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
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.
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 most popular blog posts in 2023
I’m easing myself into the new year very gently (as you can probably tell from this post!). Although, that’s not strictly true as I seem to have a ton on my plate this January - including copyedits for my second Rixon book landing at the exact same time as even more edits on my new thriller, plus I have a big website project booked in this month too.
Why Squarespace is the perfect web platform for authors
On some of my trawls of the internet researching author websites, I’ve found a few articles suggesting that Squarespace isn’t a good platform for author websites.
How to share your Squarespace site privately for feedback
If you’ve taken the plunge and decided to build your own author website (and if you have, then a huge pat on the back from me!), then you might want to share it with others BEFORE you actually make the site live so that the whole world can find it.
How to build your own author website
One of the things that upsets me a lot is when I speak to authors who feel really discouraged, frustrated and downright angry with their author website. They don’t have the budget to pay a designer but they also have no idea where to start when it comes to building a site themselves.
What's the best website platform for authors?
Whether you’re a self-published or traditionally published author, you do need an author website. As an author, if you’re trying to sell copies of your books to people outside your immediate family, then you’re basically the head of a small business, and businesses in 2023 need websites!
30 things I've learnt from 5 years being published: no 11 – your author website matters (ha!)
Full disclaimer here: I am a website designer. You might already have realised that from the rest of the content on this website but if not, I am! And I love it. I build websites specifically for my fellow authors, and it’s the perfect complement to my writing career.
2023 Squarespace navigation updates
Hello! Another short but sweet post today to let you know that Squarespace has been making some major changes to the back-end navigation, which might mean things look a little different when you log in to update your author website.
How to manage images on your Squarespace author website
The images you use on your author website are probably more important than the words (sorry but it’s true!) which is why I’m very excited that earlier this year Squarespace finally introduced a better way of organising them!
How to add social media links to your Squarespace author website
A short but sweet post this week! But I’m often surprised by how many author websites don’t have obvious links to the author’s social media pages embedded somewhere on them.
Must-have pages for your Squarespace author website
So you’ve decided to get your author website sorted! Congratulations. I truly believe that having a strong, beautiful website to showcase your writing career is important not only for your readers, but also for your own mindset. It shows that you are taking your writing seriously.
How to add an Events calendar to your Squarespace author website
The Events functionality is one of Squarespace’s oldest features, and while it’s not hugely intuitive to use, it can be a really neat way to list all your upcoming events so that readers can easily and quickly find out where you will be appearing.
6 great Squarespace features for authors
There’s a reason I’m such a huge fan of using Squarespace to build author websites. I truly believe it’s the perfect solution for authors who are looking for an easy-to-manage, fully customisable and reliable platform on which to build their online presence.
3 things to do before you start building your author website
So many authors I speak to about their websites approach the whole thing with a sense of dread.
It’s another one of those tasks that comes along with life as an author, like tax returns and posting on social media, that feels compulsory but very much Not Fun.
5 things every author website needs
So, you’ve decided to get your author website sorted! Well done! But now you’re wondering what exactly you need to include on it? Let me run you through the basics…
The A-Z of website jargon
It’s easy to forget when you work with tech every day, that not everyone knows what all the endless jargon you spout actually means! I do find when I chat to potential clients that I’m (ignorantly) assuming they know what SEO stands for, and more to a point – what it actually means – when why would you if you’ve never worked in digital marketing?
Why responsive web design matters
Something I talk about a lot with clients is responsive web design. Sometimes when I send websites to clients for their feedback, I get comments back such as: ‘Can we make sure the title of my novel doesn’t break over two lines in the header?’ and ‘I can’t see the whole of the banner image when I look at my site on mobile – can you fix it?’
Social media for authors: interview with expert Anita Chapman
I’m very excited about this week’s interview, with social media expert Anita Chapman, who specialises in working with authors and book marketers. I pinned her down and basically asked her all the questions I wanted answers to myself, and she was incredibly forthcoming and helpful in her answers. It’s a long one, so settle in with a coffee…
✨ 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