Whether you’ve finished reading the entire series or are simply waiting for the release of the next installment, authors’ websites often offer wonderful features, including extra stories starring beloved characters, that help to fill in gaps and tide you over til the next dose hits the shelves. Here are some that I’ve come across in my travels.
photo courtesy of Carolyn Crane
Carolyn Crane often guest-authors posts featuring character interviews and other goodies, including what you can expect to find in a Disillusionist’s closet, what does a Disillusionist carry around?, an interview with Packard, the Disillusionists discussing urban legends, an interview with Shelby, and Disillusionist trading cards.
Karen Marie Moning has interviews with Jericho Barrons and Dageus MacKeltar, among others. Also check out her facebook fanpage for a very special scene written from one Jericho Barrons’ POV.
Jeaniene Frost posts deleted scenes from her Night Huntress series.
Dianne Sylvan has extras including a deleted epilogue from Queen of Shadows and an interview with the cast.
Diane Peterfreund has posted short stories set during the course of the Secret Society Girl series.
Jackie Kessler offers Jezebel, the protagonist of her Hell on Earth series, the chance to host her own radio show.
Marjorie Liu has character profiles for her Dirk & Steele series, as well as deleted scenes.
Jeri Smith-Ready posts tie-in stories for her Shade, WVMP Radio, and Aspects of Crow series.
Larissa Ione has short stories focused on each of the couples in her Demonica series, set after the events of the books as well as The Demonica Compendium to help keep track of demon species and more.
Jocelynn Drake has multiple deleted scenes for her Dark Days series.
Kelley Armstrong has written a ton of free short stories set in her Otherworld universe, featuring both main characters as well as those who don’t get much airtime in the novels.
Karen Chance has posted some free short stories featuring characters from her Cassie Palmer series as well as a gallery of characters.
photo courtesy of Gail Carriger
Erin Kellison has an awesome interactive website for the Segue Institute. Poke around, play some games (hinthint) for a great surprise.
Gail Carriger offers tons of tidbits for her Parasol Protectorate series, including character studies and an interactive dress-up Alexa.
J.R. Ward posts short snippets featuring the Brothers as well as deleted scenes from her BDB and Fallen Angels books.
Rob Thurman has a great character gallery for her Cal Leandros series and a deleted scene from Madhouse.
Maria V. Snyder has posted three short stories featuring characters from her Study series, as well as a few others.
Seanan McGuire posts snippets starring characters from her Toby Daye series, as well as comic strips.
Keri Arthur has a Quinn and Riley short story.
Rachel Caine offers free short stories set in her Weather Wardens universe.
Stacia Kane has deleted scenes from her Downside series.
Stephanie Meyer has outtakes posted for Twilight and New Moon, as well as extras for New Moon, and the partial draft of Midnight Sun.
Lilith Saintcrow has a free serial novella starring Selene from her Dante Valentine series.
Ann Aguirre has free shorts featuring March and Vel from her Sirantha Jax series.
Ilona Andrews often posts snippets. Also check out the sidebar for a free Kate tweet short
photo courtesy of Ilona Andrews
story and Curran shorts.
Nalini Singh has deleted scenes and short stories set in her Psy-Changeling world as well as interview with Elena and Michael from her Guild Hunter series.
Kalayna Price has posted a deleted scene from her novel Once Bitten.
Nancy A. Collins has a wonderful website that takes you on a virtual tour through the world of her Golgotham series.
Meljean Brook has posted trading cards from her Iron Seas and Guardians series, as well as a deleted scene from Demon Moon.
Melissa Marr has posted extras from her Wicked Lovely series including deleted and retold scenes.
Beth Fantaskey posted a novella set after the events of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.
Kevin Hearne posted a free short story set before the events of his Iron Druid series.
Jenna Black has a free short story prequel to her Fairiewalker series.
Elizabeth Hoyt has interviews with and articles written by some of her characters, along with some other goodies.
Amy Plum has extras for her novel Die for Me including a scene from Vincent’s POV and a deleted prologue.
Chloe Neill has extras for her Chicagoland Vampires series including virtual tours of Chicago and character casts.
photo courtesy of Leanna Renee Hieber
Leanna Renee Hieber has some free reads and deleted scenes set in her Percy Parker world.
Linnea Sinclair has posted a prologue and deleted scenes for Games of Command.
Liz Berry has posted photos to recreate a virtual tour of Ravensmere from The China Garden.
Becca Fitzpatrick has outtakes to Hush, Hush.
Sarah Rees Brennan has short stories set in her Demon’s Lexicon series.
Eileen Wilks has extras from her World of the Lupi series, including a deleted scene from Night Season and a short story starring Cynna.
Kat Richardson has a short story starring Harper from her Greywalker series.
C.E. Murphy has a short story from her Walker Papers series.
Jaye Wells has short stories from her Sabina Kane series.
Shiloh Walker has a free short story from her Grimm series.
Anya Bast posted a free short story from her Elemental Witches series.
Jaime Rush has a prestory and deleted scene for her novel A Perfect Darkness, the first of her Offspring series.
Katie MacAlister posts free short stories from her Dark Ones series, among others.
Stephanie Perkins posted a bonus scene from Anna and the French Kiss.
Holly Black wrote a series of interchangeable vignettes from the point of view of Lila from her Curse Workers series.
These links represent many of my favorite authors, but they’re not the only ones! There are tons more great authors out there, so if you come across any special features that you want to share, just shoot me a link and I’ll be happy to add it to the list. I’m also creating a page to keep track of author extras, which will be updated whenever I come across new ones, so check back!
A Book and a Short Latte 