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
SEO for authors part two: content is king
'Content is King' is a bit of a cheesy marketing catchphrase, but when it comes to all-things internet, it's absolutely true. The content on your website is BY FAR the most important thing about it (even more than the design!), and has the most influence on your SEO.
SEO for authors part one: what is SEO?
This is one of my most requested topics to cover on the blog! But let me start by saying, SEO is a HUGE topic. I think you could probably do a degree in it (or at least a Masters!). It's also constantly evolving, as with most things on the internet.
My favourite Squarespace blocks. No 3: the summary block
Last but not least in my top 3 most useful Squarespace blocks for author websites! And this week I’m going to be talking about the Summary block. This is a REALLY useful block to make the most of if you have a Blog or Events section on your author website.
My favourite Squarespace blocks. No 2: the quote block
Next up in my mini series all about my favourite Squarespace blocks I’m going to be talking about the quote block. It’s a little-known block that’s actually ideal for author websites – it’s almost as though Squarespace designed it just for us!
My favourite Squarespace blocks. No 1: the spacer
I thought it was time for some short but sweet technical posts, so over the coming weeks I’m going to highlighting some of my favourite Squarespace blocks. Starting this week with the spacer block.
Author website basics: all about hosting and domains
Apologies if this is the driest post you ever encounter, but I thought it might be helpful to clear up some of the mystique around websites and how they are set up. This is something I get asked a lot about when talking to clients!
Project Spotlight: harriettyceauthor.com
Time to share another of my recent projects with you! A new website for the hugely successful novelist Harriet Tyce, whose debut Blood Orange (which is absolutely brilliant) was a Richard & Judy pick and a Sunday Times bestseller. I especially love the design Harriet and I came up with as it’s quite moody and dramatic!
Six-Month Studio Update
As it’s now June, and we’re very nearly halfway through the year (eeek, where does the time go?!) I wanted to do a more reflective post this week. It’s been just over 6 months since I launched my web design studio, and I still can’t believe how much I have loved every second of it.
The beginner's guide to author newsletters
I’m so excited to be sharing today’s post! As a website designer, I get asked an awful lot about author newsletters. Which makes sense of course, as the two go hand in hand. I’m mostly asked about the technical side of setting up your author newsletter, but I also get asked a lot of more basic questions too.
Project Spotlight: sandiejones.com
I’m so excited to be able to share my latest project with you - a website for New York Times bestselling author Sandie Jones! I’m so pleased with how this design turned out - not least because it required lots of nifty bits of custom CSS in order to achieve the look Sandie wanted, and I love it because it’s a bit ‘different’ from my other designs.
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 your author website needs a privacy policy
Following on from my post last week about how adding a favicon can give your author website a pro touch, I thought it might be useful to address another thing that your website really should have – but which I often see is missing from websites authors have built themselves.
Project Spotlight: catherinelaw.co.uk
It’s a total joy to be able to share one of my recent projects with you - a website for historical fiction author Catherine Law, who’s published five novels (so far!) set in the early 20th century. It was particularly exciting for me to be able to work with an author with such a big backlist - and best of all, with the most BEAUTIFUL covers (I had serious cover envy throughout this project!).
Author websites: what to put on your About and Contact pages
Hello! This is the final post in the series I’ve been sharing to offer tips and advice on what each page of your author website needs. Last time we talked about your Books page, and the time before we covered your homepage. This time, we’re going to cover your About and Contact pages….
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…
Project Spotlight: betholearyauthor.com
I’m excited today to be able to share my latest project - a brand new website for Sunday Times bestselling author Beth O’Leary. Beth and I share a publisher - the wonderful Quercus - and so it was extra lovely to be able to work with one of my stablemates! Beth had previously set up her own website on Wordpress but wanted something more professional that focused on her as a writer, rather than just her debut novel, The Flatshare.
Author websites: what to put on your Books page
Hello! This is the second in a series of blog posts I’ve been sharing to offer tips and advice on what each page of your author website needs. Many authors worry about what exactly they need to put on their author websites, so hopefully these posts will help guide and reassure you. Last time we talked about your homepage. This time, it’s the turn of your second-most important page, the page all about your books….
5 of the best support groups for published authors
Some of the most interesting feedback I’ve had from my ebook The Debut Author’s Survival Guide has been about the pages right at the front of the book – all about your feelings as a debut author. I really believe (and I covered this in my post on managing your feelings as a debut author) that the experience of being published can be a little tricky to navigate.
Author websites: what to put on your homepage
You're a writer, so writing the copy for your website should be easy, right? But some writers find it a challenge. After all, it's a very different skill from writing books. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of blog posts to offer some top tips and advice on what each page of your author website needs, to make sure it is working as hard for you as possible!
✨ 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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Look at all the great stuff you’ll get…
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