Author Website Design & Editorial Polish
Your books deserve an online home that feels like you: welcoming, professional, and easy for readers to explore.
At Wheeless Edits, we combine thoughtful website design with an editor’s eye for clarity, consistency, and voice. Together, we’ll help you create a website that introduces your writing, showcases your books, and gives readers a clear way to connect with you.
Website design and editorial expertise, working together.
We’re Stephanie and Jeffrey, the husband-and-wife team behind your author website services.
Stephanie guides your content organization and edits your supplied text for clarity, correctness, and consistency while preserving your voice.
Jeffrey, web designer for 12+ years, designs and builds your website, connects the tools included in your package, and guides you through the technical handoff so you can understand how to manage your site after launch.
You bring your goals, ideas, and materials. We will help bring them together and work with you to make sure the finished website feels right.
Support from the first conversation to launch
You don’t need to be a technology expert or have every detail figured out before we being. We will explain your options, organize the next steps, and make room for your questions.
Throughout the project, you will share feedback, confirm your author and book information, and approve the finished work. We will provide the design experience, editorial support, and guidance outlined in your proposal.
You bring the stories and your voice. We will help you present both with confidence.
What’s included – and what’s separate
Our website design packages include website planning, layout, design and build, and editorial polishing of client-provided text. Your proposal will outline the included pages, features, editorial word allowance, revision rounds, training, and support.
Original copywriting, logo and brand identity design, photography, and book-cover design are not included.
Domain registration, website and hosting subscriptions, newsletter subscriptions, and other third-party fees are separate from the project fee.
Packages
Whether you are preparing to introduce your first book or creating a home for an expanding collection, we’ll help you choose a package that fits your goals: with thoughtful design, editorial care, and a collaborative approach.
Author Website Essentials
A welcoming home for you and your first book.
Ideal for debut authors who want a polished, professional website that introduces their writing and makes it easy for readers to connect.
Includes:
- Up to 4 core pages.
- A template-based design tailored to your author style.
- A dedicated page featuring one book.
- Links to your newsletter and social profiles.
- Editorial polishing of your supplied website text.
Author Website Launch
A reader-focused website for your next chapter.
Ideal for authors preparing for a release or showcasing multiple books, with tools to help readers explore your work and stay connected.
Includes everything in Author Website Essentials, plus:
- Up to six pages.
- An expanded book display to showcase multiple titles.
- Newsletter signup setup and integration.
- Delivery setup for your supplied reader freebie, such as a bonus chapter or short story.
- Basic search engine optimization (SEO) setup.
- Release-focused features, such as a featured-book section and purchase or preorder links.
Author Website Signature
A fuller author platform with room to grow.
Ideal for established authors, series authors, or writers seeking a more individualized website to support their books, reader relationships, and author activities.
Includes everything in Author Website Launch, plus:
- Up to nine pages total.
- A more individualized design that reflects your author identity.
- An organized book library or series structure.
- A one-page author media sheet created from your supplied materials.
- Events and blog setup.
- Website analytics setup.
- Training to help you manage your site.
- Post-launch support within the agreed support period.
Make It Your Own
Need an additional page, another book feature, or a little more support? Add-ons are available with every package. We will discuss your needs and outline any additional costs before work begins.
Your proposal will confirm the included pages, features, editorial word allowance, revision rounds, and support. Domain registration, platform subscriptions, and other third-party fees are separate unless otherwise stated.
How We’ll Create Your Author Website
Step 1: Share Your Goals: Start with our Author Website Discovery Questionnaire. It will guide you through a few questions about your writing, readers, goals, and website preferences. You’ll also share links to any existing website, newsletter, or public author profiles. You don’t need to purchase a domain, website subscription, or newsletter service before we talk. We’ll first review what you already have and discuss what your project needs. Using your responses and any follow-up questions, we’ll prepare a proposal outlining the scope, fees, responsibilities, and estimated schedule.
Step 2: Meet Your Website Team: Once your agreement is signed and your initial payment is received, we’ll schedule a kickoff call with you, Stephanie, and Jeffrey. Together we’ll brainstorm how you want your website to look and feel, discuss the included pages and features, and brainstorm ideas. We’ll also walk through the practical details, including your domain, website platform, hosting, and account access.
Step 3: Gather Your Materials: Stephanie will provide a shared project folder and a personalized checklist to help you organize your materials. Depending on your package, these may include: author bio; draft website text; author photo; book cover and details; existing logos, colors, or other branding; newsletter and social links; purchase links; and public contact information. Stephanie will be available to answer questions as you prepare your content, you won’t have to figure it all out alone. Once the materials are ready, we will review your content, outline the page structure, and establish the visual direction. You will have an opportunity to confirm the plan before building.
Step 4: Design, Build, and Refine: We will build the agreed pages, polish your supplied text, and connect the features included in your proposal. You will then review the site and share your feedback. We’ll work through the revision rounds included in your package, refine the details together, and request your final approval.
Step 5: Testing and Launch: Before launch, we’ll check the agreed features, test links and forms, and address any issues identified during our review. Once you’ve approved the finished site and completed the required payments, we’ll launch your new online home!
Step 6: Handoff and Next Steps: We’ll provide the training, documentation, and post-launch support outlined in your package so you understand your next steps and how to manage your site. We’ll also invite you to share feedback about your website and the experience of working together. Your perspective matters to us, and we want to know how the process felt from your side.
Tell us about your books, your goals, and where you are in your author journey. We’ll discuss what you need and help you choose the next steps.
FAQ
Do I need to have a published book before creating an author website?
Not at all! We can create a website that introduces you and your writing before your first book is published. We will focus on what’s relevant to your current stage and discuss how the site can grow as you add books, events, and other opportunities. This way you already have an author home once you are ready to publish.
What if I’m not sure what my website needs?
You don’t have to arrive with a complete plan. We will start with a questionnaire and conversation about your writing, readers, and goals. From there, we will recommend a page structure and features that fit your needs.
Do I need to purchase a domain or website subscription before contacting you?
No. If you already have a domain or website account, we will review what you have. If you are starting fresh, we will discuss your options before you purchase anything.
Domains and subscriptions should be registered in your name, with recurring fees paid directly by you. We will help with the setup and connections included in your proposal.
What will I need to provide?
You will provide information about yourself and your books, along with draft website text, available author photos and book covers, and any links or downloads included in your project.
Don’t worry about gathering everything before our first conversation. We will give you a personalized content checklist so you know what’s needed and when.
Will you write my website content?
Our packages focus on editing your supplied text, not writing original website copy. Stephanie will polish your drafts for clarity, correctness, consistency, and readability while preserving your voice.
Your text does not need to be perfect before you send it.
Will I own my website, and can I update it myself?
Your domain and website accounts will be registered in your name, and you will retain control of those accounts. Your agreement will explain ownership and licensing for the completed design and any third-party materials.
We will also discuss which updates you’d like to handle yourself. Your proposal will outline any training, handoff materials, or ongoing assistance included in your package.
I’m interested, but I still have questions.
I’d be happy to talk with you. I offer a free 15-minute discovery call so we can discuss your questions and see whether book coaching is the right fit. You can reach out through my contact page or email me directly.