Professional author website design

An Author Website That Looks Like a Career — Not a Hobby.

Your author website is the one piece of digital real estate you own completely — no algorithm, no platform change, no account suspension can take it away. We design and build author websites on WordPress that balance professional credibility with reader warmth: clear book displays, a compelling author story, newsletter capture, and media kit access — all built to convert casual visitors into subscribers and readers into fans.

  • Built on WordPress — you own and control your site completely
  • Mobile-first design — 78% of author website visitors browse on mobile
  • Newsletter capture integrated — start building your list from day one
  • Standard delivery 14 days — live and ready to promote within two weeks
★★★★★4.9 / 5 from 870+ verified author reviews

Get Your Free Consultation

Tell us about your books and goals — we'll scope your site and respond within 24 hours

100% confidential. NDA on request. Reply within 1 business day.

Most author websites make readers less likely to buy — not more.

A DIY author website built on a drag-and-drop builder in a weekend signals the same thing as a homemade book cover: this author is not serious. Readers, podcast hosts, conference organisers, and media contacts all visit your website and make snap judgements about your professionalism in under 3 seconds. A poorly designed site costs you credibility you cannot see being lost.

Without professional design

  • DIY site signals amateur — media contacts and bookshops move on immediately
  • No newsletter capture — traffic arrives and leaves, never converted to subscribers
  • Broken on mobile — 78% of visitors are on phones and see a broken layout
  • No buy links or buy buttons for books — visitors who want to buy don’t know where to go
  • No media kit — podcast hosts and event organisers cannot book you without one
  • No SEO — your name doesn’t appear in Google when readers search for you by name

With Hawthorne Publishers

  • Professional WordPress site that positions you as a credible, established author
  • Newsletter opt-in integrated and tested — every visitor offered a reason to subscribe
  • Mobile-first — looks and performs perfectly on every screen size
  • Book pages with clear buy links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound
  • Media kit page built in — podcast hosts and event organisers can book you immediately
  • On-page SEO configured — your name ranks in Google from the first week
480+Author websites built
94%Client satisfaction rate
14Day delivery (standard)
100%Mobile-first, SEO-optimised

Every Feature That Makes an Author Website
Work for You Around the Clock.

A great author website is not a digital business card — it is an active tool that builds your audience, sells your books, and attracts opportunities while you’re writing.

WordPress on your hosting

Built on WordPress — the platform that powers 43% of the web. You own the code, the content, and the data. No monthly platform fees, no vendor lock-in, and no risk of your site disappearing if a company shuts down.

Mobile-first responsive design

Every page designed and tested on mobile first — then scaled up for tablet and desktop. Text is readable, buttons are tappable, and images load at the correct size regardless of the device your reader is using.

Book display pages

Individual pages for each book with cover image, description, genre, series information, reader reviews pulled from Amazon, and clear buy links to every major retailer — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and IndieBound.

Newsletter capture integration

Email list capture integrated with your preferred email platform — Mailchimp, ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Klaviyo. Opt-in forms placed strategically across the site with a lead magnet offer to maximise subscription rates.

Author bio & story page

A compelling About page written and designed to balance professional authority with reader warmth — telling the story of who you are and why you write in a way that makes readers want to read your books and follow your career.

Media kit page

A dedicated media kit page containing your professional headshots, author bio in three lengths (short, medium, long), book covers in print resolution, interview talking points, and contact details for bookings — all downloadable instantly.

On-page SEO configuration

Title tags, meta descriptions, header structure, image alt text, and XML sitemap all configured correctly — so your name appears in Google search results from the first week the site is live and new readers can find you organically.

Speed optimisation

Images compressed, caching configured, and page speed optimised — because Google uses page speed as a ranking signal and readers abandon sites that take more than 3 seconds to load. Every site scores 85+ on Google PageSpeed.

Training & handover

Video walkthrough and written guide delivered at launch so you can update your own content — add new books, post blog content, update your bio, and manage your newsletter without needing a developer for every change.

From brief to live website in 14 days.

A structured five-stage process with your approval at each milestone — so the final site is exactly what you wanted.

01

Discovery Brief

We collect your existing brand assets, book covers, author photos, bio, and any design references you like. We review your genre conventions, comp author websites, and target reader expectations to establish the correct visual direction.

02

Design Concept

Homepage design concept created and presented for approval — showing typography, colour palette, layout structure, and overall visual tone. You review and provide feedback before development begins. Changes at this stage cost nothing.

03

Development

Full site built on WordPress with approved design — all pages, book displays, newsletter integration, media kit, contact form, and SEO configuration. Built on a staging environment so you can review before it goes anywhere near your live domain.

04

Review & Revision

Staging site shared for your review. You test every page on mobile and desktop, request any content or layout changes, and approve the final version. Two full revision rounds included — most clients use one.

05

Launch & Handover

Site migrated to your live domain, SSL configured, speed tested, and Google Search Console submitted. Video walkthrough and written guide delivered so you can manage your own content. Site is yours — completely.

Author Website Design
Design proof

480+ author sites. 94% satisfaction. Every genre and career stage.

We have built author websites for debut novelists with one book and established non-fiction authors with twenty. The brief is always different; the result is always the same — a professional, credible, conversion-focused platform that the author controls completely. Your website is the only piece of your digital presence that no platform can take from you. It deserves to be built properly.

  • WordPress — you own the site entirely, no ongoing platform fees
  • Mobile-first, SEO-optimised, and speed-tested before launch
  • Newsletter capture, media kit, and book buy links all integrated
  • Training video and written guide — manage your own content after handover
Get your website quote →

Our Author Website Design Packages

Landing Page

A single-page professional author presence — bio, one book display, newsletter capture, and buy links. The fastest way to have a professional web presence before your full site is ready.

$599one-time
  • Single-page WordPress site
  • Author bio & book display
  • Newsletter opt-in integration
  • Buy links to major retailers
  • Mobile-first & SEO configured
  • 7-day delivery
Most Popular
Author Site

A complete multi-page author website — home, about, books (up to 5), media kit, blog setup, and contact — with newsletter integration, buy links, SEO, and full training at handover.

$1,299one-time
  • Up to 8 pages including all core pages
  • Books section (up to 5 titles)
  • Media kit page with downloadable assets
  • Blog setup & newsletter integration
  • Full SEO & speed optimisation
  • 2 revision rounds + training video
  • 14-day delivery
Full Author Platform

The complete author digital platform — unlimited books, events calendar, podcast or speaking page, e-commerce for signed copies, and 30 days of post-launch support and training.

$2,499one-time
  • Everything in Author Site
  • Unlimited book pages
  • Events calendar integration
  • E-commerce for signed editions
  • Speaking & podcast page
  • 30-day post-launch support

What every author website project is guaranteed.

These commitments apply from design concept through post-launch handover.

Design Approval Before Build

We present the design concept before writing a single line of code. You approve the visual direction — or request changes — before development begins. No surprises at the end.

14-Day Standard Delivery

Standard Author Site package delivered in 14 days. If we miss the deadline, we refund 10% of the project fee for every additional day — without you having to ask.

Mobile-First Guarantee

Every page tested on iOS and Android at multiple screen sizes before delivery. If any page has a mobile display issue within 30 days of launch, we fix it at no charge.

You Own Everything

All code, all content, all files, and all logins are transferred to you at handover. We retain no rights to your site, no ongoing access, and no ability to take it down.

Revision Rounds Included

Every package includes at least two full revision rounds on the staging site before launch. Content changes, layout adjustments, colour tweaks — all included, no extra charges.

Training at Handover

You receive a video walkthrough and written guide showing you exactly how to add books, update your bio, publish blog posts, and manage your newsletter integration — without needing a developer.

Trusted by business leaders, entrepreneurs & executives

From first-time authors to seasoned CEOs — our clients use their books to build authority, attract clients, and leave a lasting legacy.

I've been running my consulting firm for 14 years and always knew a book would elevate my positioning. Hawthorne made it real. The ghostwriter they matched me with understood my industry from day one. The final manuscript reads exactly like me — sharp, direct, and full of the frameworks I use with clients. Closed two six-figure engagements before the official launch.

MT
Marcus T.
Mar 2026
★★★★★

I came in with a half-finished manuscript and no clear direction. The developmental editing process was transformative — they helped me restructure the entire argument without losing my voice. The book is now the anchor of my thought leadership strategy and has been picked up by three business podcasts. Worth every dollar.

SK
Sarah K.
Jan 2026
★★★★★

Hawthorne handled my business memoir from outline to Amazon launch. The project manager kept everything on schedule and the ghostwriter captured 20 years of entrepreneurial lessons in a way that is genuinely engaging. It's already ranking in two categories on KDP and my speaking inquiries have tripled since launch.

DR
Daniel R.
Feb 2026
★★★★★

As a business coach, credibility is everything. Publishing my book with Hawthorne gave me a tangible asset I can put in front of every prospective client. The team handled the cover, interior layout, ISBN, and KDP submission flawlessly. I didn't have to touch a single technical detail. Professional from start to finish.

JW
Jennifer W.
Dec 2025
★★★★★

My executive team had been suggesting I write a strategy book for years. Hawthorne turned that idea into a polished, published reality in under five months. The ghostwriter conducted thorough interviews, the editor tightened every chapter, and the cover design looked better than books I've seen from major publishers.

RA
Robert A.
Nov 2025
★★★★★

I used Hawthorne's book marketing and Amazon Ads service post-launch. The team built a proper campaign strategy, ran the ads, and optimised the metadata. Within six weeks we hit bestseller status in two categories. The visibility it created for my startup brand was unlike anything I'd achieved through traditional PR.

MC
Michael C.
Oct 2025
★★★★★
Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions authors ask most about this service.

The essential pages are: Homepage (book showcase and email opt-in), Books page (each title with Amazon and retailer links), About page (author bio and photo), Blog or Resources (optional but good for SEO), and Contact or Booking page. We design all of these as part of our standard author website package.

We build on WordPress (self-hosted) by default, which gives you full control, portability, and no monthly platform fees beyond hosting. Squarespace and Showit are available if you prefer a hosted builder. We advise on the right option based on your technical comfort level and long-term needs.

Yes. All websites are built with on-page SEO as standard — proper heading structure, meta descriptions, alt text, page speed optimisation, and sitemap submission to Google. We also set up Google Analytics and Search Console so you can monitor traffic from day one.

Yes. Every author website we build includes an email opt-in form connected to your chosen email platform (Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, etc.). Optionally, we configure a lead magnet delivery sequence so new subscribers receive a free chapter or PDF automatically.

A standard 5-page author website takes 3–4 weeks from brief to launch. More complex sites with custom design, multiple book series pages, or an integrated blog take 5–6 weeks.

Yes, completely. You own all code, content, design files, and domain name. We hand over full admin access at launch. Ongoing maintenance is available as an optional monthly retainer.

A 3-minute strategy call is the fastest way to find the right path. No obligation. NDA on request.

Ready to write the book you've been putting off?

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