Friday 15 January 2010

Read Everything by Your Favourite Author? New online guide inspires everyone to try a new author.

Who else writes like...?Who Writes Like …..? is now available for the first time online and is designed to help anyone who enjoys reading fiction to expand the number of writers they read. It is designed to answer the perennial question "I've read all the books by my favourite authors, who shall I read next?". The sixth edition of the book Who else writes like...? was published by The Department of Information Science at Loughborough University, in 2008. It points readers in the direction of other writers they might like to try, by recommending up to 12 alternative authors, who write in a similar style to each of the 1,970 authors included in the guide. The online version - www.whoelsewriteslike.com - builds on the book and currently has 144 more authors included, as well as recommending up to 16 alternatives for each author. Users can browse by genre or go straight to an author of interest, check up on characters or the latest prize-winning writers, and follow the links to authors' websites for additional information. Annual subscription to the website is £5 for individual membership and free trials are currently available. The guide is compiled by experienced librarians with input from across the UK and Australia, and with a starting point of the most popular authors in terms of UK public library loans. This combination of reader popularity and expert opinion make this guide invaluable for all who love reading, not just for librarians.

No comments: