welcome…
…to all my secrets on life as a published author
(I’m 7 traditionally published books in and I’ve learnt some stuff 😉)
I blog weekly about author websites, newsletters and life as a writer…
New posts published every Monday 😊
Want to learn more about me and my own publishing journey first?
(includes info on how I landed one of those mythical six-figure book deals!)
Read all about my own journey to publication →
Or scroll down to read all my other posts!
most popular posts
most recent posts
Why AI means your author website is more important than ever
There’s been much discussion among authors about artificial intelligence and the impact it’s going to have on the ‘career’ of a writer. Which let’s face it, has been perilously risky for years even before this little disruptor came along...
How to create an author website for free
I know I WOULD say this but… an author website is one of the most powerful tools for connecting with your readers, showcasing your work, and building your brand.
One simple tweak to make to your author website today
I think this might be the shortest blog post I ever write, but here we go anyway! A small but important New Year thing that lots of people miss…
Squarespace: how to fix your Instagram feed
This is something that I’ve had a few questions about from former clients: how to fix your Instagram feed when it stops updating on your Squarespace website.
How long does it take to build an author website?
There are a lot of factors to consider when building your author website - from which platform to use, to how much you want to spend, and how much content you want to include. You also need to think about the strategy for your author website - what’s your primary goal for the website (if you’re not sure, may I suggest building your author mailing list?)
How to resize book covers for your author website
This is something I get asked for advice on A LOT, so I thought I’d do a quick video to show you how to resize the covers for your books, so that they’re not too big before you upload them to your author website.
How to find photos for your author website
I really don’t want to start this blog post by writing ‘an image speaks a thousand words’ but… it’s 8am and I haven’t had much caffeine yet so… let me just whisper it. It’s true, anyway. Especially online. Photographs and images are simply much easier and more efficient ways to consume content on websites – even though, as a writer, it pains me to say so.
22 author website examples to inspire you
As you’d expect, I have spent a LOT of time looking at author websites. And I genuinely love it. Seeing all the amazing creative ideas that different authors have for their websites lights me up.
How to add links to your Squarespace author website
I know this might seem like a bit of a basic post, but I’ve come to realise that I spend a lot of time talking about links with my author website clients! So I thought it was time to dedicate a blog post to them, because it’s not actually as simple as it might sound...
How to build an author website: a step-by-step guide for authors
Create a professional author website with my step-by-step guide. Learn essential tips to enhance your branding and connect with readers effectively.
How to add text effects to your Squarespace author website
As authors, we often struggle to find good images for our websites. I find many of my author clients get in touch feeling worried that they don’t have any good photography for their website. Quite often they’ll only have their headshot, and their book’s cover, and that’s it.
How to format images for your author website
‘An image speaks a thousand words’ - this really does hold true on the internet. We much prefer to consume content online in image form, rather than text (obviously this saddens me, as a writer, but the evidence backs it up!).
How to add a social sharing image to your author website
Another quick video for you today to show you how to add a social sharing image to your author website.
My number one Squarespace tip
I have a short and sweet trick to share with you in this post. One of the most useful features of Squarespace that I don’t think many people are aware of.
How to encourage visits to your author website
So, finally, your author website is live! Hurrah and hurray. No matter how you achieved this – whether through doing it yourself or getting someone else to help you or even handing over the whole project completely – you should feel very proud.
How to organise books on your author website
I work with a mix of authors, from debuts to longstanding writers with big backlists, but the majority of my work is with debuts, because it’s often when writers first get their book deal that they think ‘oh god! Now I need a website!’
The top 5 mistakes author websites make
Bit of a controversial post today, but I thought it might be helpful to summarise the top 5 issues I see with author websites. These are the things that crop up again and again, but thankfully they’re super easy to fix and will make a big difference to your author website if you address them!
Should I have a blog on my author website?
Ah, blogging! Where better to write about this massive topic than here, on my very own blog. Building websites means I get asked a lot of questions about blogs, and whether or not authors should have them.
How to add a browser icon to your author website
Here’s a neat little tip that will make your author website look truly pro. I quite often see author websites with missing browser icons, and it immediately marks them out as ‘home made’. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing - in fact, I’m all for authors building their own sites as it can actually be quite a fun creative project (yes really) and it’s very empowering!
Do authors REALLY need websites?
I thought I’d tackle a biggie this week! Believe it or not, I’m often asked if authors really need their own websites. Of course, I’m hugely biased, given what I do, but I’m still always a bit surprised when people say they don’t think they’re necessary.
✨ 30 things I’ve learnt from 5 years being published ✨
September 6 2023 marked 5 years since my first book was released 😲
To celebrate, I shared a new post about what I’ve learnt from being published EVERY DAY throughout the month.
Enjoy!
curious about my books?
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Essential Guide to SEO for Authors
17 page guide
The Debut Author’s Survival Guide
30 page ebook
Author Website Content Guide
14 page guide
Author Newsletters
- a Beginner’s Guide
30 minute video
Blogging for Authors
- a Beginner’s Guide
18 minute video