Hamsterra
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A1 · Getting started

Set up your author profile

For authorsVoice-over · English subtitles

Add the author details readers see before they apply for your ARC.

Go to written steps

Before you start

  • Sign in to your reader account and confirm your email address.
  • Have your pen name and primary genre ready.

Watch the walkthrough

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English voice-over and subtitles; use the player’s captions control to adjust subtitles. The video is embedded from YouTube.

Chapters

  1. Become an Author.
  2. Enter your pen name and primary genre.
  3. Open your author profile.
  4. Add a page banner (optional).
  5. Upload a photo and check your page address.
  6. Introduce yourself.
  7. Add genres.
  8. Add your links.
  9. Save the profile.Current chapter
  10. Publish your page.
  11. Choose a page design.
  12. Manage pen names.
  13. Open your public page.

Transcript

Select a line to jump to that moment in the video.

  1. Every Hamsterra account starts as a reader.
  2. In this video, you'll set up and publish your author profile.
  3. Start by selecting Become an Author.
  4. Enter the pen name readers will know you by, and choose your primary genre.
  5. You can add two more genres later.
  6. Your reader library stays with you: the same login now has reader and author access.
  7. Your author area starts with three steps.
  8. Your profile already exists, but it isn't public yet, so take your time to finish it.
  9. At the top, you can add a page banner.
  10. Select Upload banner and choose an image; it saves automatically.
  11. The preview shows it in your page design, on desktop and on a phone.
  12. If the edges are cut off, select Show the whole image.
  13. Without a banner, your page uses the Hamsterra study banner.
  14. Next, choose a photo.
  15. Your page address starts as a suggestion based on your pen name.
  16. You can edit it now or later.
  17. In About you, briefly describe what you write.
  18. The live public preview updates with your name, genres and the start of your introduction.
  19. Add up to two more genres.
  20. Your primary genre is the one shown under your name.
  21. Add your website, then any other links, such as your newsletter.
  22. Give each link a label, so readers know where it goes.
  23. When everything looks right, select Save profile.
  24. This saves your details and uploads your photo, which appears once it's processed.
  25. Readers can't see your page or your books until you publish it.
  26. Select Publish page when you're ready.
  27. Only published books appear on it, and Unpublish page hides it again.
  28. To change how your page looks, select Choose a design.
  29. Preview my profile shows it in another design, and only you see the preview.
  30. Choose a design and select Save to apply it to every page under this pen name.
  31. Writing under another name?
  32. Each pen name has its own profile, books, campaigns and contacts.
  33. Your plan sets how many you can have, and Hamsterra doesn't show readers which pen names share an account.
  34. Your author page is live.
  35. Next, add your first book.

Written steps (text version of this video)

This walkthrough shows how to add the author role to your reader account, fill in your author profile and publish your public author page, so readers know who is behind the book before they apply.

  1. Become an Author.

    Every account starts as a reader. Select Become an Author in the sidebar of your reader area.

    0:11 My ARCs →

  2. Enter your pen name and primary genre.

    Enter the name readers know you by and choose your primary genre, then select Become an Author. Your reader library stays with the same login.

    0:22 Become an Author →

  3. Open your author profile.

    Get started shows three steps. Your profile already exists but is not public yet: select Edit author profile.

    0:36 Give your story a beginning →

  4. Add a page banner (optional).

    Select Upload banner and choose an image; it saves automatically. The preview shows it in your page design on desktop and on a phone; if the edges are cut off, select Show the whole image. Without a banner, your page uses the Hamsterra study banner.

    0:45 Author profile →

  5. Upload a photo and check your page address.

    Choose Upload photo and pick an image. Your page address starts as a suggestion based on your pen name; you can edit it now or later.

    1:10 Author profile →

  6. Introduce yourself.

    Briefly describe what you write in About you. The live public preview updates as you type.

    1:20 Author profile →

  7. Add genres.

    Add up to two more genres. Your primary genre is the one shown under your name.

    1:36 Author profile →

  8. Add your links.

    Add your website, then a label and address for each other link, such as your newsletter.

    1:44 Author profile →

  9. Save the profile.

    Select Save profile. Your photo appears once it is processed.

    1:58 Author profile →

  10. Publish your page.

    Readers cannot see your page or your books until you publish it. Select Publish page when you are ready; Unpublish page hides it again.

    2:08 Author profile →

  11. Choose a page design.

    Select Choose a design. Preview any design on your own pages; only you see the preview. Choose an included design and select Save.

    2:21 Page design →

  12. Manage pen names.

    Open Pen names. Each pen name has its own profile, books, campaigns and contacts. Your plan sets how many you can have.

    2:42 Pen names →

  13. Open your public page.

    Select View public page on your profile to see the page readers find from your books.

    3:01 Authors →

Check you’re done

  • Your author profile details are saved.
  • Your author page is published.
  • Your chosen page design is saved.

Common questions

Do I need a separate author account?

No. Adding the author role keeps your reader library and uses the same login.

Do I need a banner?

No. Without one, your page uses the Hamsterra study banner.

Can I hide my page again?

Yes. Select Unpublish page. Your author page and book pages will no longer be public.

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