Project Description

Professional website design for award-winning historical nonfiction author James A. Grymes. Elegant book showcase, events calendar, and academic presence for professors & historians.

This looks GREAT! Thanks so much! I’ve really enjoyed working with you (again).

– Jay Grymes

James A. Grymes is a Professor of Musicology and Chair of the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His work focuses on Holocaust history, musical resistance, and untold stories from WWII-era Ukraine, blending rigorous scholarship with compelling narrative nonfiction. We first launched James A. Grymes’ author website in 2013 and delivered a comprehensive redesign and modern update in 2025. The site now beautifully highlights his two critically acclaimed books—Violins of Hope (National Jewish Book Award winner) and Partisan Song—while showcasing his active speaking schedule at prestigious venues like the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, Temple Beth El, and the Center for Jewish History.

The Challenge: The original 2013 site served well for years but no longer matched his growing reputation, new book releases, or modern book-marketing and event-promotion needs (mobile responsiveness, easy book purchases, dynamic events listing).

My Solution: We created an elegant, restrained design that echoes the sophisticated, historical tone of his book covers without competing with them. Clean typography, a warm neutral palette, strong visual hierarchy, and book-centric layout make the site feel academic yet approachable.

Results: The refreshed site strengthens Jay’s professional presence as an award-winning author and sought-after speaker. It supports easier book discovery/sales, highlights his expertise for event organizers, and provides a polished platform matching his scholarly achievements. Early feedback has been excellent, with the design described as “elegant and fitting for the subject matter.”

Critical Elements:

• Dedicated book pages with purchase links
• Events schedule highlighting dates
• Responsive mobile-first design
• SEO-optimized pages for each book
• Strong calls-to-action for speaking inquiries

Ready for a professional website that showcases your books and events? Book a free strategy call.