author website2025-11-15T00:04:43+00:00

Demystifying Web Design for KidLit Authors

Hello, I’m Sondra Eby. I write middle grade novels and chapter books. And, based on 20 years as a web designer, I help authors and illustrators make websites that are accessible, intuitive, and engaging to more people. I hope it’s useful!

Demystifying Web Design for KitLit Authors

Hello, I’m Sondra Eby. I write middle grade novels and chapter books. And, based on 20 years as a web designer, I blog about ways you can make your author website accessible, intuitive, and engaging to more people. I hope it’s useful!

articles

Let’s Analyze Structure

Get deep analysis of narrative picture book structure, or learn how to structure your author website to make it more intuitive and engaging.

books

Works in progress

Currently, I’m working on revisions for a MG novel about a girl who is swallowed by a carnivorous house and a chapter book about a neurodivergent baker.

course

Better Author Website

Avoid overwhelm, and learn how to design an author website that is more interesting and intuitive so that your visitors can find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

about me

A quick intro

  • Kids’ Choice KidLit Contest Winner
  • WriteMentor Flash Fiction Shortlistee
  • SCBWI Michelle Begley Mentorship Mentee
  • Published in Skipping Stones Magazine
  • 20 Years in User Experience (UX) Design
  • Intuitive Web Design Coach
  • Web Marketing & Accessibility Consultant
  • Certified Object Orient UX Strategist

recent articles

On web design & story structure

How to Design More Intuitive Websites & Apps

OOUX Strategies to Identify and Avoid Unintuitive Objects Do you want to make your website or web app more intuitive for the people who visit? If so, I’d like to introduce you

Picture Book Plot Structure

How to write a picture book using story grid plot structure Listen to or read this article. Or both! I spent years trying to learn how to

Intuitive Web Design with OOUX

Winging It Channel During our conversation we look at 3 examples of unintuitive web design, and learn how to create websites and apps that are more intuitive using object-oriented user

books

works in progress

The House That Swallowed a Girl. middle grade novel by Sondra Eby for her author website. Girl peeks around the edge of a door.

written by

Sondra Eby

type

Middle Grade Novel

themes

Friendship, Fantasy, LGBT, Ecosystems

THE HOUSE THAT SWALLOWED A GIRL

A lonely girl (12) with a penchant for picking locks goes in search of her missing grandmother and gets swallowed by a house.

Collage mood board for Ambrosia's Secrete Recipe Chapter Book on Sondra Eby on her author website.

written by

Sondra Eby

type

Chapter Book

themes

Baking, Math, STEM, Neurodivergence

AMBROSIA’S SECRET RECIPE

A neurodivergent baker (8) is whisked off to magical baking school. Learning magic is a piece of cake, but can she wrangle the baking math before things go from bad to burnt?

make an engaging & intuitive author website

This free email course teaches you ways to engage a broad range of people on your author website using straightforward techniques.

  • One email each week with bite-sized steps to create a compelling and clear website
  • Lessons tailored to the specific challenges and goals of kidlit authors
  • Applicable to both published and pre-published authors
  • I will never share your email address
  • Easily unsubscribe anytime if the course isn’t a fit

testimonials

email course & consulting

“Meeting with Sondra to discuss my author website was so helpful. I left the meeting with a clear list of steps to improve my website and an understanding of why those design elements mattered.

Plus, reading the [email] lessons has really changed how I approach creating content! Sondra was so warm, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, and it was easy to ask questions–especially since I know nothing about website design! I can’t recommend working with Sondra enough!”

Diana Cee, Author
“I am really glad I reached out to Sondra to get help with my illustration portfolio website. She really listened to what I wanted to do and clarified things that had been unclear to me regarding WordPress.com vs. wordpress.org. She quickly understood my needs and helped me identify a solid plan for me to continue growing my portfolio website. My only regret is that I didn’t reach out to her sooner!”
Forrest Johnson, Illustrator

“Sondra is a total gem! As a writer herself, she really gets what we’re trying to do with our websites—no fluff, just thoughtful, targeted advice. Sondra helped me figure out who my audience actually is and what the site should be doing for me right now and later down the road. She walked me through everything—photos, layout, content—with smart, specific suggestions. Plus, she flagged stuff I didn’t even know I needed to know, like privacy policies and ADA design tips.

I left our session feeling clearer, more confident, and genuinely excited! 10/10 would recommend Sondra for all your writing website needs!”

Connie Chang, Author
“I had a lot of questions about my author website, and Sondra answered them all during our thirty-minute session. Her approach was forthright and friendly, and she offered plenty of suggestions I could start implementing right away. I would recommend her to other authors.”
rowena zahnrei peeking over the top of an open magazineRowena Zahnrei, Author

in a nutshell

A quick outro

about me

Hello, I’m Sondra Eby. I write middle grade novels and chapter books. And, based on 20 years as a web designer, I can help you make an illustrator or author website that is accessible, intuitive, and engaging to a broad range of people. Let’s chat!

services i offer

Please contact me if you are interested.

  • Website Design (portfolio)
  • Content Marketing Strategy
  • Brand & Logo Design (portfolio)
  • Individual Consulting Sessions