Express Author Website Design
A simple starter site, professionally designed and launched for you
Let’s get you up and running fast with a simple, entry-level author or writer website
Want to start with the essentials? My Express Website package delivers beautiful design, and cures your DIY tech headaches.
Essential website pages to introduce your book(s)
Claim your website domain name and start sharing it!
Begin to attract readers and grow your audience
Easy, streamlined preparation, so you can get back to writing
Enhance and expand your website over time
The brilliance of an Express Website lies in its simplicity.
But you still want professional advice and design, everything done for you, and zero time Googling how to launch.
Investment: $2500
Bigger goals? Services to sell? Do you need more pages, added features, and powerful integrations with other tools?
A Custom Author Website might be right for you, instead.
Your Express Author Website Includes
✓ 4 key pages: Home, About, Book(s), Contact
An Express site like this can accommodate 1-3 books.
✓ Your choice of a basic blog set-up with your first post loaded for you, or integration to display your Substack feed
✓ An email sign-up form, so you can begin to gather addresses for your newsletter (in Squarespace campaigns or Substack)
✓ Social media links and icons
✓ Accelerated website design and development in Squarespace
✓ A flexible website structure that you can add to later, either on your own or by booking a dedicated Day Intensive with me
✓ Mobile responsiveness, to make sure every visitor gets a high-end experience
✓ SEO-friendly settings, to begin establishing your reputation with Google
✓ Customization of colors and fonts, to complement your book(s)
✓ Streamlined preparation, with my workbook to guide you
✓ Speedy project timeline: by getting everything ready in advance and trusting me to make design choices for you, your new website will be finished in 2 days
✓ I will launch your site for you, so you’re fully supported at this final critical step
✓ My curated collection of bite-sized training videos. They'll show you how to make common updates with confidence and avoid common pitfalls.
✓ My personalized attention throughout our collaboration (I do not currently outsource or employ subcontractors, nor do I use AI in my designs)
✓ 1 Week of post-launch email support from me
✓ No retainer or costly maintenance package; you fully own your website
✓ 20% off your first year of Squarespace
Investment: $2500
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![Author website, Lucille Payne]()
“A fulfilling, learning experience”
Pauline Wiles is an extraordinary web designer. With the eye of an artist and the skill of an architect, she wove the facts of my life into a website that exceeded my expectations. Her step-by-step plan, steadfast process, collaborating patience, and easy personality made building my author website a fulfilling, learning experience. If you are digitally challenged like me - or can do it yourself but chose not to - talk with Pauline. She delivers!
— Lucille N. Payne, novelist
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![Writer website, magical realism]()
“I didn’t expect to fall in love with Pauline’s creation!”
I requested a functional yet aesthetically pleasing website, but I didn’t expect to fall in love with Pauline’s creation! Pauline is truly a pleasure to work with.
— D.K. Zier: YA novelist
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![Author website, debut YA novelist]()
“Pauline made the website process smooth, easy and fun!”
I had been putting off getting my own website because the idea seemed daunting, but Pauline was so easy to talk to, and made everything feel so simple, that in the end I really enjoyed it. I’m delighted with the results - it looks elegant, professional and truly personalised!
— Laura Baggaley, YA novelist
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![Writer website, Julie Murdock]()
“The experience was nothing but positive and uplifting for me”
I want to emphasize the personalized nature of the services you offer. We worked as a team and I also feel I made a valued friend. You are exceptionally diplomatic and attentive to detail, and also a warm and engaging colleague. You listened to my ideas and provided the professional input needed to make my vision a reality. I would urge anyone needing a website to work with you.
— Julie Murdock, short story author, blogger, and novelist
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![Squarespace website for writer and editor]()
“Ideas and insights that made my website more complete and polished”
Pauline was a complete professional — organized, expert, and accountable. But she was also warm, personable, and patient, offering ideas and insights that made my website more complete and polished than I had anticipated. Pauline has earned my admiration and highest recommendation.
— Jean Zimmer, editor and writer
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![Author website, Valerie Saul, debut novelist]()
“I'm ecstatic with the results”
Once I met you I stopped worrying about being on the same wavelength. I could tell you understood me. Oddly enough, the blog posts, which I resisted doing, have given me a lot of confidence.
I'm ecstatic with the results and so glad I didn't try to save money.
— Valerie Saul, debut novelist
Good to Know
Your Express Author Website starts from one of my tried and trusted author website templates, developed personally by me, specifically for authors and writers like you. By adding your content and changing layouts, colors, and fonts, your website will look highly individual.
You will prepare for the project on your own, with my carefully developed author website workbook to guide you. All of your words and images must be ready one week before our Design dates.
An email sign-up form is included, and you’ll then create your newsletter and/or welcome sequence independently. With this package, you can choose between Squarespace and Substack for storing subscriber addresses.
You’ll get access to an excellent Squarespace video course, but no personalized training from me is included.
You’ll be able to tell me your aesthetic preferences during the preparation phase. And while the Express Author Website does not include revisions, I will make minor adjustments during our meeting on the second day. So, this option is a great choice if you love my design approach and are happy to leave more decisions to me.
As well as your investment with me, you will need an ongoing Squarespace subscription. I’m pleased to pass my first-year 20% discount on to you.
Want more guidance, pages, features, suggestions, or support? A Custom Website could be a better fit.
How does this happen?
Here’s how our Express Website story will usually go:
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Chat and Choose
We’ll talk on a complimentary Zoom call to make sure the Express Website is right for your current author or writer goals.
Assuming we’re a fit, we’ll choose the best starter template for you, and pick firm dates for our Design Period. You’ll pay a project deposit at this time.
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Preparation
You’ll work independently to prepare your website content, with guidance from me and a checklist so you know everything is in hand.
You’ll write your website copy and gather images, including a professional-quality photo of you.
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Design & Build
I now bring the perfect combination of my design, book marketing, and technical skills, to create your professional and powerful author website.
You’ll be closely involved during this phase, which lasts just 2 days. I only build one website at a time, so you can be sure of having my full attention.
Typically, I’ll nail the design first time, but you’ll be able to request one round of minor revisions.
You’ll pay the remainder of your project invoice before your site launches.
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Launch & Handover
On Day 2, I’ll launch your new website and handover full ownership to you.
This package includes self-guided training resources so you can get comfortable working inside your new site.
(Later on, you can add pages and enhancements yourself, or hire me for a one-day intensive to do it for you.)
Now, it’s over to you to start using your new site to reach your readers!
Questions and Answers
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An Express Website can accommodate one to three books. If you have published more than that, let’s discuss a Custom project.
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Not a problem: we can still create a modern, polished writer website that shows your writing skills, positions you for success, and looks credible when agents and other industry professionals check you out.
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The Express Website includes 4 key pages. You can easily add more later, or you can hire me to add them for you. If you’d like more pages for your initial launch, consider my Custom Website service.
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Your Express Website will be “SEO friendly”, meaning it sets the groundwork for your good reputation with Google. Specifically, that means modern design, mobile responsiveness, appropriate page names, good page load speed, and image “alt” tags.
If you are looking for full optimization and keyword research, let’s talk about a Custom Website project.
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Your website template includes a new, blank, blog, with your first post added for you.
It’s usually possible to export your old blog and import it to your new Squarespace website, but it’s definitely extra work. Either you can do this after your new site launches, or you can hire me. Learn more about the process here.
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Yes! Squarespace allows you to add a fully integrated shop, whenever you’re ready. But please note, this package does not include shop pages or how-to tutorials.
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As well as step by step tutorial videos, you get free email support from me for 7 days. After that, the Squarespace team is there for you 24x7, at no extra charge. Beyond this, I offer one-day intensives where I’ll clear my calendar and take care of updating and improving your site.
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We’ll chat about template choice during our first call. Every template is designed for an author and is both professional and visually pleasing. And I’ll customize it fully for you, so it represents your book(s) and brand perfectly.
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You’ll need:
An ongoing subscription to Squarespace (Basic or Core plan: I will guide you in this and you’ll get 20% off your first year)
Your own domain name
Possibly a subscription to Squarespace Campaigns, if you plan to send a newsletter immediately
You might also choose to pay for professional photos
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No, I’ll tell you when it’s time to pay for your Squarespace subscription. You’ll also save 20% on your first year by working with me.
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No! Hosting is included as part of your Squarespace subscription. (But don’t buy that yet, I’ll tell you when it’s time.)
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Absolutely. Everything I build features responsive design, to work well on different screen sizes.
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I can replace everything inside the template with your own colors, text, logo, and images. Squarespace includes over 1000 fonts at no extra charge, so we’re sure to find one that works with your book(s) and brand. If you don’t have any branding yet, don’t worry. I will still make your website look wonderful.
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Unless you want to start from scratch, my Author Website Glow Up service is probably a better match. Learn more about that here.
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We’ll meet by Zoom once each day, for up to an hour. That’s the perfect amount of time for you to be involved and give feedback, while putting the bulk of the work in my capable hands.
Hello, I’m Pauline, and I’m an author too
With 6 of my own books, I have a personal track record of book marketing success.
(Want to peek? There are 1200+ Amazon ratings for my debut novel.)
When we work together, you gain business solutions from an experienced marketing partner. I will create your author or writer website with meticulous attention to your current circumstances and future goals.
If you value quality and efficiency, delivered in a friendly and supportive way by someone who’s “been there”, then we should get to know each other.