Cairn Publishers
Giving a debut author a polished online home for her book, her events, and her growing community
The Backstory
When Janine finished her first book, she knew it was just the beginning. Inspired by a life-changing experience, she wanted to start a broader conversation and connect with others who could grow from her story.
That meant she needed more than just a place to sell books online. She needed a website that represented her brand, shared her story, and gave readers a way to engage with her work and events.
Cairn Publisher’s debut release was well received - as people were asking for the author to come talk about her writing, we decided to make sure this information was available online. Both to broaden requests and help people know what’s readily available.
The Process
Establishing Needs
Every new project starts wide open, so the first step was defining what success looked like. Through a series of in-depth conversations, we explored how Janine envisioned her site—not only as a book launch platform but also as a hub for speaking engagements, book clubs, and her growing community.
Scoping the Structure
After researching other author and publisher sites, I pulled together a list of must-have features for Cairn. This early exploration helped us expand the scope in practical ways and avoid costly additions down the line.
From there, I mapped out the site with a wireframe, turning vague ideas into concrete plans. This exercise gave Janine clarity on content and interaction, while also sparking deeper conversations about what her site needed to accomplish.
Together, we landed on key requirements:
A timely launch ahead of the book release
Easy updates for new events, awards, and press quotes
A gated portal for book club and marketing materials
A simple blog and newsletter integration
Organized, flexible contact forms
Building the Site
We chose SquareSpace for its ease of use, email integration, and built-in gated content—all essential for launching on time without reinventing the wheel.
I started with the homepage to establish the overall look and feel, iterating until Janine felt her vision come to life. From there, we expanded to other pages and functionality.
Janine stayed hands-on throughout, writing her own copy and making updates alongside me in live sessions. This approach not only ensured the site reflected her voice, but also gave her confidence to manage updates herself moving forward.
It was important to make sure that readers could find additional resources and materials related to the book. We decided to request user emails in exchange for resources - Janine later used this to curate a newsletter and has built an amazing community around it. It was great, organic foresight.
The Outcome
We launched Cairn Publishers ahead of schedule and under budget with a site that gave Janine the professional online home she needed to build her audience and brand as a writer.
The finished site included:
A marketing landing page for her debut book
Blog and newsletter integration
Speaking engagement hub
Book club resources
Organized contact forms
Clear pathways to purchase the book
In the end, Janine gained so much more than just a website - she gained a flexible, self-managed platform that could grow with her career. From book sales to community-building, the site gave her a polished foundation to share her story and connect with readers worldwide.
“I had such a great experience working with Brittany on my website! One of the things I appreciate is how she set me up to easily manage my own updates moving forward, while still being available when I need extra help. The turnaround time was impressive, and the whole process felt collaborative and supportive. It was a relief to bring in an expert and I highly recommend Brittany’s services!”
— Janine Valentine, Author and Founder of Cairn Publishers