used, and the naïve method remains less powerful than other methods, especially with one replicate only. Consistent with OCT1, Rosace again calls fewer synonymous mutations and better controls the false discovery rate. The results are visualized in the Supplementary Figures (Additional file 1: Figs. S12-15).

To test Rosace performance on diverse datasets, we also ran all methods on the CARD11 data [ 14 ] (5 replicates, 1 selection round), the MSH2 data [ 12 ] (3 replicates, 1 selection round), the BRCA1 data [ 13 ] (2 replicates, 2 selection rounds), and the BRCA1-RING data [ 23 ] (6 replicates, 5 selection rounds) (Table S1). In addition to those human protein datasets, we also applied Rosace to a bacterial protein, Cohesin [ 29 ] (1 replicate, 1 selection round) (Table S1). We use the pathogenic and benign variants in ClinVar [ 30 ], EVE [ 31 ], and AlphaMissense [ 32 ] to provide a proxy of positive and negative control variants. Rosace consistently shows high sensitivity in detecting the positive control variants in all three datasets while controlling the false discovery rate (Additional file 1: Figs. S5-S11). Noting that the number of clinically verified variants is limited and those identified in the prediction models usually have extreme effects, we do not observe a large difference between the methods’ performance.

To alleviate a potential concern that the position-level shrinkage given by Rosace is too large, we plot the functional scores calculated by Rosace against those by Enrich2 across several DMS datasets (Additional file 1: Figs. S2-4). We find that the synonymous variants’ functional scores are similar in magnitude to those of other variants, so synonymous variants are not shrunken too strongly to zero. We also find that stop codon and indel variants have consistently significant effect scores, implying that position-level shrinkage is not so strong that those variants’ effects are neutralized. This result implies that the position prior benefits the model mainly through a more stable standard error estimate enabling improved prioritization as a function of local false sign rate or other posterior ranking criteria that are a function of the variance.

Rosette : DMS data simulation which matches marginal distributions from real DMS data

To further benchmark the performance of Rosace and other related methods, we propose a new simulation framework called Rosette , which generates DMS data using parameters directly inferred from the real experiment to gain the flexibility of mimicking the overall structure of most growth-based DMS screen data (Fig. 4 A).

Rosette simulation framework preserves the overall structure of growth-based DMS screens. The plots show the result of using OCT1 data as input. A Rosette generates summary statistics from real data and simulates the sequencing count. B Generative model for Rosette simulation. C The distribution of real and predicted functional scores is similar. D , E Five summary statistics are needed for Rosette

Intuitively, if we construct a simulation that closely follows the assumptions of our model, our model should have outstanding performance. To facilitate a fair comparison with other methods, the simulation presented here is not aligned with the assumptions made in Rosace . In fact, the central assumption that variant position carries information is violated by construction to showcase the robustness of Rosace .

To re-clarify the terminology used throughout this paper, “mutant” refers to the substitution, insertion, or deletion of amino acids. A position-mutant pair is considered a variant. Mutants are categorized into mutant groups with hierarchical clustering schemes or predefined criteria (our model uses the former that are expected to align with the biophysical properties of amino acids). Variants are grouped in two ways: (1) by their functional change to the protein, namely neutral, loss-of-function (LOF), or gain-of-function (GOF), referred to as “variant groups,” and (2) by the mean of the raw sequencing counts across replicates, referred to as “variant mean groups.”

Rosette calculates two summary statistics from the raw sequencing counts (dispersion of the sequencing count $\eta$ and dispersion of the variant library $\eta _0$ ) (Fig. 4 D) and three others from the score estimates (the proportion of each mutant group $\varvec{p}$ , the functional score’s distribution of each variant group $\varvec{\theta }$ , and the weight of each variant group $\varvec{\alpha }$ ) (Fig. 4 E). Since we are only learning the distribution of the scores instead of the functional characteristics of individual variants, the score estimates can be naïve (e.g., simple linear regression) or more complicated (e.g., Rosace ).

The dispersion of the sequencing counts $\eta$ measures how much variability in variant representation there is in the entire experimental procedure, during both cell culture and sequencing. When $\eta$ goes to infinity, it means that the sequencing count is almost the same as the expected true cell count (no over-dispersion). When $\eta$ is small, it shows an over-dispersion of the sequencing count. In an ideal experiment with no over-dispersion, the proportion of synonymous mutations should be invariant to time due to the absence of functional changes. However, from the real data, we have observed a large variability of proportion changes within the synonymous mutations at different selection rounds, which is attributed to over-dispersion and cannot be explained by a simple multinomial distribution in existing simulation frameworks (Additional file 1: Fig. S1). Indeed, all methods, including the naïve method, achieve near-perfect performance in the Enrich2 simulations with a correlation score greater than 0.99 (Additional file 1: Fig. S27). Therefore, we choose to model the sequencing step with a Dirichlet-Multinomial distribution that includes $\eta$ as the dispersion parameter.

The dispersion of variant library $\eta _0$ measures how much variability already exists in variant representation before the cell selection. Theoretically, each variant would have around the same number of cells at the initial time point. However, due to the imbalance during the variant library generation process and the cell culture of the initial population that might already be under selection, we sometimes see a wide dispersion of counts across variants. To estimate this dispersion, we fit a Dirichlet-Multinomial distribution under the assumption that the variants in the cell pool at the initial time point should have equal proportions.

The distribution and the structure of the underlying true functional score across variants are controlled by the rest of the summary statistics. We make a few assumptions here. First, the functional score distribution of mutants across positions (or a row in the heatmap (Fig. 4 A)) is different, but within the mutant group, the mutants are independent and identically distributed (or exchangeable). We estimate the mutant group by hierarchical clustering with distance defined by empirical Jenson-Shannon Divergence and record its proportion $\hat{\varvec{p}}$ . Second, each variant belongs to the neutral hypothesis (score close to 0, similar to synonymous mutations) or the alternative hypothesis (away from 0, different from synonymous mutations). The number of the variant group can be 1–3 (neutral, GOF, and LOF) based on the number of modes in the marginal functional score distribution, and the variants within a variant group are exchangeable. We estimate the borderline of the variant group by Gaussian mixture clustering and fit the distribution parameter $\hat{\varvec{\theta }}$ . Finally, we assume that the positions are independent. While this is a simplifying assumption, to consider the relationship between positions, we would need to incorporate additional assumptions about the functional region of the protein. As a result, we treat the positions as exchangeable and model the proportion of variant group identity (neutral, GOF, LOF) in each mutant group by a Dirichlet distribution with parameter $\hat{\varvec{\alpha }}$ .

To simulate the sequencing count from the summary statistics, we use a generative model that mimics the experiment process and is completely different from the Rosace inference model for fair benchmarking. We first draw the functional score of each variant $\beta _v$ from the structure described in the summary statistics and the ones in the neutral group are set to be 0. Then, we map the functional score to its latent functional parameters: the cell growth rate in the growth screen. Next, we generate the cell count at a particular time point $N_{v,t,r}$ by the cell count at the previous time point $N_{v,t-1,r}$ and the latent functional parameters. Finally, the sequencing count is generated from a Dirichlet-Multinomial distribution with the summarized dispersion parameter and the cell count.

The simulation result shows that the simulated functional score distribution is comparable to the real experimental data (Fig. 4 C). We also demonstrate that the simulation is not particularly favorable to models containing positional information such as Rosace . From Fig. 4 E, we observe that in the simulation, the positional-level score is not as widespread as the real data. In addition, the positions with extreme scores (very positive scores in the OCT1 dataset) have reduced standard deviation in the real data, but not in the simulation (Additional file 1: Figs. S18d, S19d, S20d). As a result, we would expect the performance of Rosace to be better in real data than in the simulation.

Testing Rosace false discovery control with Rosette simulation

To test the performance of Rosace , we generate simulated data using Rosette from two distinctive growth-based assays: the transporter OCT1 data where LOF variants are positively selected [ 10 ] and the kinase MET data where LOF variants are negatively selected [ 11 ]. We further included the result of a saturation genome editing dataset CARD11 [ 14 ] in Additional file 1: Figs. S17-23. The OCT1 DMS screen measures the impact of variants on cytotoxic drug SM73 uptake mediated by the transporter OCT1. If a mutation causes the transporter protein to have decreased activity, the cells in the pool will import less substrate and thus die more slowly than wide-type or those with synonymous mutations, so the LOF variants would be positively selected. In the MET DMS screen, the kinase drives proliferation and cell growth in the BA/F3 mammalian cell line in the absence of IL-3 (interleukin-3) withdrawal. If the variant protein fails to function, the cells will die faster than the wild-type cells, so the LOF variants will be negatively selected. Both data sets have a clear separation of two modes in the functional score distribution (neutral and LOF) (Additional file 1: Figs. S18a, S19a). We benchmark Rosace with Enrich2 , mutscan(edgeR) , mutscan(limma) , and the naïve method in scenarios where we use 1 or all 3 of replicates and 1 or all 3 of selection rounds. DiMSum is benchmarked when there is only one round of selection because it is not designed to handle multiple rounds. Each scenario is repeated 10 times. The results of all methods show similar correlations with the latent growth rates (Additional file 1: Fig. S21), and thus, for benchmarking purposes, we focus on hypothesis testing.

We compare methods from a variant ranking point of view, comparing methods in terms of the number of false discoveries for any given number of variants selected to be LOF. This is because Rosace is a Bayesian framework that uses lfsr instead of p -values as the metric for variant selection and it is hard to translate lfsr to FDR for a hard threshold. Variants are ranked by adjusted p -values or lfsr (ascending). Methods that perform well will rank the truly LOF variants in the simulation ahead of non-LOF variants. In an ideal scenario with no noise, we would expect the line of ranked variants by FDR to be flat at 0 and slowly rise after all LOF variants are called. The results in Fig. 5 show that even though the position assumption is violated in the Rosette simulation, Rosace is robust enough to maintain a relatively low FDR in all simulation conditions.

Benchmark of false discovery control on Rosette simulation. Variants are ranked by hypothesis testing (adjusted p-values or lfsr ). The false discovery rate at each rank is computed as the proportion of neutral variants assuming all the variants till the rank cutoff are called significant. R is the number of replicates and T is the number of selection rounds. MET data is used for negative selection and OCT1 data for positive selection. Ideally, the line would be flat at 0 until the rank where all variants with true effects are discovered. (DiMSum can only process two time points and thus is disadvantaged in experiments with more than two time points, or one selection round)

Testing Rosace power with Rosette simulation

Next, we investigate the sensitivity of benchmarking methods at different FDR or lfsr cutoff. It is important to keep in mind that Rosace uses raw lfsr from the sampling result while all other methods use the Benjamini-Hochberg Procedure to control the false discovery rate. As a result, the cutoff for Rosace is on a different scale.

Rosace is the only method that displays high sensitivity in all conditions with a low false discovery rate. In the case of one selection round and three replicates ( $T = 1$ and $R = 3$ ), mutscan(edgeR) and mutscan(limma) do not have the power to detect any significant variants with the FDR threshold at 0.1. The same scenario occurs with DiMSum at negative selection and the naïve method at $T = 3$ and $R = 1$ (Fig. 6 ). The naïve method in general has very low power, while Enrich2 has a very inflated FDR.

Benchmark of sensitivity versus FDR. The upper row is simulated from a modified version of Rosette simulation to favor position-informed models. The bottom row is the results from standard Rosette . Circles, triangles, squares, and crosses represent LOF variant selection at adjusted p-values or lfsr of 0.001, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.10, respectively. Variants with the opposite sign of selection are then excluded. Ideally, for all methods besides Rosace , each symbol would lie directly above the corresponding symbol on the x-axis indicating true FDR. For Rosace , lfsr has no direct translation to FDR so the cutoff represented by the shape is theoretically on a different scale. (DiMSum can only process two time points, and thus is disadvantaged in experiments with more than two time points, or one selection round)

We benchmark Rosace on both Rosette simulations, which inherently violate the position assumption, and a modified version of Rosette that favors the position-informed model. We show that model misspecification does increase the false discovery rate of Rosace , but Rosace is robust enough to outperform all other methods (except for DiMSum with $T = 1$ and $R = 3$ and positive selection) even when the position assumption is strongly violated (Fig. 6 ).

One of Rosace ’s contributions is accounting for positional information in DMS analysis. The model assumes the prior information that variants on the same position have similar functional effects, resulting in higher sensitivity and better FDR. Furthermore, Rosace is also capable of incorporating other types of prior information on the similarity of variants.

Despite the value of positional information in statistical inference as demonstrated in this paper, it is unclear how multiple random mutations should be position-labeled. In this case, simple position heuristics are often unsatisfying, and one might argue that a position scalar should not cluster the variants in random mutagenesis experiments with large-scale in-frame insertion and deletion, such as those on viruses. These types of experiments are not the focus of this paper, but are still very important and require careful future research.

Another critique of Rosace is the extent of bias we introduce into the score inference through position-prior information. While it is certainly possible to introduce a large bias, Rosace was developed to be a robust model ensuring near-unbiased inference or prediction even when assumptions are not precisely complied with or even violated. We demonstrate the robustness of Rosace through our data simulation framework, Rosette . The generative procedures of Rosette explicitly violate the prior assumptions made by Rosace , but even with Rosette ’s data, Rosace can learn important information. We also show that the position-level shrinkage is not strong using real data, further manifesting the robustness of Rosace .

The development of DMS simulation frameworks such as Rosette can also drive experimental design. For example, to select the best number of time points and replicates with regard to the trade-off between statistical robustness and costs of the experiment, an experimentalist can conduct a pilot experiment and use its data to infer summary statistics through Rosette . Rosette will then generate simulations close to a real experiment. Experimentalists can find the optimal tool for data analysis given an experimental design by applying candidate tools to the simulation data. Similarly, given a data analysis framework, experimentalists can choose from multiple experiment designs by using Rosace to simulate all those experiments and observe if any designs have enough power to detect most of the LOF or GOF variants with a low false discovery rate.

This paper only applies our tool to growth screens, one of several functional phenotyping methods possible by DMS techniques. Another possibility is the binding experiment, where a portion of cells are selected at each time point. In this case, the expectation of functional scores computed by Rosace is a log transformation of the variant’s selection proportion [ 18 ], and one could potentially use Rosace for DMS analysis as in Enrich2 . The third method is fluorescently activated cell sorting (FACS-seq)—a branch of literature uses binned FACS-seq screens to sort the variant libraries based on protein phenotypes. Since the experiment has multiple bins, one can potentially capture the distributional change of molecular properties beyond mean shifting [ 8 , 10 , 19 , 33 ]. Although of different design, FACS-seq-based screens can also be analyzed using a framework similar to Rosace . Building such frameworks incorporating prior information for experiments beyond growth screens enables the community to exploit a wider range of experimental data.

As the function of a protein is rarely one-dimensional, one can measure multiple phenotypes of a variant in a set of experiments [ 10 , 16 , 34 ]. For example, the OCT1 data mentioned earlier [ 10 ] measures both the transporter surface expression from a FACS-seq screen and drug cytotoxicity with a growth screen. Multi-phenotype DMS experiments also call for analysis frameworks to accommodate multidimensional outcomes by modeling the interaction or the correlation of phenotypes of each variant. One successful attempt models the causal biophysical mechanism of protein folding and binding [ 35 ], and there are many more protein properties other than those two. A unifying framework for the multi-phenotype analysis remains unsolved and challenging. One needs to account for different experimental designs to directly compare scores between phenotypes, and carefully select inferred features most relevant to the scientific questions, requiring both efforts from the experimental and computational side. Nevertheless, we believe that the multi-phenotype analysis will eventually guide us to develop better mechanistic or probabilistic models for how mutations drive proteins in evolution, how they lead to malfunction and diseases, and how to better engineer new proteins.

Conclusions

We present Rosace , a Bayesian framework for analyzing growth-based deep mutational scanning data. In addition, we develop Rosette , a simulation framework that recapitulates the properties of actual DMS experiments, but relies on an orthogonal data generation process from Rosace . From both simulation and real data analysis, we show that Rosace has better FDR control and higher sensitivity compared to existing methods and that it provides reliable estimates for downstream analyses.

Pipeline: raw read to sequencing count

To facilitate the broader adoption of the Rosace framework for DMS experiments, we have developed a sequencing pipeline for short-read-based experiments using Snakemake which we dub Dumpling [ 36 ]. This pipeline handles directly sequenced single-variant libraries containing synonymous, missense, nonsense, and multi-length indel mutations, going from raw reads to final scores and quality control metrics. Raw sequencing data in the form of fastq files is first obtained as demultiplexed paired-end files. The user then defines the experimental architecture using a csv file defining the conditions, replicates, and time points corresponding to each file, which is parsed along with a configuration file. The reads are processed for quality and contaminants using BBDuk, and then the paired reads are error-corrected using BBMerge. The cleaned reads are then mapped onto the reference sequence using BBMap [ 37 ]. Variants in the resulting SAM file are called and counted using the AnalyzeSaturationMutagenesis tool in GATK v4 [ 38 ]. This tool provides a direct count of the number of times each distinct genotype is detected in an experiment. We generate various QC metrics throughout the process and combine them using MultiQC for an easy-to-read final overview [ 39 ].

Due to the degeneracy of indel alignments, the genotyping of codon-level deletions sometimes does not hew to the reading frame due to leftwise alignment. Additionally, due to errors in oligo synthesis, assembly, during in vivo passaging or during sequencing, some genotypes that were not designed as part of the library may be introduced. A fundamental assumption of DMS is the independence of individual variants, and so to reduce noise and eliminate error, our pipeline removes those that were not part of our planned design before analysis, as well as renames variants to be consistent at the amino acid level, before exporting the variant counts in a format for Rosace .

Pre-processing of sequencing count

In a growth DMS screen with V variants, we define v to be the variant index. A function p ( v ) maps the variant v to its position label. T indicates the number of selection rounds and index t is an integer ranging from 0 to T . A total of R replicates are measured, with r as the replicate index. We denote $c_{v,t,r}$ the raw sequencing count of cells with variant v at time point t in replicate r .

In addition, “mutant” refers to substitution with one of the 20 amino acids, insertion of an amino acid, or deletion. Thus, a variant is uniquely identified by its mutant and the position where the mutant occurs ( p ( v )).

The default pre-processing pipeline of Rosace includes four steps: variant filtering, count imputation, count normalization, and replicate integration. First, variants with more than 50% of missing count data are filtered out in each replicate. Then, variants with a few missing data (less than 50%) are imputed using either the K-nearest neighbor averaging ( K = 10) or filled with 0. Next, imputed raw counts are log-transformed with added pseudo-count 1/2 and normalized by the wild-type cells or the sum of sequencing counts for synonymous mutations. This step, which is proposed by Enrich2 , allows for the computed functional score of wild-type cells to be approximately 0. Additionally, the counts for each variant before selection are aligned to be 0 for simple prior specification of the intercept.

Previous papers suggest the usage of other methods such as total-count normalization when the wild-type is incorrectly estimated or subject to high levels of error [ 18 , 20 ]. We include this in Rosace as an option. Finally, replicates in the same experiment are joined together for the input of the hierarchical model. If a variant is dropped out in some but not all replicates, Rosace imputes the missing replicate data with the mean of the other replicates.

Rosace : hierarchical model and functional score inference

Rosace assumes that the aligned counts are generated by the following time-dependent linear function. Let $\beta _v$ be the defined functional score or slope, $b_v$ be the intercept, and $\epsilon _{g(v)}$ be the error term. The core of Rosace is a linear regression:

where g ( v ) maps the variant v to its mean group—the grouping method will be explained below.

p ( v ) is the function that maps a variant v to its amino acid position. If the information of variants’ mutation types is given, Rosace will assign synonymous variants to many artificial “control” positions. The number of synonymous variants per control position is determined by the maximum number of non-synonymous variants per position. Assigning synonymous variants to control positions incorporates the extra information while not giving too strong a shrinkage to synonymous variants (Additional file 1: Figs. S2-S4). In addition, we regroup positions with fewer than 10 variants together to avoid having too few variants in a position. For example, if the DMS screen has fewer than 10 mutants per position, adjacent positions will be grouped to form one position label. Also, the position of a continuous indel variant is labeled as a mutation of the leftmost amino acid residue (e.g., an insertion between positions 99 and 100 is labeled as position 99 and a deletion of positions 100 through 110 is labeled as position 100).

We assume that the variants at the same position are more likely to share similar functional effects. Thus, we build the layer above $\beta _v$ using position-level parameters $\phi _{p(v)}$ and $\sigma _{p(v)}$ .

The mean and precision parameters are given a weakly informative normal prior and variance parameters are given weakly informative inverse-gamma distribution.

We further cluster the variant into mean groups of 25 based on its value of mean count across time points and replicates. The mapping between the variant and its mean group is denoted as g ( v ). Thus, we model the mean-variance relationship by assuming variants with a lower mean are expected to have higher error terms in the linear regression and vice versa.

Stan [ 40 ] is used in Rosace for Bayesian inference over our model. We use the default inference method, the No-U-Turn sampler (NUTS), a variant of the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) algorithm. Compared to other widely used Monte Carlo samplers, for example, the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, HMC has reduced correlation between successive samples, resulting in fewer samples reaching a similar level of accuracy [ 41 ]. NUTS further improves HMC by automatically determining the number of steps in each iteration of HMC sampling to more efficiently sample from the posterior [ 42 ].

The lower bound of the number of mutants per position index $|\{v|p(v)=i\}|$ (10) and the size of the variant’s mean group $g_p$ (25) can be changed.

Rosette : the OCT1 and MET datasets

We use the following datasets as input of the Rosette simulation: the OCT1 dataset by Yee et al. [ 10 ] as an example of positive selection and the MET dataset by Estevam et al . [ 11 ] as an example of negative selection. Specifically, we use replicate 2 of the cytotoxicity selection screen in the OCT1 dataset for both score distribution and raw count dispersion. For the MET dataset, we select the experiment with IL-3 withdrawal under wild-type genetic background (without exon 14 skipping). Raw counts are extracted from replicate 1 but the scores are calculated from all three replicates because of the frequent dropouts at the initial time point.

The sequencing reads and the resulting sequencing counts are processed in the default pipeline described in the previous method sections. Scores are then computed using simple linear regression (the naïve method). The naïve method is used as the Rosette input because we are trying to learn the global distribution of the scores instead of identifying individual variants and, while uncalibrated, naïve estimates are unbiased.

Rosette : summary statistics from real data

Summary statistics inferred by Rosette can be categorized into two types: one for the dispersion of sequencing counts and the other for the dispersion of score distribution.

First, we estimate dispersion $\eta$ in the sequencing count. We assume the sequencing count at time point 0 reflects the true variant library before selection. Since the functional scores of synonymous variants are approximately 0, the proportion of synonymous mutations in the population should approximately be the same after selection. Let the set of indices of synonymous mutations be $\textbf{v}_s = \{v_{s1}, v_{s2}, \dots \}$ . The count of each synonymous mutation at time point t is $\textbf{c}_{\textbf{v}_s, t} = (c_{v_{s1}, t}, c_{v_{s2}, t}, \dots )$ . The model we use to fit $\eta$ is thus

from which we find the maximum likelihood estimation $\hat{\eta }$ .

Dispersion of the initial variant library $\eta _0$ is estimated similarly by fitting a Dirichlet-Multinomial distribution on the sequencing counts of the initial time point assuming that in an ideal experiment, the proportion of each variant in the library should be the same. Similar to above, the indices of all mutations are $\textbf{v} = \{1, 2, \dots , V\}$ , and the count of each mutation at time point 0 is $\textbf{c}_{\textbf{v}, 0} = (c_{1, 0}, c_{2, 0}, \dots , c_{V, 0})$ . From the following model

we can again find the maximum likelihood of the variant library dispersion $\hat{\eta _0}$ . Notice that $\hat{\eta }_0$ is usually much smaller than $\hat{\eta }$ (i.e. more overdispersed) because $\hat{\eta }_0$ contains both the dispersion of the variant library as well as the sequencing step.

To characterize the distribution of functional scores, we first cluster mutants into groups, as mutants often have different properties and exert different influences on protein function. We calculate the empirical Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) to measure the distance between two mutants, using bins of 0.1 to find the empirical probability density function. Ideally, a clustering scheme should produce a grouping that reflects the inherent properties of an amino acid that are independent of position. Thus, we are more concerned with the general shape of the distribution than the similarity between paired observations. It leads to our preference for JSD over Euclidean distance as the clustering metric. To cluster mutants into four mutant groups $g_{m} = \{1, 2, 3, 4\}$ , we use hierarchical clustering (“hclust” function with complete linkage method in R), and we record the proportions $\widehat{\varvec{p}}$ to simulate any number of mutants in the simulation (the number of mutant groups can also be changed). The underlying assumption is that mutants in each mutant group are very similar and can be treated as interchangeable. We define $f_1(v)$ as the function that maps a variant to its corresponding mutant group $g_{m}$ .

Then, we cluster the variants into different variant groups. In the case of our examples, the shape is not unimodal but bimodal. The OCT1 screen has a LOF mode on the right (positive selection) and the MET screen has a LOF mode on the left (negative selection). While it is possible to observe both GOF and LOF variants, we observed in our datasets that GOF variants are so rare that they do not constitute a mode on the mixed distribution, resulting in a bimodal distribution. To cluster the non-synonymous variants into groups $g_{v}$ , we use the Gaussian Mixture model with two mixtures for our examples to decide the cutoff of the groups, and we fit the Gaussian distribution for each variant group again to learn the parameters of the distribution. The synonymous variants have their own group labeled as control. Let $f_2(v)$ denote the function that maps a variant to its corresponding variant group $g_{v}$ . The result of the simulation shows that even the synonymous mutations with scores close to 0 can have large negative effects due to random dropout. Thus, we later set the effect of the control and the neutral group to be constant 0 and still observe a similar distribution as seen in the real data. For each variant, we have one of the models below, depending on whether the variant results in LOF or has no effects:

We use $\widehat{\varvec{\theta }}$ to denote the collection of estimated distributional parameters for all variant groups.

Finally, we define the number of variants in each variant group at each position

For each position p , we can thus find the count of variants belonging to any mutant-variant group $\varvec{o}_{p} \in \textbf{N}^{\Vert g_m \Vert \Vert g_v \Vert }$ . Treating each position as an observation, we fit a Dirichlet distribution to characterize the distribution of variant group identities among mutants at any position:

The final summary statistics are $\hat{\eta }$ , $\hat{\eta _0}$ , $\hat{\varvec{p}}$ , $\hat{\varvec{\theta }}$ , and $\hat{\varvec{\alpha }}$ . We also need T , the number of selection rounds, to map $\beta _v$ into the latent functional parameter $\mu _v$ in growth screens.

Rosette : data generative model

We simulate as the real experiment the same number of mutants M , the number of positions P , and the number of variants V ( $M \times P$ ). The important hyperparameters that need to be specified are the average number of reads per variant D (100, also referred to as the sequencing depth), initial cell population count $P_0$ (200 V ), and wild-type doubling rate $\delta$ between time points ( $-2$ or 2). One also needs to specify the number of replicates R and selection rounds T .

The simulation largely consists of two major steps: (1) generating latent growth rates $\mu _v$ and (2) generating cell counts $N_{v,t,r}$ and sequencing counts $c_{v,t,r}$ .

In step 1, the mutant group and variant group labeling of each variant is first generated. Specifically, we assign a mutant to the mutant group $g_m$ by the proportion $\hat{\varvec{p}}$ and then assign a variant to the variant group $g_v$ by drawing $\varvec{o}_p$ from Dirichlet distribution with parameter $\hat{\varvec{\alpha }}$ (Eq. 10 ). Using $\hat{\varvec{\theta }}$ , we randomly generate $\beta _v$ for each variant based on its $g_v$ (Eq. 8 ). The mapping between $\beta _v$ and $\mu _v$ requires an understanding of the generative model, so it will be defined after we present the cell growth model.

In step 2, the starting cell population $N_{v,r,0}$ is drawn from a Dirichlet-Multinomial distribution using $\hat{\eta }_0$ and we assume that replicates are biological replicates:

where $P_0$ is the total cell population. The cells are growing exponentially and we determine the cell count by a Poisson distribution

where $\Delta t$ is the pseudo-passing time. It differs from index t and will be defined in the next paragraph. Similar to how we define $\textbf{c}_{\textbf{v}, t, r}$ , we define the true cell count of each variant at time point t and replicate r to be $\textbf{N}_{\textbf{v}, t, r} = (N_{1, t, r}, \dots , N_{V, t, r})$ . The sequencing count for each variant is

where D is the sequencing depth per variant. Empirically, we can set input $\hat{\eta }$ and $\hat{\eta }_0$ slightly higher than the estimated summary statistics. This is because the estimated values encompass all the noises in the experiment, while the true values only represent the noise from the sequencing step.

To find the mapping between $\beta _v$ and $\mu _v$ , we define $\delta$ to be the wild-type doubling rate and naturally compute $\Delta t:= \frac{\delta \log 2}{\mu _{wt}}$ , the pseudo-passing time in each round. Then we can compute the expectation of $\beta _v$ with the linear regression model. For simplicity, we omit the replicate index r and assume r is fixed in the next set of equations.

The final mapping between simulated $\beta _v$ and $\mu _v$ is then described in the following

with $\mu _{wt}$ set to be $\text {sgn}(\delta )$ .

Modified Rosette that favors position-informed models

In the original, position-agnostic version of Rosette , a $\Vert g_m \Vert \Vert g_v \Vert$ -dimensional vector is drawn from the same Dirichlet distribution for each position. The vector can be regarded as a quota for each mutant-variant group. Variants at each position are assigned their mutant-variant group according to the quota. As a result, at one position, variants from all variant groups (neutral, LOF, and GOF) would exist, and this violates the assumption in Rosace that variants at one position would have similar functional effects (strong LOF and GOF variants are very unlikely to be at the same position). To show that Rosace could indeed take advantage of the position information when it exists in the data, we create a modified version of Rosette where variants at one position could only belong to one variant group. Specifically, a position can have either neutral, LOF, or GOF variants, but not a mixture among any variant groups.

Benchmarking

The naïve method (simple linear regression) is conducted by the “lm” function in R on processed data. For each variant, normalized counts are regressed against time. Raw two-sided p -values are computed from t -statistics given by the “lm” function. It is then corrected using the Benjamini-Hochberg Procedure to adjust the p -values.

For Enrich2 , we use the built-in variant filtering and wild-type (“wt”) normalization. All analyses use a random-effect model as presented in the paper. When there is more than one selection round, we use weighted linear regression. Otherwise, a simple ratio test is performed. The resulting p -values are adjusted using the Benjamini-Hochberg Procedure.

DiMSum requires the variant labeling to be DNA sequences. As a result, we have to generate dummy sequences. It is applied to all simulations with one selection round with the default settings. The z -statistics are computed using the variant’s mean estimate over the estimated standard deviation and the adjusted p -value is computed from the z -score with Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. DiMSum only processes data with one selection round (two time points) and thus may be disadvantaged when analyzing datasets with multiple selection rounds.

mutscan is an end-to-end pipeline that requires the input to be sequencing reads. Conversely, Rosette only generates sequencing counts, which can be calculated from sequencing reads but cannot be used to recover sequencing reads. To facilitate benchmarking, we use a SummarizedExperiment object to feed the Rosette output to their function “calculateRelativeFC,” which does take sequencing counts as input. We benchmark both mutscan(edgeR) and mutscan(limma) with default normalization and hyperparameters as provided in the function. We use the “logFC_shrunk” and “FDR” columns in mutscan(edgeR) output and the “logFC” and “adj.P.Val” columns in mutscan(limma) output.

We run Rosace with position information of variants and labeling of synonymous mutations. However, Rosace is a Bayesian framework so it does not compute FDR like the frequentist methods above. All Rosace power/FDR calculations are done under the Bayesian local false sign rate ( lfsr ) setting [ 28 ]. As a result, in the simulation, we present the rank-FDR curve and the FDR-Sensitivity curve as the metrics instead of setting an identical or different hard threshold on FDR and lfsr . In the real data benchmarking, both the FDR and lfsr thresholds are set to be 0.05.

Rosace without position label is denoted as Rosace (nopos) in the Additional file 1: Figs. S5–S15, S19–S23, and S25. It removes the position layer in Fig. 2 C and keeps only the variant and replicate layer. The test statistics and model evaluation are presented identically as the full Rosace model.

Availability of data and materials

Rosace is implemented as an R package and is distributed on GitHub ( https://github.com/pimentellab/rosace ), under the MIT open-source license. The package also includes functions for Rosette simulation. An archived version of Rosace is available on Zenodo [ 43 ].

The integrated sequencing pipeline for short-read-based experiments is available on GitHub ( https://github.com/odcambc/dumpling ).

Scripts and pre-processed public datasets used to perform data analysis and generate figures for the paper are uploaded on GitHub as well ( https://github.com/roserao/rosace-paper-script ).

The protein datasets we used are as follows: OCT1 [ 10 ], MET [ 11 ], CARD11 [ 14 ], MSH2 [ 12 ], BRCA1 [ 13 ], BRCA1-RING [ 23 ], and Cohesin [ 29 ]. OCT1 and MET are available on NIH NCBI BioProject with accession codes PRJNA980726 and PRJNA993160 . CARD11, BRCA1, and Cohesin are available as supplementary files to their respective publications. MSH2 is available on Gene Expression Omnibus with accession code GSE162130 . BRCA1-RING is available on MaveDB with accession code mavedb:00000003-a-1 .

The benchmarking datasets are EVE [ 31 ] ( evemodel.org ), ClinVar [ 30 ] ( gnomad.broadinstitute.org ), and AlphaMissense [ 32 ] ( alphamissense.hegelab.org ).

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Review history

The review history is available as Additional file 2.

Peer review information

Andrew Cosgrove was the primary editor of this article and managed its editorial process and peer review in collaboration with the rest of the editorial team.

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Ruiqi Xin and Christian Macdonald contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Computer Science, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Jingyou Rao & Harold Pimentel

Computational and Systems Biology Interdepartmental Program, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA

Christian Macdonald, Matthew K. Howard, Gabriella O. Estevam, Sook Wah Yee, James S. Fraser & Willow Coyote-Maestas

Tetrad Graduate Program, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA

Matthew K. Howard & Gabriella O. Estevam

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA

Matthew K. Howard

Department of Mathematics, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY, USA

Mingsen Wang

Quantitative Biosciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA

James S. Fraser & Willow Coyote-Maestas

Department of Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Harold Pimentel

Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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Contributions

JR, CM, WCM, and HP jointly conceived the project. JR and HP developed the statistical model and the simulation framework. JR, MW, and RX wrote the software and its support. JR performed the data analysis and benchmarking. CM wrote the sequencing pipeline. SWY and CM performed the OCT1 experiment and GOE performed the MET experiment. JR and HP wrote the manuscript with input from MW, CM, WCM, MH, and JSF. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Willow Coyote-Maestas or Harold Pimentel .

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JSF has consulted for Octant Bio, a company that develops multiplexed assays of variant effects. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Rao, J., Xin, R., Macdonald, C. et al. Rosace : a robust deep mutational scanning analysis framework employing position and mean-variance shrinkage. Genome Biol 25 , 138 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-024-03279-7

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J.T. keeps to just the essential ingredients of a professional author bio: accolades, genres, experience, and a bit of what she's up to today for a personal touch. 20. James S.A. Corey. James S.A. Corey is the pen name for a collaboration between Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.
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3 Short Author Bio Examples. Let's dive into some more personalized and engaging short author bio examples that show these templates in action. 1. The Newbie Author. Sarah, The History Buff Turned Novelist. Bio: "Sarah is a fresh face in the world of historical fiction. With a degree in Ancient History, she's turned her lifelong obsession ...
How to Write a Killer Author Bio (With Template)
For this reason, it's important to get your bio right. Here is a 4-step process for writing your author bio: 1. Start with the facts readers need to know. 2. Open up with relevant biographical details. 3. Wow them with your credentials. 4.
How to Write an Author Bio [With Examples and Templates]
You should include your name, relevant accomplishments, and a call to action in your author's bio. Aim for a bio of 60-90 words in length. If your book is humorous, inject humor. If your book is melodramatic, add a little melodrama. Tailor your bio to your genre, target audience, and the individual book it's for.
11 Good Author Bio Examples
Author Bio Examples. 1. An Unpublished Middle Grade Author Bio. This first one is a Twitter bio, and I should note here that the author, Liz Hanson, has rewritten her name on Twitter to "Liz Hanson is querying her MG novel in verse.".
How To Write An Author Bio (With Examples & Templates)
For example, "John Doe specializes in content marketing, email marketing, and social media strategy.". This helps establish your credibility and lets readers know what topics you can knowledgeably write about. 4. A personal detail. Adding a personal detail or fun fact can help humanize you and connect with readers.
8 Great Author Bio Examples, Analyzed [+ How to Write Yours]
Since there isn't a single right way to write a great author bio, I've collected 8 case studies that showcase the range you can work within. 1. Ruth Ozeki. "Ruth Ozeki is a novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest. She is the author of three novels: My Year of Meats, All Over Creation and A Tale for the Time Being, which was shortlisted ...
How to Write an Author Bio (Examples Included)
Don't use "I" — just use your name and last name. For example, instead of saying: "I'm an author and I live in Chicago, Illinois.". Say this: "John Doe is an author who lives in Chicago, Illinois.". Writing your author bio in the third person sounds more professional and authoritative to most readers.
How to Write an "About the Author" Bio + 8 Standout Examples
Example 8 - Out of Balance (Confusing & Overselling): Cheryl Strayed. Cheryl is similar to Tim, but runs several unrelated things together in a confusing way, and mentions things that no reader would ever care about (e.g., the director of a movie based on her book). This same bio could be 25% shorter and much stronger.
10 Great Author Bio Examples and Tips to Write One for Yourself
5. Kwame Alexander. Kwame Alexander is a poet, an educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine books, including Rebound, the follow-up to his Newbery Medal-winning novel, The Crossover. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other picture books include Undefeated, Animal Ark, and Out of Wonder.
How to Write an Author Bio: A Proven Guide with Examples
3. Expertise and work experience. 4. Humor and cleverness. 5. Calls to Action (CTAs) Final Thoughts on Your Author Bio. To compound matters, most of us don't like to toot our horns and share glowing praise about ourselves. We know how off-putting it is to hear someone brag about themselves and their accomplishments.
How to Write an Author Bio: E-A-T, SEO Tips & Great Examples
8 Tips for Writing an SEO-Friendly Author Bio. 1. Write in the Third Person. Writing in the third person increases the perceived authority and simply reads better than a biography one has written ...
First Time Author Bio Writing Examples and Guidelines
Author bio guidelines include: 1. Keep it brief. Instead of attempting to list every facet of your career or all your hobbies, it is always best to keep the bio under 300 words. 2. Use a third-person voice. Author bios come across as more professional when using the third person point of view, versus the first person. 3.
How To Write An Author's Biography—7 Best Facets To Share With Readers
3. Opener. Start your author bio a strong opening line. This is the reader's first point of contact with who you are, so make it relevant and memorable. Consider mentioning where you're from to connect with potential locals or establish yourself as a member of a cultural scene.
How To Write An Author Bio
An author bio is usually no longer than 100 words, so keep it short and simple. Include your location, relevant experience, and key themes in your work. Avoid common mistakes when writing your author bio. Write in the third person, keep it succinct, and don't be afraid to brag about your achievements.
25 Eye-Catching Author Bio Examples
Ranking high on the list of Things Authors Hate To Write, biographies are something that can make even the most seasoned writer pull their hair out. Why do we hate writing them so much? Probably because it involves writing about ourselves. We write stories about other people, so having to turn the spotlight on ourselves can be daunting at best and downright cringe-inducing at worse. However, a ...
How to Write an Author Bio Examples & Tips to SELL
Here's how to format an author bio wrapped up: Use third-person POV when writing it. Keep it under 300 words. Add relevant/recent achievements. Minimize the number of sentences within those 300 words. And remember: an author bio longer than 300 words or so will take up too much space and become an oversell.
How to Write an Author Bio: 3 Essential Elements (With Example)
At the end, I'll give you an example author bio that you can model yours after. What to Include in an Author Bio. Let's start with the three elements every author bio should include: your writing credentials, your professional background and where you're based. 1. Your Writing Credentials
How to Write An Author Bio That Attracts Readers
This author bio example uses endorsements to further expand on Katherine's branding as well as the themes of her books. Sometimes it's overkill to go all in on so many aspects in a bio, other times, like in Katherine's case, it's the right amount to attract your ideal reader. 13. First-Time Author.
About the Author: How to Write a Quality Author Bio
1) Write in the third person. Different publications will have different standards -- Forbes, for example, seems to encourage guest contributors to write in the first person, as per below: Source: Forbes. However, the general practice is to write your bio in the third person. If it feels a bit self-congratulatory, that's okay -- you can even ...
How to Write an Author Bio [+ 7 Examples]
2-3 Sentences Max. This isn't the time to start writing your actual autobiography. Keep your bio short and sweet. The standard framework to follow is: 1 sentence about your current job title + job function. 1 sentence about your experience. 1 "fun" sentence (pets, hobbies, favorite food, etc.)
15 Great Writer Bio Examples for Your "About the Author"
Barbara Lohr. Barbara Lohr writes heartwarming, sweet romance with a flair for fun. In her novels, feisty women take on hunky heroes and life's issues. Family often figures in her stories. Her series include Windy City Romance, set in Oak Park, a Chicago suburb. The Kirkpatrick family take readers on journeys of the heart to Savannah, Italy ...
About the Author Examples (That You'll Actually Want to Read)
Here are some examples of how to pull it off without soliloquizing. 1. Veronica Roth, Divergent. " Veronica Roth is the New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, the first book in a trilogy that she began writing while still a college student. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth and her husband call the Chicago area home.
The 50 Best Biographies of All Time
45) Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad. Ralph Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible Man, is about a Black man who faced systemic racism in the Deep South during his youth, then ...
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist From the acclaimed, award-winning author of Alexander Hamilton: here is the essential, endlessly engrossing biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.—the Jekyll-and-Hyde of American capitalism.In the course of his nearly 98 years, Rockefeller was known as both a rapacious robber baron, whose Standard Oil Company rode roughshod over an industry, and a ...
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] - April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a leading writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of ...
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Some Voice of Customer Questions Examples. ... AUTHOR'S BIO Suvashree Bhattacharya. Suvashree Bhattacharya is a researcher, blogger, and author in the domain of customer experience, omnichannel communication, and conversational AI. Serving as a content marketing strategist at REVE Chat, she develops contextual and interesting content for ...
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1 Make a provocative statement. "I want to discuss with you this afternoonwhy you're going to fail to have a great career." One surefire way to get your audience's attention is to make a provocative statement that creates interest and a keen desire to know more about what you have to say. The presentation above, for example, does just that by ...
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Deep mutational scanning (DMS) measures the effects of thousands of genetic variants in a protein simultaneously. The small sample size renders classical statistical methods ineffective. For example, p-values cannot be correctly calibrated when treating variants independently. We propose Rosace, a Bayesian framework for analyzing growth-based DMS data. Rosace leverages amino acid position ...

Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Great Examples. (Plus a Checklist!)

Download a printable checklist!

1. Ramona Emerson

2. Courtney Milan

3. Adam Silvera

4. Farrah Rochon

5. Angie Fox

6. Tiffany D. Jackson

7. Kwame Alexander

8. Glynnis Campbell

9. Laurelin Paige

10. Mia Sosa

11. Aiden Thomas

12. Wayne Stinnett

13. June Hur

14. Claire Delacroix

15. Vanessa Riley

16. April White

17. Julia Quinn

18. Rick Mofina

19. J.T. Ellison

20. James S.A. Corey

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How Long Should an Author Bio Be?

Author Bio Examples

2. A Bestselling Fantasy Author Bio

3. A Bio From an Author Who Writes In More Than One Genre

4. A Self-Published Romance Author Bio

5. A Bio of an Unpublished Author Who Also Offers Other Services

6. A Bestselling Young Adult Author Bio

7. A Bestselling Children’s Author Bio

8. A Bestselling Romance Author Bio

9. Social Media Author Bio With One-Word Sentences.

10. A Self-Published Author Bio That Uses Bullet Points

11. An Unpublished YA Fantasy Writer Bio

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How To Write An Author Bio (With Examples And Templates)

What Is an Author Bio and Why Is It Important?

Elements to Include in Your Author Bio

1. Your name

2. A brief bio

3. Your areas of expertise

4. A personal detail

5. Social media links

How to Write an Author Bio in 5 Easy Steps

Step #1 Choose a Style and Perspective

Step #2 Share Some Background

Step #3 Discuss Your Writing

Step #4 Share Some Personal Interests (Optional)

Step #5 Review and Refine

Dos and Don'ts for Your Author Bio

Author Bio Examples

1. The Humble Expert

2. The Aspiring Authority

3. The Lifelong Learner

4. The Relatable Role Model

5. The Quirky Character

6. The Multifaceted Creative

7. The Globetrotting Explorer

8. The Tech Guru