We’ve added another new feature to the website, and this is a big one: Author pages.
Since its inception, The Steampunk Explorer has included a directory of steampunk authors, but it was a bare-bones affair: The author’s name, a brief description, and a link to their website or Facebook page.
But now, each entry in the directory links to a new page that serves as an information hub about the author. You’ll find a short bio along with links to their website, Wikipedia entry (if they have one), social media, GoodReads page, etc. The page will also list any articles we’ve run about the author.
But that’s not all: If the author is a guest at a convention or festival listed in our calendar, we can tag the event so it appears on the author page.
Shown here are scheduled appearances for Leanna Renee Hieber.
All this is enabled by the tagging features we added a few years ago. The tags allow us to link content in different ways.
For example, when you see a tag for an author below a story or event listing, it will take you to the author’s page.
We’ve also expanded the author directory itself — it now lists 118 authors, and we expect to be adding more.
One caveat: Some of the directory entries are new, and we haven’t tagged all the stories in which those authors are mentioned.
These pages are similar to the ones we already have for steampunk performers. Soon, we plan to add pages for steampunk artists and cosplayers.
Here’s the complete directory. And here are some of the pages: Shelley Adina | Benitez Productions | Gail Carriger | P. Djéli Clark | eSpec Books | Studio Foglio | Leanna Renee Hieber | Madeleine Holly-Rosing | Nisi Shawl.
A note to authors: If you’d like to be added to the directory, please check it first to make sure you’re not already listed. If you are listed and you’re scheduled to appear at a convention or festival, please use the contact form to let us know.
