Project Description

Poet and author Emily Ransdell contacted me ahead of the publication of her debut poetry collection One Finch Singing (winner of the 2022 Lewis Award from Concrete Wolf Press). She knew a website was essential for promoting her work but wasn’t sure exactly what it should include or how to structure it. We collaborated closely to develop a flexible, scalable strategy: a clean, literary site that could grow with her career, keep readers updated on events/readings/teaching, and beautifully showcase her poems exploring celebration, grief, loss, long love, and ordinary life against Pacific Northwest backdrops.

The design resonates with her brand—elegant, minimalist, and deeply poetic—while making her publications, press features, and upcoming appearances accessible to readers, event organizers, and fellow writers.

The Challenge: Emily needed guidance from the ground up: a professional online home that went beyond basic promotion to reflect her voice as a poet with work in journals like Poetry Northwest, Poet Lore, Tar River Poetry, Terrain, and American Life in Poetry. The site had to handle her debut book’s launch, highlight finalist/runner-up recognitions (Rattle Prize, New Millennium, New Letters, Prime Number), support readings/interviews/teaching (e.g., Hoffman Center classes), and feel timeless without overwhelming the poetry itself.

My Solution: We created a restrained, high-end literary design with strong typography, ample white space, and a subtle warm-neutral palette that lets the words and book cover shine. The layout prioritizes her debut collection while providing clear paths to poems, events, press, and contact—ensuring the site feels intimate and approachable for poetry lovers.

Results: The site launched in time to support One Finch Singing’s release and has become Emily’s central hub for sharing her work. It drives awareness of her poems and collection, facilitates readings/interviews/teaching opportunities, and provides an elegant platform that grows easily with new publications or events. The collaborative process delivered a site she can confidently maintain and expand, perfectly aligned with her emerging voice in contemporary poetry.

Critical Elements Delivered:

• Dedicated page for debut collection One Finch Singing with synopsis, themes (loss, long love, hope amid heartaches), endorsement quotes (e.g., from Andrea Hollander), and purchase/learn-more links
• About section highlighting bio, MFA credentials, journal publications (Poetry Northwest, Poet Lore, etc.), awards/finalist status, and Pacific Northwest ties (Camas WA / Manzanita OR)
• Press/Events section for upcoming and past readings, interviews, and teaching (e.g., “Open Write” sessions, “Read, Write, Repeat” classes at Hoffman Center)
• Clean, minimalist design with poetic excerpts/quotes integrated for literary feel
• Strong calls-to-action for contact, readings/interviews, and book inquiries
• Responsive, mobile-optimized layout for readers on the go
• SEO-friendly structure targeting “poet website design,” “debut poetry book site,” and Emily-specific terms

Type of Project: Poet Author Website Design, Literary Author Website, Poetry Website

Ready for a poet or literary author website that beautifully showcases your collection, readings, and voice? Schedule a Free Chat.