Book pages and catalog
Each title with cover, blurb, excerpt, formats, and retailer links, sorted by series or genre.
The Problem
Readers Find Your Book, Then Lose the Trail to Buy It
It shows up in launch week. Readers search your name and land on a retailer page or an old blog that doesn't say what to read next.
01 · Old cover
Your site still shows last year's cover and no new release.
Every title gets its own page you can update in minutes.
02 · Wrong store
Buy links send UK and Australian readers to Amazon US.
Regional retailer links send each reader to their own country's store.
03 · No list
Fans who want your next book have nowhere to sign up.
A reader magnet and sign-up form sit on every book page.
04 · Lost series
Readers finish book 3 and can't tell which book comes next.
A reading order page lists every series in sequence.
A listener hears you on a podcast and searches your name that evening. The first result is a free blog you set up for your debut, still showing last year's cover. Your new release has no page. The buy link goes to Amazon US, so a reader in Manchester gives up. There's no sign-up form, so the fan who wanted your next book leaves without a way to hear about it. Your author website is costing you readers you already won.
We start with your books, not a template. Each title gets its own page with every format, retailer, and regional store link. Series get a reading order. A reader magnet, such as a bonus chapter, gives visitors a reason to join your newsletter. Your media kit sits one click from the home page. Readers leave with a book in their cart, not a dead end.
Every book on its own page
Formats, retailers, blurbs, and excerpts for each title, easy to update when a new edition lands.
Newsletter growth built in
Sign-up forms with a reader magnet, connected to Kit or Mailchimp, on every book page.
Media kit one click away
Bio, headshots, cover files, and interview topics ready for podcast hosts and festival organizers.
Our Author Website Design Process
From Book List to Launch Day in Five Clear Steps
You approve the sitemap and book catalog, a clickable design, the staging site with real retailer links, and the launch plan before anything goes live.
We review your books, series, pen names, and the newsletter tool you use today. You get a sitemap, a book catalog plan, and a fixed quote. If a free template already covers your needs, we'll tell you before we quote.
What's Included
What You Get With Websites for Authors
Book pages with every format and store, a series reading order, and sign-ups with a reader magnet. Add a media kit, events, and a site you update yourself.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs Freelance Designer vs DIY Template
A DIY template costs least and suits many debut authors. A freelance designer can make a beautiful site. Here's where each one stops as your catalog, newsletter, and retailer links grow.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Freelance designer | DIY template |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning approach | Starts from your books and readers | Starts from the look | Starts from a theme |
| Book catalog | Book pages you update yourself | Often hand-built page by page | Basic blog posts or products |
| Retailer links | Every store and region checked | Often one main retailer | Whatever you paste in |
| Newsletter growth | Reader magnet and tested sign-up | Form added if asked | Built-in form, delivery untested |
| Visual design | Custom, matched to your genre | Custom, often strong | Template look, quick to set up |
| Speed to launch | 3 to 6 weeks | 2 to 8 weeks | A weekend |
| Site ownership | Domain, site, and list yours | Yours, once transferred | Yours, on their platform |
| Cost model | Fixed quote from $950 | Hourly or fixed | Lowest monthly cost |
DeveloperLook
Freelance designer
- Planning approach
- DeveloperLook: Starts from your books and readersFreelance designer: Starts from the look
- Book catalog
- DeveloperLook: Book pages you update yourselfFreelance designer: Often hand-built page by page
- Retailer links
- DeveloperLook: Every store and region checkedFreelance designer: Often one main retailer
- Newsletter growth
- DeveloperLook: Reader magnet and tested sign-upFreelance designer: Form added if asked
- Visual design
- DeveloperLook: Custom, matched to your genreFreelance designer: Custom, often strong
- Speed to launch
- DeveloperLook: 3 to 6 weeksFreelance designer: 2 to 8 weeks
- Site ownership
- DeveloperLook: Domain, site, and list yoursFreelance designer: Yours, once transferred
- Cost model
- DeveloperLook: Fixed quote from $950Freelance designer: Hourly or fixed
Projects We've Built
Publishing and Creative Websites We Have Built
News, artist, photography, and studio sites from our portfolio. None was an author site, but each one organizes a body of work and leads visitors to the next step.
Deus News and Magazine Website Design and Development
- News & Media
- Website
Sir Kenneth Riley Artwork Ecommerce Website
- Art
- E-commerce
- Website
NovaShot Photography Portfolio Website and Brand Identity
- Photography
- Website
Humestic Interior Design and Architecture Studio Website
- Architecture & Interior
- Website
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built websites for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Authors Trust Us With Their Website
Good author websites design every page around the books. These habits keep your retailer links accurate, your mailing list growing, and your site easy to update on release day.
Every buy link clicked
We click every retailer link on staging, in each format and region, before launch. A broken buy link loses a sale without anyone noticing.
Your list, not ours
Subscribers go straight into your own Kit or Mailchimp account, not a tool we control. Your mailing list is the one channel a retailer can't take away.
Release day without us
You add a new book, cover, and links yourself in a few minutes. Pre-order pages go up when the retailer links are live, not when we're free.
Honest about templates
If a free author template covers your first book, we'll tell you before we quote. Plenty of debut authors do fine with one until book 2.
Design that reads your genre
A cozy mystery and a space opera shouldn't share a look. We design from your covers and genre conventions, so readers spot their kind of book.
Accounts in your name
Domain, hosting, newsletter, and store accounts stay in your name. If you change designers later, nothing about your site has to move.
Overview
What should author website design include for a working author?
DeveloperLook offers author website design for debut, series, and pen-name authors. Each site includes book pages with every format and retailer link, a series reading order, newsletter sign-ups with a reader magnet, and a media kit. Projects start at $950 and launch in 3 to 6 weeks, with a fixed quote and a mailing list you own.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Author Website Design
- Service
- Author website design (book pages, newsletter sign-up, media kit)
- Typical timeline
- 3 to 6 weeks: about 3 for one book, up to 6 with a store
- Platforms
- WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify for direct sales
- Built with
- Figma, Kit or Mailchimp, BookFunnel, and GA4
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30, 60, or 90 days, by plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $950 USD, fixed scope after discovery
Reviewed 8 Oct 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Debut authors with one book
You have a launch date from your publisher or your own imprint, and your only home online is a retailer page and an Instagram account.
Self-published series authors
Your readers finish book 3 and can't tell which book comes next, because your reading order lives in a pinned social media post.
Traditionally published authors
Your publisher's author page is one line and a cover, and festivals, librarians, and podcast hosts keep asking for a media kit you don't have.
Authors writing under pen names
You write romance under one name and thrillers under another, and each readership needs its own books, newsletter, and look.
Literary agencies and publicists
You represent several clients and need websites for authors built to one standard your team can hand over at signing.
Not a fit
Budget under $950
Your budget is under $950 and you have one book. A WordPress or Squarespace author template you set up yourself is the better start.
Book promotion campaigns
You want paid ads, discount newsletter features, or review campaigns to push sales. That's book marketing, not a website build, and we don't run it.
Brand bigger than books
Books are one part of your work, next to consulting, talks, and a podcast. Personal Website Design builds the site around your name instead.
Portfolio of writing clips
You're a freelance writer or journalist who needs published clips and case studies, not book pages. Portfolio Website Development fits that better.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for Author Website Design
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on your books, pen names, and direct sales, and you get a fixed proposal after a free discovery call.
For debut and single-book authors who need one home for the book, the newsletter, and press.
$950one-time, USD
- Custom design, up to 6 pages
- Book page with every format and retailer link
- Newsletter sign-up connected to Kit or Mailchimp
- Media kit with bio, headshots, and cover files
- Events page for signings and festivals
- 30 days of post-launch support
Recommended
For authors with several books or a series who need readers to find the right next book.
$2,250one-time, USD
- Everything in Debut Author Site
- Up to 15 pages and a book catalog you update
- Series reading order and regional retailer links
- Reader magnet delivered to new subscribers
- Excerpt pages and a news section
- 60 days of post-launch support
For established and hybrid authors who sell direct or write under more than one pen name.
$4,400one-time, USD
- Everything in Series Author Site
- Direct store for signed print copies and ebooks
- Ebook delivery set up through BookFunnel
- Separate sections for up to 3 pen names
- Advance reader team sign-up page
- 90 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
White-Label Author Web Design for Agencies and Publicists
You own the client relationship. We design and build author sites under your brand, including book catalogs, regional retailer links, reader magnets, and media kits your authors can update on their own.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Share the brief
Send the author's books, pen names, newsletter tool, and brand files.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
We scope and staff
We return a fixed quote, a catalog plan, and one lead developer.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Build and hand off
We build, test every buy link, and hand over under your brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Stay client-facing
We work behind your brand, so every author stays your client.
Fluent in book details
We know formats, ISBNs, series order, pre-orders, and regional retailer links.
Senior engineering
Senior developers handle newsletter connections, direct stores, and BookFunnel delivery.
Flexible capacity
Take on a full launch season without hiring another developer.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We build on WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify, connect the newsletter tool you already use, and check speed so book covers load fast on phones.
Figma
WordPress- Squarespace
Canva
Amazon- Goodreads
- BookFunnel
Shopify
WooCommerce
- Kit
- Mailchimp
- TikTok
Cloudflare
WP Engine
Google Analytics (GA4)
Lighthouse
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, timing, book pages, newsletters, and selling direct from an author site.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Our author sites start at $950: up to 6 pages with book pages, retailer links, a sign-up form, and a media kit. Series authors who need a full catalog and a reader magnet start at $2,250. Authors who sell signed copies and ebooks direct, or run pen names, start at $4,400. You get a fixed quote after a free discovery call.
Website designers for authors charge very different amounts, because a template setup and a custom build are different jobs. Freelancers often bill by the hour, studios quote fixed projects, and DIY builders charge a monthly fee. Compare what each includes: book pages, regional retailer links, a tested sign-up, and training.
Most author websites launch in 3 to 6 weeks. A debut site with one book takes about 3 weeks. A full series catalog or a direct store takes 5 to 6 weeks, mostly to gather formats, ISBNs, and retailer links. If you have a launch date, we plan back from it so pre-order links are live first.
It starts with your books, not a theme. We review your titles, series, and newsletter, then gather blurbs and retailer links. You approve a clickable design on your phone, then we build and connect your sign-up flow. You test every link on staging before launch.
Design it around three jobs: helping readers find the right book, buy it at their preferred store, and join your list. In practice: one page per book and a reading order for each series. Add a sign-up form with a reader magnet, a media kit, and covers that load fast on phones.
Yes, once you have several books, a series, or a launch coming. Each release adds formats, stores, and regions to keep current, and a sign-up form that quietly fails costs readers between books. For a single book with no newsletter plans, a template you set up yourself is often enough, and we'll say so.
Choose one who asks about your books, readers, and newsletter before showing you themes. Ask to see a book page with several formats and regions, how they test sign-ups, and who owns the domain and list after launch. Check that you can add a new book yourself.
Yes, on the Author Platform plan. We set up a Shopify or WooCommerce store for signed print copies and connect BookFunnel, which delivers ebooks and audiobooks after each sale. Selling direct skips the retailer, but you handle shipping, buyer emails, and sales tax settings, so we plan that with you before building.
Yes. Each pen name gets its own section with its own look, book list, and sign-up form, or its own domain if you keep the names apart. Series pages show the reading order, and a book can sit in more than one list. The Author Platform plan covers up to 3 pen names.
You do. The domain, hosting, newsletter account, and any store are set up in your name from day one, and subscribers live in your own Kit or Mailchimp account. Plans include 30, 60, or 90 days of fixes and questions after launch. After that, a care plan can cover updates, or you run the site yourself.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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