Tessa Elwood

Tessa Elwood – Web Developer

Story-focused print and site design, along with website maintenance and social icons .

Overview

In a society that googles everything, a website is a must—and a good website lends credibility and professionalism. More, it makes it easy for a potential client or reader to find the information they need to choose this book or that service. My designs are all about my clients, translating their likes and goals into a visual interface. Classy, professional, dark, whimsical, image-intense or highly minimal—everything from look to function is tailored to your tastes.


The process is easy. We'll discuss what you’d like in a site—style, mood, and function—and I’ll mockup some designs. These will grow and change as you provide input. Once the site is finished and live, I will walk you through how to update your content yourself.


SERVICES


Websites include:

• Built on Wordpress, Squarespace, or Shopify

• Branding

• Custom design

• Full initial content setup

• SEO

• Social media inclusion & contact forms

• The standard bookstore icon set for authors

• Setting up an online store if needed


On Wordpress:

• For authors with series or multiple books: auto updating setup to make adding new books easy

• Custom mobile theme (Squarespace has a mobile theme by default)

• Full content control, including design-specific elements update via custom fields


Current site refresh:

Want to update your site without overhauling it? Sometimes a site needs fresh graphics or organization within its current framework to really shine. Or maybe it's simply time for a change. Either way, we can work with what you have to give you what you need.


Maintenance

Need updates to your current site? I can help!


Social Media & Ads

This includes themed branding across all your socials, newsletter, and/or book promo images to use on your favorite sites.


Print Design

Logos, book club kits or reader guides, bookmarks, postcards, business cards, posters, coloring pages—I've designed everything from book covers to CD cases to oracle cards. If you need print materials, I can provide you with digital files you can use anywhere or take to the printer of your choice.


Canva

For any of the print or ad designs, I can setup projects in Canva so you can edit the text for your custom flyer/ad/reader's guide. The design and images are all done in photoshop, then I'll transfer it over to the Canva setup. The text will all be within your control, so if you'd like to switch it out—or even swap out book covers—you totally can.

Services
Non-Fiction
Art
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Fantasy Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Picture Books Romance Young Adult
Works with
Shopify Squarespace Wix WordPress

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2005 — Present

Designed and coded websites and Wordpress templates to spec, for both individuals and organizations. Took preexisting or packaged content and reformated it for new designs and their archive base. Developed CMS tutorials and troubleshot errors. Designed business cards, bookmarks, brochures, flyers, booklets, book covers, CD covers, and t-shirts.

The Little Fig

Jan, 2017 — Present

Laid out books for print, designed catalogues, logo and branding. Built and maintain the website. General troubleshooter for anything image or coding related.

Jennings Social Media Marketing

Jan, 2009 — Mar, 2010 (about 1 year)

Designed and coded websites, blogs, landing pages, and CMS templates to spec. Troubleshot issues across all Jennings sites (10+), upgraded SEO practices, addressed client issues/worries and kept a detailed log of all work.

Projects

Book focused sites

Sites built around particular series or titles, including Kingdom of Souls and Nearly Gone.

Bookmark Designs

NYT Bestsellers

Site designs for bestselling authors, often with large back catalogues. Includes Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff, Meagan Spooner, and Kathryn Purdie.

YA & MG Projects

Site and print designs for YA authors, including two books-focused sites: Kingdom of Souls and Nearly Gone.

Adult Projects

Site designs for adult authors in a mix of genres, including romance, poetry, upmarket fiction, and western.

Picture Book Projects

Site and print designs for PB authors, including Jenn Bailey, Jody Jensen Shaffer, Sue Gallion, Maryann Mcdonald, and Ann Ingalls.

Beyond Author Sites

Projects for artists and businesses. Kourtney and Natosha needed something to showcase their work, while Condie needed to provide a lot of information in a clear/easy to access way.

Tessa has 29 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Cortney R.

Cortney R.

Dec, 2023

Tessa is amazing. She's quick, knowledgeable, talented, and creative. She did a great job with my website and even created a how to video for me to learn how to update things in the future. I definitely recommend her services.
Trey C.

Trey C.

Nov, 2023

Tessa went far above and beyond my expectations at every step of the way. She provided guidance and suggestions where I needed them, listened to my feedback and proposals where I had ideas. She quickly prototyped and tested different features, and scaled those easily across the website. Then she built 'how-to' videos and guides to help me maintain and continue to build out content over time. He...
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Leila K.

Leila K.

Nov, 2023

Extremely responsive, provided great options with clear and understandable information on each, and ultimately a website that matched exactly what I was looking for. So glad to have made the choice I did, and I am very happy with result!
Ashley A.

Ashley A.

Nov, 2023

I've enjoyed working with Tessa. I love the website she's designed for me. The only thing left is teaching me how to change things and use it. I'd highly recommend her. I'm very happy.
Jeanelle B.

Jeanelle B.

Oct, 2023

Tessa worked with me to help me create a beatiful Squarespace website. Thank you, Tessa.

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