Today’s guest post is by Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader (@thDigitalReader).
When it comes to websites, one of the first decisions you have to make is your choice of theme or template. A theme sets the tone for your site. It defines the site, and is the first clue users have about a site’s purpose.
When an author chooses a theme, they need to pick one that both captures a visitor’s attention and helps the visitor find—and buy—the author’s work.
If you’re getting ready to set up your author site, or you’re in the mood to refresh or rebrand the site, then you should consider the following themes created specifically for authors or that can be easily adapted.
1. Published
Published is much simpler than the last theme. It is designed for authors who want to promote their books first and their blog second. It features book landing pages which can link to all of the major ebookstores.
You can see the theme in use, find the demo at Original Themes, and buy it through Creative Market.
2. Author
The Author WordPress theme is ideal for authors who want to promote their books while putting their blog front and center. You can find the demo on the Compete Themes site, and the theme can be downloaded for free from WordPress.org. If you like you can also see the Author theme in use.
3. Flatsome
Flatsome is one of those themes which wasn’t built for use by authors but actually works very well. I found this theme through an author I know, and his site looks great. It is simple and clean, and fast.
UX Themes has the demo on their site, and you can buy this theme at ThemeForest.
4. Divi
Divi is a WordPress theme that allows you to build your site using a visual editor; such themes are sometimes called page-building themes. They do introduce a level of complexity (there’s a learning curve to using them), but are ideal for authors who want a high degree of control over their layout and design.
Bella Andre is a bestselling author who uses the Divi theme.
Find out more or purchase Divi from Elegant Themes.
5. SKT Launch
The demo is on the SKT Themes site. There’s a free version of this theme on WordPress.org, and SKT Themes also sells a Pro version with more features.
Bonus: Book Landing Page
If you need a simple one-page site for your book then this is the theme for you. This free theme is mobile-friendly and quick to set up. You can launch your book less than ten minutes after installing the theme.
You can find the demo and download the theme at WordPress.org.
Other Themes to Consider
- An earlier version of this post suggested Writer. However, problems have been reported by some users with installation. You may not have the same problems, but before investing, check when the theme was last updated and what recent reviews are like.
- For authors who want a high level of customizability, consider a page-building plugin or theme. Read an extensive and insightful overview of these tools. (This site is built with a free page-building plugin, Site Origin.)
What WordPress themes do you use or recommend? Please share in the comments.
Note from Jane: If you’re looking for WordPress help, check out Nate’s services for authors.
Nate Hoffelder has been building and running WordPress sites since 2010. He blogs about the book publishing industry, and helps authors connect with readers by customizing websites to suit each author’s tastes. In his spare time, he fosters dogs for A Forever Home, a local rescue group. You can find him over at The Digital Reader.