An author’s bio appears in the “About the Author” section of a book. Traditionally, it’s the very last page of the book and is often accompanied by a professional headshot. We refer to this as the “long bio.” A more succinct version traditionally appears on the back cover of the book—that’s the “short bio.” An author bio (whether long, short, or somewhere in between) is also used on Amazon and other online booksellers, in media materials, and on the author’s website.
An author bio should be written in third person. It should include information that your readers will find relevant and/or interesting. Traditionally, it begins with your profession and ends with an invitation to visit your website. What goes on in between depends on your unique circumstances as an author and the topic of your book.
A good place to start is with your name, your profession, and any credentials you might have—for example:
- John Smith, MD, is a prominent physician at XYZ hospital.
- Jill Smith, LCMT, is a bodyworker with more than twenty years’ experience helping clients achieve their best physical health.
- Liz Jones is a successful entrepreneur and community activist.
- Jack Jones is an office worker by day and a novelist by night.
Your bio could also include any of the following:
- Details concerning your education, particularly if your work is based on your profession
- Career history, if relevant
- Any special interests or hobbies you have, especially if they pertain to the subject of your book
- Published articles
- Media appearances
- Professional affiliations
- Nonprofit work
- Life-changing events that might have inspired you to write
- Titles of other works you’ve written
- Information about your personal life, such as how many pets or children you have, what city and state you live in, etc.
- Your website
The following is an example of a long bio. It’s 334 words. This is the bio I (Carol) might use inside my book if the subject of my nonfiction book had to do with book publishing. I’d create a condensed version, targeting up to 75 words, for the back cover, keeping in mind that the back cover will also include descriptive copy about the book itself. A long bio doesn’t haven’t to be a certain length necessarily, and, truthfully, more than 300 words might be a bit too long. (I have some editing to do!) I’ve also seen cases of author bios that go on for many pages (that’s not recommended). If you target 250 words for your long bio, you’ll be in good shape, but fewer than that is okay, too.
CAROL KILLMAN ROSENBERG of Boca Raton, Florida, is an editorial specialist serving traditional publishers and independent authors. Prior to launching the boutique book-packing company—The Book Couple—with her partner Gary Rosenberg in 2011, Carol was the managing editor of HCI Books, a Florida-based trade book publisher best known for the original Chicken Soup for the Soul series and other popular bestsellers. HCI Books recruited Carol in 2006 to develop and implement book production protocols—from manuscript to printed book—and to liaison with art and design, publicity, marketing, sales, and printing. Carol adopted the role of acquisitions editor at HCI Books as well, with the NY Times bestselling memoir iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life by Jane Velez-Mitchell to her credit.
Prior to being recruited by HCI, Carol was the offsite managing editor of Basic Health Publications, Inc., of Laguna Beach, California, which specializes in alternative health and fitness books. Carol and Gary Rosenberg managed all aspects of the editorial and production process of 200 books for Basic Health since its inception in 2001 from their home office. During this time, Carol also had the pleasure of editing for Square One Publishers, an independent trade book publisher based in Garden City Park, New York, and worked on such diverse topics as the I Ching, blackjack, weight-loss surgery, magic, numerology, humor, herbs, retirement, and public speaking.
Carol began her career in publishing as an associate editor at Avery Publishing, a highly successful, cutting-edge alternative health book publisher in Long Island, New York. When Penguin-Putnam acquired Avery Publishing, Carol was recruited to work in Penguin’s copyediting department as the alternative health book specialist. In this position, Carol was also able to seize the opportunity to work on fiction titles published by Penguin, Viking, and G.P. Putnam & Sons.
Carol is the author of Thought Book: An Expressive Journal and Thought Book for Kids, among other titles. You can visit her alternate egos at www.carolkillmanrosenberg.com, www.joytoyoubycarol.com, and www.ckrosenberg.com.
Your long bio doesn’t have to be this long, and it doesn’t need to include every detail of your professional or personal life. Just the highlights will do as they relate to your work. The following is an example of a fictitious short author bio.
Jim Zoodle is a popular cartoonist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, and currently lives in Detroit with his two rescue dogs, Marlon and Brando, and his cat, Flapjack, who’s the real boss of the house, according to his wife and three daughters. He is the author of The XYZ Book: An Illustrated Guide to Life in the Big City. You can find him at www.madeupwebsite.com.
Keep in mind that the above “short” bio could be used inside and outside the book and for all the other purposes mentioned above. You don’t have to have a “long” bio unless you want to. In general, think about what you want your readers and potential readers to know about you and make it interesting and informative. After you’ve written your first draft, your editor or marketing expert can help you refine it.
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