Project Description

The website looks so amazing!! The colors work great with the book, but will also work with whatever else I do next — it connotes space, but also history. I am so glad to have this done and to have it turn out so well. I appreciate your help and expertise.

– Rebecca Boyle

Science journalist and author Rebecca Boyle was referred by a colleague when Random House was about to publish her first book Our Moon: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are. She urgently needed a new website to promote the launch (a National Bestseller, longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award, and NYT Book Review Editor’s Choice). The site had to be modern and clean while nodding to her vintage book cover imagery and the historical/cosmic themes of her work covering astronomy, space exploration, and science history. We featured her acclaimed book prominently, along with appearances/events, published scientific journalism articles (from Scientific American, Quanta, The Atlantic, NYT, etc.), and bio— all without sacrificing ease-of-use or a fresh, approachable design.

The Challenge: With a major book launch imminent, Rebecca needed a professional online presence quickly. The old site (if any) wasn’t suitable, and the new one had to balance contemporary aesthetics with subtle historical/vintage elements to reflect her book’s sweeping narrative on the Moon’s role in Earth’s evolution, climate, life, science, and culture—while showcasing her journalism portfolio, events, and expertise for readers, event organizers, editors, and publishers.

My Solution: We created a restrained, high-end design with strong typography, a cosmic-yet-grounded color palette (evoking space and history), and clear visual hierarchy that lets the book and her bylines shine. The layout prioritizes Our Moon as the centerpiece while providing intuitive sections for events/appearances, articles, and contact—ensuring it’s timeless, user-friendly, and easy for her to maintain.

Results: The site launched in perfect sync with Our Moon’s release, becoming Rebecca’s authoritative hub for book promotion, journalism showcase, and professional connections. It elevates her brand as a leading science writer, drives awareness of her work on the cosmos, facilitates speaking/events, and provides a flexible platform for future projects. The client was thrilled: “This website looks so amazing!! The colors work great with the book, but will also work with whatever else I do next — it connotes space, but also history. I am so glad to have this done and to have it turn out so well. I so appreciate your help and expertise.”

Critical Elements Delivered:

• Prominent showcase for debut book Our Moon with synopsis (Moon’s transformative role in evolution, climate, life, science, and culture), endorsements, awards (National Bestseller, National Book Award longlist, NYT Editor’s Choice), and purchase/learn-more links
• Sections for Appearances & Events (upcoming/past speaking, festivals like LA Times Festival of Books, Atlas Obscura)
• Published Articles area highlighting journalism in top outlets (Scientific American, Quanta Magazine, The Atlantic, New York Times, etc.) with links to clips
  About/bio emphasizing her expertise in astronomy, space exploration, history of science, and contributions to major publications
• Subtle design nods to vintage book cover aesthetics and historical themes via colors and layout
• Strong calls-to-action for book inquiries, speaking bookings, media contact, and reader engagement
• Responsive, mobile-optimized modern design that’s fresh, easy-to-use, and scalable for future work

Type of Project: Author Journalist Website Design, Science Book Websites, Journalist Websites, Book Websites, Science & Nonfiction Author Websites, Astronomy & History Sites

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