Does an author need a website?

Does an author need a website? Today, I posted a question on my facebook page, asking for input...opinions on a particular website provider called "Squarespace." As I consider a myriad of options, I return to the question,"Does an author need a website?"

My initial instinctual answer is, "No."

    


To frame the question I will point out that unlike many other industries, authors, even indie and self-published authors have a ready- made storefront in Amazon and other online venues. My indie novel, "Proximity" stands right next to other great action/war novels like "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien or ''Killing Rommel" by Steven Pressfield. I read and thoroughly enjoyed both novels, and have visited Pressfield's site, but I did not buy a book there.

Clearly, using a website to sell books is not the only purpose. Still, pragmatically, it is to create a connection to one's audience...and, even better, potential readers. Today, I have a facebook page and a blog (you may be reading one of these right now!) to create such an online presence. These have a large, though limited footprint. I suspect that my followers in each are already readers. Additionally, I have spaces carved out on Goodreads, twitter (@eodauthor), and Amazon. I need to mature my approach on each one. As I do so, I am interested in book lovers' and authors' thoughts on employing a website to promote my writing and interact with others.