Matthew Kneale: I wouldn't say the Internet has made much difference to my writing. I don't have my own website, though I hope to set one up. Where the Internet is invaluable is with communication. I live in Rome at the moment and things would be very difficult if I wasn't able to send my writing down the line, and look at jacket covers and so on the same way. Things like answering these questions.
Karen Essex: I do have a website, www.karenessex.com, and I strongly advise writers to have one. For one thing, it's so wonderful to hear from readers. Also, my books are being used in high schools and universities, so I've just added a "Kleopatra in the Classroom" page to give students and teachers some extra tools to study Kleopatra and the ancient world. My publisher has a wonderful Internet marketing division. I am always amazed at the people who find me on the web.
Tayari Jones: The Internet has been very useful now that my first novel has been published. I receive emails daily from people who have visited my website.
I use my website for a variety of things. I use it to display my tour schedule, reviews, and a basic biog. I made the site myself after I discovered how much it would cost me to have one made professionally. I am glad that I am my own webmaster; this way I can add and remove things at a moments notice.
The website is indispensable while I am on book tour. When an author is on tour, she gets a lot of press and more people want to know more. Since I am on the road, I cannot answer many questions directly, but I can easily send an email guiding all inquiries to my website. Also, there are people who may want to invite me to do a reading. The website lets them get in touch with me immediately. Before they change their minds!
Megan Chance: The Internet has certainly made promotion easier. There are many ways to reach readers now, and having a presence on the web makes it easier for fans to get their questions answered. My publisher is using the Internet to promote my book. They have a strong presence on the web, and the author's forum of their site is extensive and interesting. They also use email newsletters to alert readers to what's coming up for the next month, which is pretty proactive. I do have a website (www.meganchance.com), and I use it mostly to tell readers a little bit about myself, to promote my latest release, and to tell readers where I may have autographing or speaking engagements. I have links that take readers to places where they can buy my books. I also have articles on writing available to those who visit my website.
Margaret George: I think the ability to use email has widened my circle of writing acquaintances. Writing can be a solitary experience but the Internet makes it much less so. It's now possible to collaborate with someone so easily at a great distance.
I do have a website, www.MargaretGeorge.com. I'm using it to ease the duty of repeating myself over and over! Now I can refer people to it and they can get a more thorough explanation than I can usually give them in person or in a short question and answer session. I can also show them things I couldn't otherwise --- like photos.
Bernard Cornwell: I'm one of the million monkeys! I have a website (www.bernardcornwell.net) and use it as a place to meet readers, solicit their comments and suggestions, promote the books and give background reading to the periods.
Kevin Baker: I do have a website, which has been a nice way to post my other writings and promote myself. It is www.kevinbaker.info. It was really the idea of my wife, who had it created for me as a very nice birthday present.
I'm not aware that my publisher does any promotion online, although I could be wrong about that. I can't really say that the Internet has had a huge impact upon my writing career, though obviously x-number of books are sold through Amazon and the like. The computer in general, though, has had an enormous impact. I am old enough to remember having to type a novel manuscript by hand. The computer has saved me untold amounts of time and hassle.
Glen David Gold: Hyperion has a wonderfully eccentric card game set up at www.carterbeatsthedevil.com which also lists tour dates and reviews. But I don't have a site. If I had a site I'd never write or pay attention to anything else.
