Project Description

Ellen Prentiss Campbell, award-winning historical fiction author and former psychotherapist, was referred by longtime client and poet Lee Woodman when she needed a refreshed website ahead of releasing her 5th book, Vanishing Point. Her previous designer had become increasingly unresponsive, and Ellen—while a gifted storyteller—found technology challenging and wanted a partner who could not only build a beautiful new site but also provide patient, hands-on guidance and teaching so she could confidently manage it herself going forward.

We delivered a clean, literary redesign that highlights her growing body of work while making book promotion, speaking inquiries, and reader engagement effortless.

The Challenge

Ellen’s prior site no longer reflected her expanding catalog or felt easy to maintain. With a major new release on the horizon, she needed a professional, book-centric platform that would showcase her four previous titles (Frida’s Song, The Bowl with Gold Seams, Contents Under Pressure, etc.), support her busy speaking and workshop schedule, and grow with future projects—without leaving her frustrated by tech hurdles or slow support.

My Solution

We created an elegant, warm, and highly usable site with strong typography, a subtle historical-fiction palette, and clear navigation that puts her books front and center. Every step included patient teaching sessions so Ellen could take full ownership of updates, blog posts, newsletter sends, and event listings.

Results

The refreshed site launched smoothly alongside Vanishing Point and now serves as Ellen’s polished, self-managed hub for readers, book groups, libraries, and event organizers. It beautifully showcases her full body of work while giving her the confidence and tools to keep it current without relying on external help. The collaborative, teaching-focused process turned what could have been a stressful tech project into a positive experience.

Critical Elements Delivered:

• Prominent showcase for her 5th book Vanishing Point (family epic spanning 1880s–1980s) plus dedicated pages for all previous titles with synopses, awards, and purchase links
• Speaking & Events section highlighting 100+ workshops, book groups, libraries, museums, and conferences
• Easy-to-update blog and newsletter signup for reader bulletins on writing, reading, and news
• Clean, literary design with warm, approachable tone that matches her storytelling style
• Hands-on training and guidance so Ellen could independently manage content, events, and future updates
• Strong calls-to-action for speaking inquiries, book purchases, and reader connections
• Responsive, mobile-first layout optimized for readers, librarians, and event planners

Type of Project: Historical Fiction Author Website Design, Book Launch Website Design, Author Website Refresh

Ready for a refreshed author website with patient guidance and easy updates? Schedule a Free Chat.