33 Best Author Websites Examples (2024 Update)

I am going to show you EXACTLY how to create your own best author website.

We will address for you the “Dos” and “Don’ts” of creating an author website.

Examples of effective and ineffective author websites will be shared and how to improve the ineffective components as well. 

In the end, you will know for certain that you can create an effective author website that will enhance your image and branding!

The Purpose of this Article

In this article, we will see some nicely done author websites. These websites can provide inspiration and guidelines to make the best author websites.

By the way, to learn how to create, manage and market your author website, you have to read more articles on our blog.

Characteristic of best author websites

These are the things your author site must have no matter what genre or type of writer you are.

Your Website’s Landing Page Should:

• Include a list of your published work (books, novels, eBooks, articles etc)
• Promptly shows upcoming and new releases
• Have a separate page about yourself
• Provide a way to contact you or hire you.
• Include links to your social media accounts.
• Easy to navigate
• A blog to showcase your personality and/or writing process
• Has a unique, clean and eye-catching design
• Must run perfectly on Mobile and PC

We analyzed 500+ authors’ sites!

We have analyzed more than 500 author websites on the net to write this article.

We update this post in the future by adding new author sites to this list. We may remove some of them though. There’s no guarantee!

But did you really analyze 500+ sites?!

Yes, we did. Here’s the proof!

Let’s start with the list of best author websites

Simple and Minimal Examples of Authors Websites

lindatharpink.com

Linda Tharp’s website is the best example of a minimal author’s website. Unlike other writers’ websites, Linda’s website shows the author’s bio before going into book links. The landing page is composed of a still image with the author’s names, and then we see the author’s bio and in the end, we see her works. This type of author website is best for authors who have published more than one book and want to increase their fan base.

Author

Linda Tharp

Book Types

Children's Books

Fonts

Shadows Into Light, Karla

Colors

What they did well:

• She utilizes an attractive background.
• The minimalist design keeps the user focused on the imagery and tab options.
• Website upload speed is quick, allowing for ease of use. (the image speed is different)
• Author name is the central focus of the page driving her brand.
• Her bio adds to the focus of her branding.
• The focus lies on the author and not the books.
• Upcoming works are included leaving the reader in anticipation of the next book.
• Blog section is included allowing for media integration.
• Social media is included at the bottom of the website.
• Along with social media is a contact me section located in the same area.

What to consider changing:

• The format is best for authors: more than one book published and established fans.
• Books published are limited in their appearance on the site.
• If a new author, not having books advertised can be hurtful to your branding.
• There’s no link to buy books on Amazon or other book stores.
• Blog isn’t up-to-date.

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shelsilverstein.com

Author

Shel Silverstein

Book Types

Children's Books and Poetry

Fonts

Bookman Old Style, sans-serif

Colors

What they did well:

• The design according to book types plays in favor of the author’s theme.
• Library editions and hardcovers available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.
• Image gallery on about page enhances the appearance.

What to consider changing:

• Logo could be at the center of the header on the desktop version.
• No contact form nor social media links on the site. (The author died many years ago though.)
• CTA buttons should be in red as this draws the focus.
• Book reviews can be added to the books pages.

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annvoskamp.com

Author

Ann Voskamp

Book Types

Parenting & Families and Religion & Spirituality

Fonts

Cinzel, Merriweather, Montserrat

Colors

What they did well:

• Theme of the author is conveyed.
• Background provides a feeling of this being an author’s website.
• Promotes current work and upcoming books.
• Interactive tabs for short reading material/blog posts to pull in new audiences.
• Seamless and fluid transitions from one section of the website to the next.

What to consider changing:

• Author bio could include a bit more information about the genre of writing.
• Images start to blend together, it could use fragmentation for easier reading and interpretation.

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william-golding.co.uk

Author

William Golding

Book Types

Literature & Fiction

Fonts

Merriweather, Flareserif 821

Colors

What they did well:

• Minimalist website at its best.
• Interpretation of author is easy with less to navigate.
• Menu tab allows for seamless navigation.
• Limited menu options allows for quick decisions on where to next travel to.

What to consider changing:

• News and articles section can be easier to navigate as it is based on date of news.
• Social media links need to be more noticeable, the gold blends in with the white.

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rolfpotts.com

Author

Rolf Potts

Book Types

Travel

Fonts

Playfair Display, Lato

Colors

What they did well:

• Minimalistic design of the website filled with informative blogs make this website a perfect Author website.
• The About Me and Bio link is present on the Homepage of this website which helps readers to have a full understanding of the author.
• Direct purchasing links are present on each section of the book plus the audiobook format is present along with translated versions and international orders.

What to consider changing:

• The speed of the slider on the home page is not smooth and the quality of images aren’t captivating to make viewers enamored.
• The footer doesn’t have navigation links to Homepage, Contact, Books.

Visit Site Build Your Author Website

jackkerouac.com

Author

Jack Kerouac

Book Types

Biographies & Memoirs, Fiction, and Poetry

Fonts

Futura, ITC Clearface

Colors

What they did well:

• Website domain name is the same as the name of author and the overall style is smooth, pleasant.
• The site has browser push notifications plus a newsletter signup option.

What to consider changing:

• More navigation links can be added to the footer.
• The homepage doesn’t have any information related to the books.

Visit Site Build Your Author Website

Jamesclear.com

Author

James Clear

Book Types

Continuous Improvement, Decision-Making, and Habits

Fonts

Europa, Minion Pro

Colors

What they did well:

• Bewitching website with fluid UI design filled with attractive colours and font style.
• Numerous articles are present on the website, divided into respective categories which are really helpful for readers to feed minds with proper information.
• Testimonials are uploaded for books and those can be purchased directly from different platforms in numerous languages.
• Smart email marketing strategy by sending a free chapter of the book to visitor’s email address.

What to consider changing:

• Contact page is not present which is a must for an author website.

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sallythorneauthor.com

Author

Sally Thorne

Book Types

Romance

Fonts

Playfair Display, Avenir, Lato

Colors

What they did well:

• The website domain is on the same name of Author, Sally Throne.
• Colour scheme and loading speed are well maintained.
• Books can be purchased from different platforms including Amazon and reviews are also given on the website.

What to consider changing:

• The Blog Section isn’t present on the website. Footer does not contain the navigation menus.
• Homepage is very short and it doesn’t have any info about the author, Sally Throne.
• The newsletter sign-up form can be added to the footer.

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jenniferlarmentrout.com

When you talk about contemporary romance and adult fantasy, you cannot miss out on mentioning Jennifer L.

Author

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Types

Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Young Adult

Fonts

Raleway, Suranna

Colors

What they did well:

• The books section is very simple yet attractive. It gives you an easy browning experience.
• A good range of “where to buy” platforms are incorporated with the description of each book.

What to consider changing:

• The homepage says nothing about the author herself. It may leave a not-so-good impression on the potential buyers.
• The website should include an active contact page to reach out to the author.

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veronicarothbooks.com

Author

Veronica Roth

Book Types

Science Fiction & Fantasy and Young Adult

Fonts

Montserrat, Roboto Condensed

Colors

What they did well:

• A website for a book should always have the latest release on the homepage like this website.
• The homepage shows the author signing a book copy at an event which feels so wonderful.

What to consider changing:

• The books could be displayed in a more appealing manner.
• The biography of the author should be a little more detailed.

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jasonwritesbooks.com

Author

Jason Reynolds

Book Types

Fiction and Poetry

Fonts

Futura PT, Minion Pro

Colors

What they did well:

• The contemporary design of the website is very eye-catching and interesting.
• The initials of the author’s name look very classy on the main page.

What to consider changing:

• The best websites for authors like this should avoid lengthy descriptions.
• Social media links should be more noticeable with bigger fonts or icons.

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oceanvuong.com

Author

Ocean Vuong

Book Types

Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry

Fonts

Georgia, Palatino

Colors

What they did well:

• The sections for novels and poems are displayed individually, making it one of the best book website samples.
• There is a reading tour for the book time is a mother, which all author websites should have.

What to consider changing:

• The homepage is only limited to the information of one book, which is not taken as a good impression for websites for authors.
• The lack of literature gives the initial impression that this might not be an author’s website.

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timothykeller.com

Author

Timothy Keller

Book Types

Christian and Religion & Spirituality

Fonts

Proxima Nova, Adobe Garamond

Colors

What they did well:

• The loading speed and the layout are well maintained.
• Books are placed individually instead of creating categories which is a less-seen thing among other websites for authors.

What to consider changing:

• There is no navigation menu at the footer, and the social media links are also missing.
• There should be a newsletter sign-up option at the end of the website.
• A contact page is necessary for all author websites.

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angeladuckworth.com

Author

Angela Duckworth

Book Types

Decision-Making and Self Help

Fonts

Fira Sans

Colors

What they did well:

• The author’s interpretation is placed with the video on its left, making it a great book website sample.

What to consider changing:

• The homepage layout is very basic and needs a lot of work.
• The purchase option of the books is missing on the homepage.

Visit Site Build Your Author Website

Modern, Graceful and Iconic Author Website Examples

miriammonfredo.com

The first look on Miriam Monfredo’s website shows a picture of a dark forest with mist surrounding the area. This gives a sense of mystery to the reader and tells the writing style of the author. The first image on the landing page is the most important. It can be a slider but most often we see a still image. Marketing experts’ advice for authors is to set the mood of the website according to their writing style.

Author

Miriam Grace Monfredo

Book Types

History and Mystery & Thrillers

Fonts

Barlow, Open Sans

Colors

What they did well:

• Miriam provided an excellent background in hero which sets the mood and tone for mystery as her focus is on historical mysteries.
• The layout is easy to follow and flows from the reader’s perspective.
• The tag line for Miriam within the hero is excellent and provides a succinct summary of her work.
• Miriam draws the reader’s attention to the books by utilizing images
• Economy of language is utilized well here.
• There’s a specific page for each book with reviews and links to buy the book on Amazon and Smashwords.
• 3-D book design enhances website appearance, drawing attention to her books.

What to consider changing:

• There could be a greater focus on the books that Miriam has produced as its location is distant from the focal point of the website.
• Website upload speeds can be improved with limited images and features. Miriam’s books could also be larger in their image and her about me section should follow.
• The focus needs to be on promoting a book or books in general.
• Miriam should promote an upcoming book if she has one in the works because this will build anticipation for her fans and audience.
• She must keep the blog up-to-date.

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seussville.com

Author

Dr. Seuss

Book Types

Children's Books

Fonts

Montserrat

Colors

What they did well:

• The background design is visually appealing and speaks to the brand.
• Navigation Links draw the user to the characters, books, and experiences tabs.
• The news & events add more extensions to interact with the author’s works.
• The shop option allows for further advertising and exposure of the author.
• Parents and Educators have a special link just for them.

What to consider changing:

• The design is cluttered, this works for this author as it is characteristic of them.
• The books and author are not the focus and the focus is entirely on the brand.

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peterrabbit.com

Author

Beatrix Potter

Book Types

Children's Books

Fonts

Georgia

Colors

What they did well:

• The flow of design is key and this site has a natural flow from start to end
• The minimalist design in the beginning sets the tone for a children’s book
• Four navigation links makes choosing simple and direct
• Highlights special events/topics such as nature events linking kids to nature.
• Highlights upcoming book as well as film giving fans excitement for what’s to come.
• Social media is linked at the end of the site with contact information as well.

What to consider changing:

• Bring the focus of upcoming works to the beginning as this is an established author.
• The crafts are a fun concept but should be placed after upcoming work.
• Meet the characters could also be placed higher up to draw in more fans.

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loislowry.com

Author

Lois Lowry

Book Types

Children's Books, Literature & Fiction, and Young Adult

Fonts

Playfair Display, Open Sans

Colors

What they did well:

• Beautiful design in the beginning which draws you in with slides of new events.
• Highlights upcoming works and also includes netflix adaptations of books.
• Navigation links are in a proper sequence of importance with contact being last.
• The books section uses the covers in a collage formatting to draw in readers.
• Biography section is detailed and styled well conveying a sense of familial ties.

What to consider changing:

• Welcome section is very plain and uninviting even though she is inviting us in.
• Welcome section could be improved with warmer text.

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raybradbury.com

Author

Ray Bradbury

Book Types

Horror, Literature & Fiction, and Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fonts

Apercu

Colors

What they did well:

• Including a banner helps to promote the author and works.
• Sectioning of the website allows for the transition from one part to the next.
• Theme of the author is conveyed throughout using the orange writing and images.

What to consider changing:

• Scrolling banner is often confusing and takes up far too much space.
• Scrolling banner content should be conveying the author or the product.
• There is randomness to the sequence on the website content on the homepage.
• The navigation bar needs to decrease options.

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ransomriggs.com

Author

Ransom Riggs

Book Types

Arts & Photography, Mystery & Thrillers, and Young Adult

Fonts

Europa, FilosofiaOT

Colors

What they did well:

• Background is beautiful and leads to the author’s adventure and explorer genre.
• Navigation bar is specific in where the user will be taken and less options is better.
• Footer contains social media links.

What to consider changing:

• Slow upload speeds for both computers and mobile devices.
• The home page lacks advertisements of upcoming books and past works.
• Very minimalist and lacks conveying this as author’s website instead of personal blog.

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taylorjenkinsreid.com

Author

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Book Types

Fiction

Fonts

Tungsten Comp A, Georgia, Gotham SSm A

Colors

What they did well:

• Advertising of upcoming books is phenomenal and eye-catching.
• Author’s name is the first segment of wording to be seen by the viewer.
• Navigation bar is easy to use, simplistic but efficiently directs the user.
• Shopping access for the books is easily seen below the upcoming book’s intro.
• Social media links are included at the bottom of the site and accessible.
• About the author is short, succinct, and complete.
• Negative space is used perfectly to bring focus to the key elements of the site.

What to consider changing:

• Excessive book advertising by including the “Also from Taylor” section on homepage.
• No blog post is on the website and no links available to a blog site either.

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ynharari.com

Author

Yuval Noah Harari

Book Types

History and Nonfiction

Fonts

Cera

Colors

What they did well:

• Very inclusive of the various aspects of Yuval Noah Harari.
• Rolling banner allows for continual advertising of Yuval and his events and books.
• Social Media is easily accessible next to the navigation bar.
• Upload speeds are quick for desktop and mobile versions.
• Events are provided in chronological upcoming order.

What to consider changing:

• The homepage is cluttered and starts to blend together not in a cohesive manner.
• Initial impression is not that this is an author’s website due to the lack of literature.
• Books are not presented in any particular order.
• No upcoming books are being advertised, only events are current.

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stephenking.com

Author

Stephen King

Book Types

Horror, Literature & Fiction, and Mystery & Thrillers

Fonts

Source Sans Pro, Spectral

Colors

What they did well:

• Scrolling banner advertises upcoming works and other events.
• Navigation bar provides key choices to navigate to.
• Background is changeable in the bottom right corner from light to dark to set the mood.
• Mood of the webpage is consistent with Stephen King’s persona and works.
• Upload speeds on both mobile and desktop are very fast allowing for ease of use.

What to consider changing:

• The background of the site is relatively simple and could have more to draw in a reader.

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maggiestiefvater.com

Author

Maggie Stiefvater

Book Types

Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Young Adult

Fonts

Exlibris, Mackinac, Avenir

Colors

What they did well:

• Blog section is added in the website which contains some phenomenal content to feed the brain and get pleasure.
• Direct link for purchasing Novels is available which is an admirable functionality to save time for readers.
• The layout of the website is great and all of the books are classified into different genres.

What to consider changing:

• The News section isn’t up to date and readers really want to listen, grasp their favorite Author’s newest updates.
• The loading speed of the website isn’t fast enough which can be more fluid and responsive.
• More testimonials or reviews can be uploaded as readers can have a look at those reviews and finalize if they want to purchase the Novel or not.

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Brenebrown.com

Author

Brené Brown

Book Types

Health, Mind & Body, and Nonfiction

Fonts

Helvetica Neue, Georgia

Colors

What they did well:

• The loading speed is really negligible though so many books, podcasts, and blogs are running on the website.
• Visitors can purchase their favorite books easily by using the drop downs in the hero.
• Some brilliant videos are also present on the website including TED TALK and many other inspirational programs.

What to consider changing:

• Novels aren’t divided into respective genres which is a downside for visitors coming to take a look at numerous books/novels.
• Blogs aren’t regularly updated.
• There’s no contact form on the site.

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msrachelhollis.com

Author

Rachel Hollis

Book Types

Chick Lit, Cookbooks, and Self Help

Fonts

DIN Condensed, Essonnes, PT Sans Narrow

Colors

What they did well:

• This author website has a proper format in respect of colour and section-wise breakdown of topics in each page layout.
• Rachel has uploaded lots of blog posts on different niches which are great to read.
• Sticky social media links on all pages of the site helps followers to get engaged with Author.

What to consider changing:

• Top Menu Bar can be well-formatted, make brighter and font size should be increased.
• The promotion of books isn’t admirable with respect to other author’s sites.

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chrismcdougall.com

Author

Christopher McDougall

Book Types

Nonfiction

Fonts

Roboto Slab, Roboto Condensed

Colors

What they did well:

• There is a picture of the author that makes it more interesting as compared to other authors’ websites.
• About section of the website does all the justice to the writer.

What to consider changing:

• It could be made the best author website design with a books relevant theme.
• There is a lot of blank space on the home page that could be otherwise utilized beautifully.

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awtozer.org

Author

A.W. Tozer

Book Types

Christian and Religion

Fonts

Oswald

Colors

What they did well:

• The quotation of the author on the main page makes it a captivating website for a book.
• The color scheme of the website is very soothing to the eyes.
• There’s a large picture of the author in the hero section on the home page.

What to consider changing:

• The email newsletter is not visible in the footer and it pops up by clicking on subscribe link which isn’t good for conversion rate.
• The contact details and social media handles are missing.

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markwaid.com

The website can be counted as one of the best author websites 2022 for comic fans.

Author

Mark Waid

Book Types

Comics & Graphic Novels

Fonts

Oswald, Raleway

Colors

What they did well:

• This author’s website has a huge variety of content which is always updated from time to time.
• The most important pages of the site are visible in the hero on the home page.

What to consider changing:

• The footer has no newsletter forms, quick links, or social media buttons.
• The layout is very common among author website examples.

Visit Site Build Your Author Website

becomingmichelleobama.com

Author

Michelle Obama

Book Types

Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction, and Social Sciences

Fonts

GT Eesti, Earth Rich

Colors

What they did well:

• The word “Becoming” is so beautifully incorporated throughout the website.
• The most unique thing about this website is it includes an audio clip which is found very rarely on authors’ websites.

What to consider changing:

• The website is more focused on the books than the author.
• She could consider shortening the paragraphs on the main page of the website.

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helenhoang.com

Author

Helen Hoang

Book Types

Chick Lit and Romance

Fonts

Montserrat, Lora

Colors

What they did well:

• The Author’s signature added more value to the page.
• The boxed layout made this website different from other authors’ websites.
• The site includes links to all translations of the books.

What to consider changing:

• There are no blog posts or any links to the blog site available on the website.
• A contact form works better than sharing email addresses.

Visit Site Build Your Author Website

Beautiful Dark Authors Websites for Inspiration

radical.net

Author

David Platt

Book Types

Religion

Fonts

Montserrat, Roboto Mono

Colors

What they did well:

• Video banner draws the audience in with an easy to access video.
• The navigation bar stands out using the white text against a dark background
• Consistent color patterns created continuity on the site.
• Mobile and PC upload speeds remained consistent and high.
• The focus of the website is evident, it is a site for christian fellowship not just books.
• Accessibility and navigation on the site is easy to follow and natural for the user.

What to consider changing:

• Books could be advertised more if that is the focus, but here it is not.
• The theme of this does not appeal as an author site.
• Imagery is portraying an experience, in this case a christian experience.
• The focus of the site is not on literature or the author.

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annefrank.org

Author

Anne Frank

Book Types

Biographies & Memoirs

Fonts

Graphik, Merriweather

Colors

What they did well:

• Simplicity in design is used well as the images are the navigation bar.
• As a Holocaust icon, having a change language option is crucial.
• Color use keeps with the theme of history and feeling of the holocaust.

What to consider changing:

• Limited information is provided on the website’s homepage.
• As a minimalist style, it is missing substance to draw in new audiences.
• For an author’s website it does not advertise any text such as her famous diary.

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robert-galbraith.com

Author

Robert Galbraith

Book Types

Crime, Suspense, and Thriller

Fonts

Merriweather

Colors

What they did well:

• Homepage is well-made in a very creative manner and while using this website viewers will feel like they are flying in the sky due to the smoother experience.
• Newsletter section is present at the bottom with social media links too.
• Website domain is created according to his name, where he has described different characters too which make his website unique from other author websites.

What to consider changing:

• The news section is not up to date.
• Placement of purchasing links for books is troublesome.
• The contact page is absent.

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hawking.org.uk

Author

Stephen Hawking

Book Types

Nonfiction and Science

Fonts

Bebas Neue, InterFace

Colors

What they did well:

• The animation of the book covers makes this website one of the best author website designs.
• The website is very easy to use and has no unnecessary options.

What to consider changing:

• The background of the site is relatively very dark and gloomy.
• The menu options should be made brighter, and the font size of the text should be increased a little.

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After Thoughts

These were some great looking best author websites which can provide inspiration for your future websites. Check out our more helpful guides to learn how to make your author website from scratch or about important ingredients to rank it on top of Google. Furthermore, you can contact us, our skillful team can help you design and market a perfect author website for you.