The New Site is Here
It’s been a lot of work but we’re finally putting the finishing touches on the new website. There are a few things that need smoothing out, and I’m still working on some of the pages, so please bear with me as we get this finished. Feel free to let me know if you see anything that should be fixed.
There are a number of reasons I’m excited about the site, the first being that I finally have my own domain name, rachellegardner.com. Easy to remember! And the other most exciting thing is that we will finally—FINALLY!—have threaded comments, meaning you’ll be able to respond directly to someone else’s comment, and they can respond directly to yours. I’ve wanted this for so long—I think it’s going to make the blog so much more fun!
I’m incorporating a few other changes that I hope will make the blog an even better place to visit.
- With the new tabs across the top, the site should be easy to navigate and find the information you need. There is also a search function, as well as the archives and category lists on the sidebar.
- I’ll be posting 6 to 7 days a week now, which will allow me to include some new features.
- You’ll see occasional announcements of my clients’ latest releases, a feature that has been missing from my blog for a while.
- One of these days I’m going to add vlogging (video blogging) as well. Not too often! But occasionally for a change of pace.
- We’ll still have high quality guest posts from authors and other industry professionals. I’ve lined up some knowledgeable folks to talk to us about fun stuff like online techy issues and book marketing and promotion.
- I’ve hired an elite member of the exclamation-point police to try and keep me in check. (Okay, kidding. But I should, right?)
- MOST OF ALL… this is going to be the same old blog. It just has a different look and is much more user-friendly. But if you’re reading this in a Reader or RSS feed, nothing will appear different, in which case, why did you read this post????
Thanks, everyone, for supporting the blog and for being such a terrific community of authors and publishing professionals. Hope we can all continue learning from each other and having fun for a long time to come.
133 Comments
President & Literary Agent,
Gardner Literary Agency
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Love the new site! Gorgeous.
The new look is fabulous! Such a different experience! Gotta love it.
The new site looks great. Why did you have to launch it when I’m in a holiday cottage with a terrible internet connection!?
Ooo, snazzy.
Love the site! The colors are warm and inviting. Fits you perfectly. 🙂
I finally got my Gravatar, woohoo! (Get yours at http://www.gravatar.com.)
Congratulations! It looks fantastic! (I had to use exclamation points here. Sorry.)
Awesome. Very warm, inviting and professional. Love the layout.
Rachelle,
WOW! The new site looks fantastic! I especially like the twirling subject tags! Very cool–something I haven’t seen before!
Thank you for the quality, honest information you consistently put out. It’s invaluable to those of us with big dreams 🙂
This looks great, Rachelle! Best wishes for your continued success. 🙂
WOW! This is really very nice. I love it 🙂
My only suggestion is: Do not use dark colors (the color you selected is fine) as there are many people with eye problems who have problem reading white text on black/dark green background.
One day my blog will be this cool! 🙂
Congratulations. Navigation ease is great, colors elegant.
The new page looks Incredibly Professional, I will be here often.
Been doing my homework here, LOL, do you suppose if I were to cook you a Fabulous meal that I could Bribe you into responding to my Query ??
I suppose if you could live in my basement, cook all my family’s meals, keep my house clean and chauffer my kids everywhere, I’d have a little more time in each day and I’d be able to get to all queries in a timely manner! Until then, you’ll have to forgive me, I’m doing the best I can.
I’m sure that you are Rachelle. You have to forgive my Anxiousness; I’m a New Author and have without doubt, found you to be the most Interesting and Professional Agent that I’ve Queried.
Love the new site, Rachelle! Congrats on it!
It’s great Rachelle. I love how the background matches your top. We should all be drinking Mochas while we read to match to the mood. Very inviting and threaded comments will be great too.
Well worth the wait, it looks great! I love the colors, reminds me of the beach.
The site looks so professional. Love the warm and inviting colours. Looking forward to the posts.
Love so many things about your new design.
But especially that your URL now has your name in it!
I guess you’re using Intense Debate for comments? Or something else.
I see 2 different Author Media websites: authormedia.com & authormediadirect.com.
I’m guessing it’s the first one?
I love it, and I’m looking forward to your many awesome posts. Still, I think the title should have been: The New Site is Here! (with exclamation point 🙂 )
Nathan was first, will I be last? Was busy all day; first look. Wowsers!
The new site rocks, Rachelle! Love it! I know it was a lot of work but it was worth it. 🙂
WOW! This is fabulous. Congrats! 🙂
Forget the exclamation point police. You are going to need the emoticon police! Or, at least I am. And, there went an exclamation point, too.
The new site looks very nice. Excited to check out the resources section.
Thanks for gravatar 101, everybody. We will see if I have it figured out.
Fabulous design. I’m especially fond of the comment section. Great job!!!!
I like the look of your site and plan to explore.
Heather
I’m amazed at how many comments you got for your blog. Visually, your new website is superb!
VERY nice, Rachelle! Congrats. Love the comment section too. Enjoy. I know we all will:)
Don’t know why the site didn’t show us as followers already. Just resigned up – will try again…
(Perhaps it was the exclamation points.)
WAWZAH! sez KC
PAWSOME! sez May, the K9 Spy
(No exclamation point police please! We know we’re guilty!!!)
Rachelle, thank you for posting the Gravitar tip! (Let’s see…could you please give us the next tip…how do we subtract 10 pounds?)
The site looks great!
~ Chy
Love the new design and the plans you have for it!
Love the new design and the new plans you have for it!
Very nice, Rachelle. Congrats!
It is my first time to this site so I can’t comment on a change but I really like the colours and it is great to read the comments. I can see you have a loyal following 🙂
Wow, such a different look! Like other, I love the organization and design, too. You’ve gotten a lot of exclamation points in your comments today! 🙂
Love the colors! Looks great. Bummer that all your followers were lost, but it looks like they are building back up quickly. And the reply to each comment feature IS great. Nice. Nice. Nice!
Lynette, technically the followers were “lost” but with the seamless transition, all the old followers are still getting my blog in their Google Reader.
Ah… now that’s a nifty trick. I was a previous follower, but I have to confess that I never use the Google reader – I always just visit the blogs I want to read when I have a moment to do so.
Anyhow, congrats again on a site well done.
Rachelle:
Congrats on the revamped site. May more noteriety and success come your way as a result.
DAT
Love the warm color and clean design. And I’m sooooo glad it isn’t stuck the way it was yesterday, when only comments, but not posts were visible. But transitions are always a little rocky. It was worth it. This is great!
All right! The cute pictures are still on your blog. Sometimes it’s the simple things, ya know …
I think that it’s a great idea to announce your clients’ releases. That’s largely how I get recommendations for books before hitting Amazon.com. Smart agent. 🙂
Beautiful site. Perfect timing for Summer.
As for the exclamation point police, in my mind I almost hear Gomer Pyle yelling his “citizen’s arrest” every time one is used. lol (from the old black and white Andy Griffith Show)
Love the new website, it looks clean and smooth. Let me tell you something else I loved (and I shouldn’t expect anything less from a literary agent, but…) you spelled “bear,” as in, “bear with me” correctly. I have seen “bare with me” so many times I could scream. I almost cried tears of joy when I saw your sentence and trust me I am not a grammar patrol team member as I am sure you can tell from my comment. I can ALWAYS benefit from an editor.
Love following you,
Ardee-ann
okay- I just signed up for a universal avatar here
http://en.gravatar.com/
so that my photo shows up on your blog.
FYI for others who want to do the same!
Looks fantastic! I’m eager to poke around for a bit. 😉
Such a fun look–very high-energy!!
I’m one of those RSS feed visitors normally, Rachelle, but I read all about the new features because I wanted to visit “in person” and see the new digs for myself. Very nice! I especially like the search feature. That will make it so much easier to look for previous helpful posts.
Two thumbs up to you and your tech crew.
Becky
gorgeous.
Oops! I meant points, not picas. Sorry! : )
I really like your new look. : ) Fun to make a change!
(I am going stick my neck out to say there is one small—VERY small—thing that bothers my eye. Up at the top left where your name is, I think your designer put the two vertical lines too close to the ends of your name. If they moved it out about 4 to 6 picas both ways, it would be great!)
Looks lovely, but I preferred the font on your other one as it was easier to read.
Must be my age!
To enlarge a web page, making the text more readable, perhaps try this: On a PC, hold the Control key down while clicking the + (plus) sign. To make the screen smaller, click the – (minus) sign. On a Mac, use the Command button instead of the Control key. 🙂
Well done…and thanks for continuing to offer such great resources.
It looks fantastic!
Super beautiful and classy!
I like it a lot, Rachelle. It’s nice and clean.
Looks great, Rachelle. This is self-hosted WordPress using one of the Elegant Themes designs, isn’t it?
Did someone set it up for you, or did you do it yourself?
Emily, no, it’s not self-hosted. And there’s no WAY I could have done this myself! My entire Blogger blog (over 900 posts) and all comments have been moved over, with a seamless transition to people’s RSS feeds. Author Media has done all the work and they’re incredible!
Congrats! The new site looks beautiful!
It kinda has the look of orange denim jeans crossed with fine construction paper.
LOVE THE SITE! Nice job and congratulations. New URL and it still came through on my RSS feed. I’m really impressed. When I’ve seen people change URLs, I’ll get the last post on the old URL asking to subscribe to the new. Very cool.
good work!
Regarding the avatars, if yours isn’t showing up, you may want to read this article:
How to Get Your Avatar to Show Up Everywhere
Very sleek.
Best wishes 🙂
Rachelle this is great! You’re one of the best resources out there for writers. This will make it even easier to direct people to helpful content–and of course its pretty! Can’t wait to see the content roll out! Don’t send the exclamation police after me!!! I have enough trouble with the comma gestapo 🙂
It does look wonderful. (and yes, I came over from RSS just to see what you were talking about.
And I could use your exclamation point policeman sometimes.
I love the colors! It looks great-congrats on the new digs!
What a great accomplishment, Rachelle. It looks wonderful! I look forward seeing all the wonderful things to come.
Lovely, and so very well organized. The tabs at the top are great.
It looks great! I especially appreciate that it didn’t disrupt reader or the rss feeds! I have several photographer friends and every time they upgrade their site I have to figure out how to resubscribe.
The new site looks great!
The new site is fabulous! The earthy colors are easy on the eyes. And things are so easy to find. Nice.
There is nothing like new, whether it’s a new outfit or a new blog layout. And I bought my domain name a while back, and isn’t it fun? (I own both kellycombs.com and chattykelly.com) Enjoy the new layout. Looks great!
I love this! It’s streamlined and current with the social media buttons. I’m in the process of redesigning my site, so I’m taking notes. Thanks!
I really love the new look. It’s clean, but not stuffy and formal. Very nice!
This looks great! Congrats on the move to WordPress, IMO the best and easiest blogging platform out there. Nested comments are da bomb. And I can’t wait for the video blogs! Good news all around.
I like it! So pretty. Love the colors! How many exclamation points are allowed before I am ticketed? 🙂
I love it!!! Great job!
Author Media did a great job! Congrats on your new digs, Rachelle! (I used two exclamation points!!)
Love it!
It looks fantastic, Rachelle! And I love the new commenting style. And the colors… Everything looks great!! (I added that last exclamation point just for you.)
Okay, no I didn’t. That came out of me naturally. I’ll work on it.
Congratulations on your new site, Rachelle! (Oops, I know…I did read your blog post on those ol’ exclamation points, but wanted to express my heartfelt sentiment.) : )
About your site–the colors and format seem very peaceful and easy on the eyes. It makes me want to jump right in and start writing this morning.
Pretty, pretty! I like the color scheme.
I laughed at seeing the “home again woohoo” in your name. Fun! And, of course, I really like the look and colors since they correspond nicely with my own WordPress site. 🙂 The comments are easier to read, too.
Good job!
I love the category cloud. It’s like playing with the Magic 8 ball. 🙂
Nice work. Me likey!!!
I read your posts in a reader, because I just learned what they were 2 weeks ago and think they are great. They certainly make it easier and more productive to follow multiple blogs. However, there is not a way to comment there. Of course, I had to come check out the new look anyway. It does look good, but I’m hesitant to use and exclamation point.
What the heck, they are needed sometimes. The new site looks great!
I just spent an hour waiting for my cup of Starbucks to miraculously appear beside the computer – nothing is happening. You might want to check on that. But everything else looks wonderful!!!!!! :0)
Cathy, there must be something wrong with your computer. My auto-Starbucks-downloader is working just fine.
Must be a glitch with the Mac then. Oh, wait, I think it’s serving champagane…
Thanks for the tip on the avatars, I always wondered about that and now voila!
Love the new look AND features! Congratulations on the new site!
(Apparently I’m not part of the excalmation police.) ;D
I’m thrilled to have found your blog. This site is easy to navigate, easy to read, and easy on the eyes.
Sweet.
Oh, and I see the emoticons are here. You have your exclamation points and I have my emoticons. Wonder if an elite emoticon police will come after me soon. 😀
Can’t wait to look around.
~ Wendy
Looks wonderful, great job.
Okay couple things I’ve found are making me scratch my head. First, why do some of us have profile pics and others not. I was thinking it was linked to my blogger or google account but maybe not. Second, is there a way to edit comments. I’m replying to my own because I couldn’t easily find the edit feature. At any rate, just my input thus far. Quite possibly I’m just overlooking obvious buttons.
Mike, I think because the new site is built using WordPress, it’s automatically pulling in users who have signed up to the Gravatar service. Gravatar is great – you sign up there, upload a pic and every time you comment on a WordPress blog (of which there are squillions), it, well, like I say, pulls it in automatically.
This is indeed using a wordpress format, and I can only assume it is hooking up with gravatar (in which case I should have a picture), but it would be nice if the full gravatar features were in place, ie, having your tiny gravatar profile show when you scroll over a gravatar.
Funny, my gravatar isn’t showing, and I was signed into my account. I wonder what the profile pics really are from. 😕
Mike, see my comment and link below.
testing… testing… (signed up for my gravatar)
I often learn helpful things on your site Rachelle, thank you– and the new look is terrific!
Thanks, I signed up for the gravatar.
Looks absolutely lovely and what’s more … WordPress!
Very spiffy!
And we read this post in readers because we like celebrating things. (And then get to click through and it’s like a pleasant little surprise gift after reading and being kept in suspense.)
Looking forward to the great things to come.
The new site looks great – lovely and fresh looking yet with warmth. I love the tabs along the top – they make it so easy to navigate and find relevant information.
Look forward to all your future posts!
Oooooh! So good looking. Love it!
Wow this is so nice and amazing! Love the look and especially the medals at the bottom!
Wow. The change looks absolutely fantastic. It has a much more comfortable feel to it. I also agree that the tabbed top is a real improvement for navigational issues.
Nice clean look, easy to navigate visually, and the finishes add interest without cluttering or clashing – it’s great!
It looks lovely, Rachelle. I really like how I didn’t have to update Google Reader to get the new posts. How’d you do that? 🙂
It’s beautiful. Love it.
Love the new look. Very easy to read for those of us with odd ocular issues.
Congrats on the new blog! Love the new design. 🙂 Thanks for providing such a great resource.
Looking good!
Very nice! Warm and inviting and professional. Fits you ! ^_^
Love the look, Rachelle! Also love that the space to list our websites automatically lists our site as soon as we type the first letter. Sure get tired of the ones where you have to copy and paste your website to be able to list it. Easy is definitely better!
This is very cool! 🙂 Love it!
The colours tone in well. Very earthy and warm and welcoming. Congratulations on all the hard work!
Judy, South Africa
Love it! Really nice job!
Looks great!!!
Ah, Nathan, so cool that you were the first to comment. Thanks!
What a fabulous change. Things look great and that picture of you is stunning.
Well done!
Jonas Saul