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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
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!
Project Spotlight: carirosen.com
Very excited to share this one - a shiny new website for author and editor Cari Rosen. This was a really fun project that required quite a bit of creative thinking on my part but I am so happy with the finished result. Cari’s website is a ‘one-page wonder’ which means all the content is hosted on a single, long, beautiful page. You can jump between sections on the page using the navigation images at the top.
Interview: Tracy Buchanan from Savvy Writers
I was so excited to interview bestselling author Tracy Buchanan, who also runs the Savvy Writers’ group - a group of published authors set up specifically to provide support for one another. Tracy is launching her first writing festival later this year, and in our chat she tells us all about what to expect, as well as sharing her tips on achieving longevity as an author…
How to create a links page for your social media bios
If you use social media to promote your books, you’ve probably found the limitations in your social media bios frustrating. Your bio areas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are restricted by the number of characters they can hold, meaning you can only promote a few things from there at a time.
Give your author website a new year refresh
Happy New Year! I hope you are as excited about 2020 as I am. I love this time of year – all the optimism and renewed energy and promises to make positive changes! Much as I LOVE Christmas (like really, really love it), I also love it when the Christmas tree comes down and suddenly your house looks about ten times bigger.
2019 web design studio round up
I can’t believe it’s just a few days until 2020! The past two months have been probably the busiest months work-wise since I went on maternity leave. In that short time I’ve completed two intensive training courses, set up my design studio and worked on four websites for others, all of which are now live.
What to ask a website designer
Thinking of working with a web designer for your author website? I understand that the prospect can be a bit daunting. Your website is such a personal thing, and choosing someone to build a visual representation of you, your books and your career often feels like a tricky task.
Make the most of your author website’s navigation
This might not seem like the most exciting topic but it’s something I’ve been chatting about a lot with my clients. If you’re not entirely sure what your website navigation is, let me first clear that up: it’s the page menu that you see on every page.
How to give your author website an audit
These days, it truly is possible to create your own stunning website without being an expert. All it takes is time – most web platforms such as Squarespace and Wix are easy to use – once you’ve got over the initial learning curve, and learnt your way around their content management systems.
Expert Q and A: agent Caroline Hardman from Hardman and Swainson
This is an interview I’ve been meaning to do in absolutely ages! So I’m really excited to finally have it done and live on my blog to share with you.
How to build your author mailing list (without a website)
How soon should you start building your email list as a debut author? Once you start writing? Once you’ve landed an agent? Once you’ve signed the contract for your publishing deal? Once your book is released?
✨ 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?
click the covers to find out more
pssst! before you go…
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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