Case Study: A Dedicated Author Website Can Elevate Your Book Launch
Many new authors wonder where to start when promoting their work. A dedicated author website can help engage readers, establish your author identity, and support your book launch. It provides clarity, builds credibility, and connects you with your audience.
We recently worked with Debra Palmer, a nurse practitioner, speaker, and debut author, on creating a website to promote her new book, Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing. Debra wanted a professional platform to generate interest pre-launch and provide purchase links once her book was released.
(Read the full case study here.)
Client Goals
Every project starts with understanding the client’s objectives. For Debra Palmer, her goals included:
Establishing a dedicated author identity separate from her nursing career.
Promoting her book pre-launch and providing purchase links after release.
Creating a cohesive, professional digital presence reflecting the book’s themes.
Building a scalable platform for future books and media opportunities.
Ensuring intuitive navigation and user experience for readers and media.
Our Approach: Building a Dedicated Author Website
Built a dedicated author website in WordPress, separate from her existing site.
Integrated thoughtful design and color palette reflecting her book’s themes.
Developed key pages: Home, About the Author, Book (with pre-order and purchase options), Press, Blog, and Contact.
Cross-linked to her existing site to guide visitors.
Included a future-ready structure for additional books and press features.
Results
The website launched in June 2025, with updates finalized in October to coincide with the book’s release. The final product clearly differentiated Dr. Palmer’s roles while providing a space for ongoing growth as an author and speaker.
Key results included:
Successful pre-launch engagement: Mailchimp forms generated a list of interested readers before the book’s release.
Press and media visibility: Media kit downloads facilitated interviews, podcasts, and speaking engagements.
Polished, professional platform: Website design reinforced Dr. Palmer’s author brand and themes of healing.
Future-ready structure: Easily accommodates additional books and content over time.
“Shea at Solazzo Designs was great to work with. She listened to my vision and brought it to life. Her skills and patience are exceptional. I trusted her through the stages from a vision to reality of my author web page and book launch, and she kept me going with a steady hand at the helm, guiding the webpage development.” – Debra Palmer, PhD.
Key Takeaways
This project demonstrates how a thoughtful, audience-focused approach can elevate an author’s online presence:
Align Design with Audience: A clear, nurturing design reflecting the author’s voice resonates with readers.
Support Your Book Launch: Pre-order options, blog content, and press pages generate early momentum.
Establish Clear Branding and Messaging: Distinct, focused websites prevent confusion for multi-faceted clients.
Plan for Growth: Future-ready structures ensure the website can evolve as the author’s career develops.
Authors, creatives, or small businesses can greatly benefit from a dedicated website to showcase their work and connect with their audience. If you’re ready to give your book the spotlight it deserves, see how we helped Debra Palmer elevate her author brand, or schedule a free consultation to start your own author website.
For more guidance on why authors need a website, check out our blog Do I Need a Website?