General Biographical Resources for Authors
Websites:
o Author biography. http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/78527 .
A pathfinder to help find author biography information! Includes websites, some databases, reference books and other links.
o Goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/.
A site for readers to share and recommend books and keep track of what they have read. You can search by author and see all of his/her books, and there is some biographical information present about each author. Great for newer authors, for whom biographical information may be more difficult to locate.
o Famous fiction authors. http://www.biography.com/people/groups/writers/authors/.
Biographies for “Famous Fiction Authors” as defined by A+E Television Network.
o Famous people. http://www.thefamouspeople.com/writers.php.
Biographies of 57 famous writers, crossing genres. Each includes basic information, some paragraphs describing their life and works, and a timeline.
o http://www.famousauthors.org/.
Interactive website that lists well-known authors. Users can search by book or author name and are provided with a short biographical summary. Includes images of author as well as images of books. Users can cite directly from website, click on the images of the books to be directed to their listing on amazon, and leave comments on each author’s article.
o Gale Contemporary Authors Online. http://gdc.gale.com/gale-literature-collections/contemporary-authors/# (mentioned in the Bopp and Smith Textbook Chapter 16 on biographies).
Has reliable biographical information on over 130,000 authors, playwrights, poets, etc. Builds on the Contemporary Authors print series which has often been held in libraries as ready-reference material since publication in 1974.
o Encyclopedia of World Biography. http://www.notablebiographies.com/.
Contains general biographies of many famous people, living or dead. It includes general biographical information, a picture if possible, and information about their works. Can be difficult to browse, but the search feature works fairly well if you have a specific person in mind.
o http://www.biblio.com/authors.php.
This site dedicated to books and authors gives biographical information. On the right hand side it also lists the author's books and a list of prices new and used, so you can buy directly from the site. It is not only for author's though, you can search for books as well.
Databases:
o American National Biography Online.
A database of biographical information about people who have shaped America. Can search by individual or by subject in the Oxford Companion to United States History tab within the database. Contains cross-references within articles.
o Biography and Genealogy Master Index (BGMI).
Search for an author within this database, and you will get a list of source citations that mention him or her, where you can look next.
o Dictionary of Literary Biography Online.
Contains literary biographies written by recognized literary scholars and critics of more than 143,000 past and present authors, historians, journalists, screenwriters, publishers, and playwrights.
o Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
A database of biographical information about more than 58,202 people who have shaped British history and culture (and who died in or before 2008) overseen by academic editors at Oxford University.
o Guide to Author Criticism and Biography.
Contains criticisms and biographies for many well known American and British authors, is meant to help with the first stages of research. It is a guide
developed by a Librarian at University of Maryland.
Books:
o Contemporary authors: A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields by J. Mellors.
Biographical information for contemporary authors is provided by the authors themselves or drawn from published interviews, feature stories, book reviews and other materials provided by the authors/publishers. Published in 2005.
o Classic Biographies: Biographies of 56 of the Most Popular Authors by Power Think Publishers (Kindle Edition)
This book contains biographies of 56 authors who are considered to be most popular and influential in literature , It includes biographies of Jane
Austen and the Bronte sisters to Mary Shelly and Mark Twain. But it is only available at the time for the Kindle.
o Author biography. http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/78527 .
A pathfinder to help find author biography information! Includes websites, some databases, reference books and other links.
o Goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/.
A site for readers to share and recommend books and keep track of what they have read. You can search by author and see all of his/her books, and there is some biographical information present about each author. Great for newer authors, for whom biographical information may be more difficult to locate.
o Famous fiction authors. http://www.biography.com/people/groups/writers/authors/.
Biographies for “Famous Fiction Authors” as defined by A+E Television Network.
o Famous people. http://www.thefamouspeople.com/writers.php.
Biographies of 57 famous writers, crossing genres. Each includes basic information, some paragraphs describing their life and works, and a timeline.
o http://www.famousauthors.org/.
Interactive website that lists well-known authors. Users can search by book or author name and are provided with a short biographical summary. Includes images of author as well as images of books. Users can cite directly from website, click on the images of the books to be directed to their listing on amazon, and leave comments on each author’s article.
o Gale Contemporary Authors Online. http://gdc.gale.com/gale-literature-collections/contemporary-authors/# (mentioned in the Bopp and Smith Textbook Chapter 16 on biographies).
Has reliable biographical information on over 130,000 authors, playwrights, poets, etc. Builds on the Contemporary Authors print series which has often been held in libraries as ready-reference material since publication in 1974.
o Encyclopedia of World Biography. http://www.notablebiographies.com/.
Contains general biographies of many famous people, living or dead. It includes general biographical information, a picture if possible, and information about their works. Can be difficult to browse, but the search feature works fairly well if you have a specific person in mind.
o http://www.biblio.com/authors.php.
This site dedicated to books and authors gives biographical information. On the right hand side it also lists the author's books and a list of prices new and used, so you can buy directly from the site. It is not only for author's though, you can search for books as well.
Databases:
o American National Biography Online.
A database of biographical information about people who have shaped America. Can search by individual or by subject in the Oxford Companion to United States History tab within the database. Contains cross-references within articles.
o Biography and Genealogy Master Index (BGMI).
Search for an author within this database, and you will get a list of source citations that mention him or her, where you can look next.
o Dictionary of Literary Biography Online.
Contains literary biographies written by recognized literary scholars and critics of more than 143,000 past and present authors, historians, journalists, screenwriters, publishers, and playwrights.
o Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
A database of biographical information about more than 58,202 people who have shaped British history and culture (and who died in or before 2008) overseen by academic editors at Oxford University.
o Guide to Author Criticism and Biography.
Contains criticisms and biographies for many well known American and British authors, is meant to help with the first stages of research. It is a guide
developed by a Librarian at University of Maryland.
Books:
o Contemporary authors: A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields by J. Mellors.
Biographical information for contemporary authors is provided by the authors themselves or drawn from published interviews, feature stories, book reviews and other materials provided by the authors/publishers. Published in 2005.
o Classic Biographies: Biographies of 56 of the Most Popular Authors by Power Think Publishers (Kindle Edition)
This book contains biographies of 56 authors who are considered to be most popular and influential in literature , It includes biographies of Jane
Austen and the Bronte sisters to Mary Shelly and Mark Twain. But it is only available at the time for the Kindle.