Best Squarespace Templates for Authors and How to Customize Them
If you’re an author still clinging to a basic linktree or a half-baked website that looks like it time-traveled from 2010, it’s time for a glow-up.
The best Squarespace templates for authors aren’t just pretty—they’re built to sell books, grow your list, and make you look like the professional writer you already are.
Whether you’re just getting started or running your own literary empire, these templates are designed to do the heavy lifting for you—no tech headaches or no wasted time required. Let’s break down the exact templates you need, who they’re for, and how to customize the heck out of them to make them on brand for you.
Meet the Templates: Choose the Right Fit for Your Author Journey
Whether you’re gearing up for your debut or juggling five series and a growing fanbase, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why these Squarespace templates for authors are designed for exactly where you are right now.
#1. The Series – For the Established Author
If you’ve got a backlist longer than your TBR pile, The Series Squarespace website template is your digital dream home. This Squarespace template for authors was made for the seasoned writer with multiple books, an ongoing series, or an empire in the making. It’s sleek, strategic, and packed with customizable features that showcase your work and grow your audience—without the overwhelm.
Designed with deep navigation in mind, this template includes dedicated spaces for each book or series, clear calls to action for buying and subscribing, and layout flexibility so your site evolves as your library expands. Translation: it grows with you.
This is for the author who’s running their book empire like a business. You’ve put in the work—this is the template that shows it.
2. The Debut – For the First-Time Author
Nervous about launching your first book? Don’t be. The Debut template was made to help you show up with confidence before you even hit “publish.” It’s simple, strategic, and built to make a strong first impression—because readers (and agents 👀) are checking you out the moment you announce that book baby.
This template gives you all the must-haves: a clean layout, space to tease your upcoming release, an author bio that builds connection, and an email sign-up to start growing your reader list from day one. It’s one of the best Squarespace templates for debut authors because it helps you look polished and professional without getting lost in the tech weeds.
Launch your first book like a pro—even if you haven’t hit ‘publish’ yet. This is your starting line, but it looks like a finish line.
3. The Manuscript – For the Author in Progress
Still writing your book? Perfect. The Manuscript template is made for authors who know that building your brand starts now—not when your book is finished, edited, and printed. Whether you’re plotting your steamy romance, epic fantasy, or spicy thriller, this template lets you show up like the professional you already are.
Designed with flexibility in mind, it gives you everything you need to start growing your audience: an author bio page that builds connection, space to tease your upcoming book, email opt-ins for future superfans, and a clean, strategic layout that’s far from “placeholder” energy. It’s especially perfect for romance or genre fiction authors who are building hype before launch day.
Who says you have to wait for your book to be done to show up like a pro? Not us—and definitely not this template.
4. The Quick Start – For the Author Who Wants to Launch Fast
You’ve got a book to promote and zero time to waste. The Quick Start template is your best friend when you want to launch fast, look professional, and skip the tech rabbit hole. With ready-to-use pages and a minimalist, no-fluff layout, this template is built for speed without sacrificing strategy.
Perfect for time-crunched authors, this one includes all the essentials: book page, author bio, shop, newsletter opt-in, and even a “link in bio” page for Instagram traffic. It’s an easy website builder for writers who just want to get it done—and look good doing it.
Because done is better than perfect—and this template gets that.
5. The Children’s Author – For the KidLit Creative
Fun, quirky, and built to grow with you—The Children’s Author template is made for writers who bring stories to life for little readers. Whether you're launching picture books, chapter books, or a whole series of magical adventures, this template brings equal parts whimsy and strategy.
It includes everything you need to build a vibrant author platform: event listings for school visits, a blog for evergreen content (hello, SEO 👋), newsletter opt-ins for grown-up buyers, and a book sales page designed to convert. It’s playful on the outside, powerful on the inside.
Whimsical meets strategic. This template does both.
How to Customize Your Author Template Like a Pro (No Coding Required)
Don’t let the word “template” fool you. With a few intentional tweaks, you can turn a pre-designed site into a one-of-a-kind author brand website that screams you.
The best part? No coding or endless YouTube tutorials. Here’s how to make your template look and feel custom.
1. Update Your Fonts, Colors, and Logo to Match Your Brand
Start with the vibe. Your template gives you a solid foundation, but your fonts and colors bring your author voice to life visually. Whether you’re going moody and mysterious or light and whimsical, Squarespace makes it stupidly easy to change it all with a few clicks. Add your logo, upload your brand palette, and boom—you’ve got a customizable author website template that feels like it was made just for you.
2. Add Your Book Covers, Sales Copy, and Testimonials
This is where things get real—because books = business. Drop in your cover art, write sales copy that makes people need your story, and add reviews, blurbs, or social proof to build trust. Each of Kate’s templates is already designed to feature your book beautifully—you just need to plug in your brilliance.
3. Personalize Your About Page to Build Reader Connection
Spoiler: readers want to know the human behind the pen. Your About page isn’t just filler—it’s prime real estate to share your origin story, values, or writing rituals. Make it weird, heartfelt, bold—whatever feels most you. It’s a small section with major impact.
4. Embed Your Email List Opt-In and Lead Magnet
If you’re not building your email list yet, this is your sign to start. Every template comes with built-in sections to embed your opt-in form—just connect your email platform and upload your lead magnet (free chapter, exclusive content, spicy extras—whatever). This turns your site into a list-building machine without lifting a finger after setup.
5. Create a Blog or Events Page to Keep Content Fresh
Want better SEO? Want to give readers a reason to come back? Start a blog. Or an events page. Or both. Whether you’re posting writing updates, behind-the-scenes stories, or announcing your next book signing, this is how you keep your site active—and Google happy.
Tips for Making Your Author Website Work Harder for You
Launching your author website is just the beginning. If you want your site to do more than sit there looking cute, it needs to work. That means bringing in readers, growing your list, and driving sales—without you hovering over it 24/7. Here’s how to squeeze every drop of strategy out of your site:
Add SEO Titles, Descriptions & Alt Text
You don’t have to be an SEO expert to get your site ranking—just smart. Add custom titles and meta descriptions to every page (especially your book pages and blog posts), and don’t forget to use alt text for your images. This helps Google understand what your site’s about and gets your books in front of more eyeballs organically.
Pro tip: Use keywords like your book genre, your author name, and phrases your readers are actually Googling.
Use the Newsletter Page to Grow Your List on Autopilot
Set it and forget it (kinda). With a dedicated newsletter page built into your template, you’ve got a permanent home for your opt-in. Connect it to your email platform, drop in a juicy freebie, and let your list grow while you write, rest, or plan your next plot twist.
Link Your “Link in Bio” Page to Drive More Clicks from Social
Stop wasting your Instagram bio real estate on generic link tools. Use the “Link in Bio” page built into your template to drive traffic directly to the stuff that matters: book launches, your newsletter, your shop, or even your blog. It looks better, loads faster, and keeps people in your world—not bouncing to third-party sites.
Keep Your Book Pages Updated with New Releases
Your book page isn’t static. Every time you release something new (a bonus scene, a novella, your next bestseller), add it. Readers love seeing your growth, and it makes your site feel fresh, relevant, and alive. Plus, keeping everything in one spot makes it easier for fans to binge-buy your backlist.
Final Thoughts: Build Your Author Brand with Confidence
You don’t need to spend months buried in website tutorials. You just need a smart, strategic start—and that’s exactly what these templates were built for. Your books deserve more than a basic online presence. They deserve a home that’s as professional, compelling, and conversion-ready as your writing.
This isn’t about fluff. It’s about building an author brand that sells books, grows your audience, and positions you as the real deal.
Grab your perfect-fit template and launch your author website today. Your future readers are already looking for you—make sure they find a site that shows you're worth the click.
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