As a mid-list author navigating today’s often stormy commercial fiction market, breaking out of the proverbial pack involves more than just writing your very best book. A strong web presence is vital to reaching my readers, and the lynchpin of that presence is, of course, a stellar web site.

I’ve been a client of Emily Cotler’s Waxcreative for coming on three years now, and my one regret is that I didn’t sign on sooner. First impressions may not be everything, but certainly they count for a lot. HopeTarr.com is my Internet calling card, in some cases my first point-of-contact with potential new readers. On the flip side, dedicated “fans” feel as though they have a home base, a forum where they can read the latest happenings on my blog, enter one of my monthly or special contests, and get the scoop on upcoming projects.

With Wax, I feel as though I have the creativity of a web designer and the PR savvy of a professional publicist rolled into one. Because I write both single-title historical and category romances, branding myself and my books can present quite a challenge. With Wax at the helm, my readership has increased exponentially, including my cross-over readership. Readers who used to know me solely as an historical romance author have tried out my steamy category romances and in many cases fallen in love with these shorter, super-sexy stories told in the contemporary version of my voice.

But then a successful web site isn’t only about building readership. It’s about establishing relationships.

In sum, extraordinary service, dedicated professionalism, and cutting edge creative design combine to make Waxcreative the leader of the pack for author web site design and maintenance.

Hope Tarr

Thanks, Hope. We love working with you and we look forward to many more years…  –Emily

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Lyssa has been an editor with Avon for a long time — since before everyone had a website (but she’s no dinosaur!). So she has seen the evolution first hand, on the inside, beginning with two of Waxcreative’s first-ever sites: JuliaQuinn.com (the first one — we are now on her fourth redesign) and SusanKayLaw.com (for her historicals).

“Many of my authors have depended on Waxcreative to design their websites and create their online personae, and so I am well acquainted with Emily and her talented team. With websites becoming such an important marketing tool for authors, it’s important to have a design team that understands the publishing business and knows how to liaise with industry professionals to create exceptional sites… Waxcreative brings all that to the table — or rather the screen. I highly recommend them!”

Thanks, Lyssa! Keep those great books coming and we will keep presenting them beautifully and smartly.

Lyssa’s upcoming books include Quinn’s Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, James’s Bride of a Wicked Scotsman, Boyle’s Tempted By The Night, and Nash’s Love with a Perfect Scoundrel.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Each year there is one person who walks by, stops and says the same thing, “You’re making the rest of us look lazy.” I always smile, and welcome the chance to catch up. Steve Axelrod may actually have me beat for the hardest working non-author at the conference. Steve is one of commercial fiction’s top agents, with authors like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Christine Feehan, and Julia Quinn. Not to mention Jayne Ann Krentz, LaVyrle Spencer, and Kathleen Eagle. So when he wants to talk shop, I always listen.

And when we talk websites, Steve and I are in total agreement about a great many things, including that all-important first time visit. In Steve’s words:

“When a reader goes to an author’s web site for the first time, the author has a one-time-only chance to draw the reader in to a deeper involvement with her work.

“For this to happen, not only does the web site needs to be attractive and technically sophisticated, but it also needs to reflect the author’s sensibility and tone—her voice, if you will.”

So yes, agents do care about your website. Quite a bit.

For those authors considering Waxcreative for their design firm, Steve was kind enough to share his opinion of his many years long relationship with us:

“I always look forward to seeing Emily at the RWA and welcome the chance to chat with her because I don’t know anyone with more insight into what makes a web site really work for an author than Emily.

“Her websites always look great—that’s a given—but she has the gift of creating web sites that are also pitch-perfect for each individual author.

“And I think that Emily is a master at creating a web site that are not only inviting and engaging but are right for her each of her authors. I don’t know how she does it—but she does!”

Thanks Steve. I think you’re rather awesome at what you do, too. Looking forward to seeing you in San Francisco in July.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

ELOISA: “It takes a team to keep a New York Times bestselling career not just afloat, but moving forward – and a website company plays a crucial role. I asked Waxcreative to design my new website (a complicated, multi-layer site with thousands of registered “Eloisa Readers,” a bulletin board, newsletters and monthly contest) because I demand the best. Wax has responded to every challenge I’ve given them: my site is not only beautiful, organized and easily negotiated, but Wax coordinates with my assistant, my PR agent, my publishing company, generating fresh material and making the job of maintaining a destination website possible.

“EloisaJames.Com is my face to the readers, booksellers, editors, and the media. Behind that face are Wax’s designers, tech people, administrative persons and more—and I need every one of them! They’re my team; they’re at my back.

“I’ve been interviewed by CNN, Good Morning America, More Magazine and New York Magazine – every one of those reporters scoured my website before they approached me. Don’t let a poorly designed or maintained website cost you valuable promotion! You cannot have a top-flight career without a top-flight website team working for you. Waxcreative has my highest recommendation.”

EMILY: Thank you, Eloisa! We continue to be thrilled to work on Eloisa’s site. She regularly presents challenges for us and it’s fabulous getting to flex our chops. For a good online, reader-friendly time, visit EloisaJames.com.

Eloisa James is the New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels and two novellas (as of blog-date) including series starters, Desperate Duchesses and Much Ado About You. Eloisa is very active online and her fans feel a real connection, especially through her Bulletin Board shared with New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn. For more on Eloisa’s site, read about the making of EloisaJames.com.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy working with someone who not only knows her stuff so thoroughly, but who listens to me, yet states her opinions clearly and openly. Emily, you’re a dream to work with. ~ Pamela Palmer

Emily’s advice on what to put on the site is invaluable and it is a great relief to me to rely on her expertise and not have to guess at what will draw in readers. ~ Diane Gaston

I continue to be thrilled with the work Waxcreative does for me. ~ Candice Hern (seven years with Wax at time of post)

If Emily ever decides to retire, I might have to simply shut the website down, because no other webmistress could ever live up to her! Everybody at Waxcreative is so wonderful about keeping me up to date on things. I only wish other business I deal with regularly were anywhere near as reliable. ~ Susan Kay Law

The Waxcreative team gives every client the star treatment. ~ Susanna Carr

Emily’s website guidelines are very sensible and totally identify with what the readers are looking for. A workshop Romance authors will not want to miss. ~ Sue Grimshaw, National Chain Romance Buyer

Waxcreative: Quite simply, nobody does it better. Repeat, nobody. ~ Sophia Nash

Waxcreative’s designs and philosophy have made my website a delight of form and function ~ Elizabeth Boyle, NYT bestselling author

Emily comes up with things you didn’t know you wanted till you have them — like business cards so yummy people like holding onto them just for the aesthetics. ~ Alisa Kwitney

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.