Four small pages carry more weight than their word count suggests. The author bio at the back is often the first thing a reader reads after the last chapter, and it can decide whether they look for your next book. The "Also by" list is a free advertisement. The dedication and the epigraph are small, personal and easy to get wrong, usually by saying too much. This guide gives practical wording and examples for each, explains where each belongs, and shows how to add all four in Quillen. For the overall order of front and back matter, see how to add front and back matter.
The short answer
Write the bio in the third person, in about 50 to 120 words, leading with what the reader cares about (what you write and why you are credible), then one human detail, then a link if the book is an ebook. List your other books newest first, one title per line, under a heading such as "Also by Ada Marlow". Keep a dedication to a line or two. Choose an epigraph only if it earns its place by saying something the book needs said. In Quillen, each is a checkbox with a text box in the export.
About the Author
What to include
A good bio is short and specific. It tells the reader what you write, what qualifies you to write it, and who you are as a person:
- Lead with the work. "Ada Marlow writes river fantasy" beats "Ada Marlow was born in 1980."
- Show your credibility. For fiction, a previous award, a telling job or a place you know. For nonfiction, your professional experience.
- Add one human detail. A pet, a hobby, a place you live. Readers like to feel they know you.
- Use the third person, since the bio is part of the book, and keep it short.
- End with a way to connect, in an ebook: a website or mailing list.
An example
Ada Marlow grew up beside a river and has been writing about crossings ever since. Her debut, The Salt Road, was shortlisted for the Orrin Prize. She lives with two cats and a very large map collection. Visit her at example.com.
Common mistakes
Too long (more than 150 words); a list of every job you have had; telling the reader how passionate you are; an out-of-date detail; a link that is not clickable in the ebook.
Also by (other books)
If you have other books, list them. This is among the cheapest marketing a book can carry, because the reader is already a fan. Put the heading and titles on a page of their own at the front or back, with the newest first, or in series order if your books are a series.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Use one title per line | Add descriptions, praise or prices |
| Keep the same heading across your books | List books that are not yet published |
| Order series books in reading order | List more than your readers will want |
| Link each title in an ebook | Put it between the title page and the copyright page unless you mean to |
The dedication
A dedication is a gift, and it works best when it is short. One line, naming a person or a group, is plenty. Examples of the range: "For my mother." "For everyone who stayed up late reading." "To Sam, who asked for a happy ending." You can be funny or tender, but resist the urge to thank everyone: acknowledgments at the back handle that. If you have no one to dedicate the book to, skip the page. An empty or forced dedication helps nobody.
The epigraph
An epigraph is a short quotation, a line of poetry or a saying, placed at the start of the book to set its tone or hint at its theme. Use one only if it fits the book closely enough that the reader gets more from the story after reading it. Keep it short, quote it exactly, and name the source. Check whether the quotation is in the public domain: quoting a few words from a recent work, or any lyric, can need permission. A made-up epigraph, like a saying from your own fictional world, avoids the permissions problem and also adds to the worldbuilding.
Examples of the format:
A river remembers every boat that has crossed it.
Old ferrymen's saying
Where each page goes
| Page | Position | Ebook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedication | Front matter, after the copyright page | Own page, text centred in the upper half | Own page |
| Epigraph | Front matter, after the dedication | Own page, usually italic, with the source below | Own page |
| Also by | Front or back | Own page | Own page, often at the back, with links |
| About the Author | Back matter | Own page, optional photo | Own page, with website link |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A long, rambling bio | Readers skip it | Keep it under 120 words |
| Writing the bio in the first person | Reads oddly in a book | Use the third person |
| A dedication that thanks everyone | Dilutes it | One line; thank others in acknowledgments |
| An epigraph that does not fit | Pretension | Use one only if it earns its place |
| Quoting copyrighted material without permission | Legal risk | Use public-domain text or ask |
| No Also by page | Misses a free advertisement | List your other books |
Do it in Quillen
All four pages are in the Print, eBook & Kindle export. Each has a checkbox and a form, and the preview shows the result as you type.
- Open the export. Click Export in the header, then Print, eBook & Kindle.
- Dedication. Tick Dedication in Front matter and type your line in the box.
- Epigraph. Tick Epigraph, then type the quotation in the Quote box and the person or work in Source or speaker.
- Also by. Tick Other Books. The heading is "Also by" followed by your author name, which you can change, and you list your titles in the box, one per line.
- About the Author. Tick About the Author in Back matter and type your bio in the box.
- Check each page in the preview, then choose Word, PDF or EPUB and click Export.
Checklist
- Bio in the third person, under about 120 words, with one human detail.
- A link to your website or list in the ebook bio.
- Also by: one title per line, newest first.
- Dedication of a line or two, or none.
- Epigraph that earns its place, quoted exactly and credited.
- Permission checked for any quotation that is still under copyright.
Common questions
How long should an author bio be?
About 50 to 120 words, in the third person. Lead with what you write and why you are credible, add one human detail, and end with a link in an ebook.
What is an Also by page?
A page listing your other books, one title per line, newest first or in series order. It works as a free advertisement to readers who already like your writing.
How long should a dedication be?
A line or two is plenty. Thank larger groups in acknowledgments at the back.
Do I need permission for an epigraph?
If the quotation is under copyright, you may need permission, even for a short line. Public-domain text or a saying you invent avoids the problem.
Where do I add these pages in Quillen?
In the Print, eBook & Kindle export: tick Dedication, Epigraph and Other Books in front matter and About the Author in back matter, and fill in each form.