We don’t just create logos, we help you build an identity that carries through from website to social media to print. What makes you YOU? What differentiates you? We’ll help you figure that out, and then we’ll design a brand around it.
We were building websites before “www” became a thing. It’s our bread and butter, and we do it well. In this day and age, if people can’t find your website, you don’t exist. Your site acts as your home base online, and it needs to stand out. We can help you with that!
We started coding on a Commodore 64 in the late 80s, and we haven’t stopped. Whether you need front-end development for a responsive, mobile-friendly website or app, or back-end infrastructure and database work, we have you covered.
“Being Wicked has ruined me forever working with any other web designers, ever. They were more literate than most writers I know, more responsive than 911, and more clever than anyone deserves to be. Miraculously, they also fail to overcharge.”
—STEPHEN J. DUBNER, CO-AUTHOR OF FREAKONOMICS
“Being Wicked transformed our website and exceeded our expectations. The design is beautiful and easy to navigate. Working with Lorissa was effortless. I highly recommend Being Wicked!”
—CAROL JOHNSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FOREWORD RETREATS
“If only everybody I worked with was as easy as Lorissa! She's smart, she listens, she knows what you want, and if you don't know what you want she'll help you figure it out. And whatever it is, she'll get it done on time, on budget, with style. I would recommend her to anybody.”
—LEV GROSSMAN, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
“Being Wicked did an absolutely fantastic job on my website. They listened to all my ideas, delivered designs and changes in a timely manner, and responded to every question I had. A dream partner!”
—LAILA LALAMI, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR & ESSAYIST
“Being Wicked is one of those hidden design gems that just gets it. If you can imagine it, they can deliver it (and take it to the next level). They’ve raised the bar with our digital (and print for retail) content and have made my team look like super stars. They’re also quick, easy to work with and super responsive. One of the best I've worked with and I would highly recommend them without hesitation.”
—LARA DESIGNOR, DIRECTOR, MEDIA & MARKETING, DE’LONGHI GROUP NORTH AMERICA
“Being Wicked created my website and has managed its evolution for well over a decade. In addition to loving the company’s name, I have found working with Lorissa Shepstone always to be a pleasure. She’s obliging, and prompt, and happily doesn’t hit you with a barrage of obscure techie terms. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone interested in setting up a new site, or in zhuzhing up an old one, or anything in between.”
—ERIK LARSON, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Your full author website, designed from the ground up to capture your voice, your brand, and the world you’ve built on the page. This isn’t a template slapped with your cover art — it’s a bespoke digital home built around your unique position as an author.
We handle strategy, design, copywriting direction, development, and launch — so you can focus on your manuscript while we build something that does the heavy lifting for your career.
You’ve got an existing site, but it’s not doing you justice anymore. Maybe your cover branding evolved. Maybe you moved publishers. Maybe you just cringe a little every time you hand out your URL. We get it — and we can fix it.
A refresh brings your current site up to date with a design overhaul, improved structure, and refreshed copy direction, without starting entirely from scratch.
You’ve had a website for a while — but how hard is it actually working for you? A lot of author sites are full of missed opportunities: unclear navigation, weak calls-to-action, outdated branding, slow load times, and newsletter sign-ups buried where no reader will ever find them.
Our Author Site Audit is a deep, professional evaluation of your current website through the lens of someone who builds author sites every day. You’ll walk away with a clear, actionable roadmap — no jargon, no overwhelming tech-speak, just honest insight and practical priorities.
Perfect if you’re not ready for a full redesign but you know something isn’t working. A smart first step before a full redesign
Audit fee credited toward a full redesign if you choose to proceed.
Novel Sites — Beautiful Author Websites, Budget-Friendly.
Not every author needs (or is ready for) a fully custom site — and that’s completely okay. Novel Sites is our new Squarespace template shop built specifically for debut and early-career authors who want a professional, beautiful online presence without the custom price tag.
✦ Ideal for debut authors, authors between contracts, and anyone building their platform on a budget.
Here’s how it works: you browse our curated library of author-focused templates, choose the one that fits your genre and vibe, and we take it from there. This isn’t just a “buy a template and good luck to you” situation — we set it up, style it to your cover palette and brand, and hand you the keys ready to go.
So you’re thinking of working with us (yay!), but you’re not sure what to expect. We know that it can be a little scary to invest in a project when you don’t have any idea of what will happen next. To ease your mind, here is our process for building a custom new website to give you a general idea of each step. (Our branding process is similar, but reach out if you have any questions).
We’ll ask you some questions about your goals, likes and dislikes, future plans, target audience, and even your competitors (if applicable). This is our time to get to know you so we can put together the best strategy, suited to you, to expand your reader base or grow your business.
We work with you via phone calls and emails to put together a general plan of action and timeline for the project. We will lay out the goals and expectations for the project so that we are all on the same page.
We’ll present you with a set of custom designs to choose from, then perfect and refine the one you love. If your project also includes branding, we will start with the brand design and then follow with the website designs. This is the really fun part of the process!
We’ll build your site on WordPress (or your preferred CMS), giving you full control to manage your content after launch. We also ensure the site adheres to search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, meets accessibility standards, and is secured against potential threats.
After your site launches, we’ll set up a call to go over how the site works and ensure you feel comfortable managing your content. We’ll also take some time to offer some tips on social media exposure and tying your site and social media profiles together. (We’ll have a few other marketing tips for you to, depending on the best approach for you).
We can also set up a reminder for you to renew your domain name to prevent those unscrupulous types from scooping it up, as well as any other reminders for hosting, etc. And we’ll check in with you on how the site it going. We are always just an email away, but we like to check in as well! We are big into long-term client relationships.
We always send a total-cost proposal for every project. In other words, you’ll know the exact cost of the project before signing anything, without any worries about hourly rates or hidden costs. We’ve been building websites for decades, so there won’t be any surprises. You’ll know exactly what to expect!
Spoiler: YES, you do! This free guide will show you how to craft a brand that connects with readers and sets you apart.