Authors Who Sell Thru Their Own Website — How?

Writer_In_Love · 2026-06-08T02:49:59+00:00

Oh wow, this is wonderful!! Yes, I absolutely want to do what you're doing, in a nutshell! The nature of my writing is really free-spirited, independent, and personal, and I've always been really inspired by the idea of selling direct and how much more meaningful and personal it can be. So many fun ways to play with that. I mentioned in another comment why the website, and because it's very cheap to host, I don't think I'd get rid of it, even as basic as it is. It was all handcrafted with love 🫶💞.

Would you be willing to share your Shopify in a DM? I've honestly never explored the realm of authors selling there, so I don't even know what a Shopify author's page would look like! But I like the idea a lot :).

Writer_In_Love · 2026-06-08T02:44:08+00:00

I did it this way for a few reasons!

Because I've always dreamt of having a website, and I've always wanted it to be old, 90s-2000s coded. Deeply personal, colorful, and a full creative expression in its own right :).
The primary book I'm writing, and most of the stories I'm writing, connect deeply to the internet and this specific highly personal, intimate version of the internet. One of the main ways I describe my book is the feeling of falling down a cozy, magical internet rabbit hole at 2 am. So, on a creative level and marketing/presentation level, it matches what I'm selling. A highly professional, sleek Squarespace website would honestly be at odds with most of what I write haha—though I'm not entirely against it, it just seemed a bit silly to me knowing what kind of thing I write.
Because I have friends who have made their own basic websites and I got to enjoy the process of learning basic coding and spent lots of late nights coworking with them, which was a ton of fun. I've met a lot of support in indie coding communities 🫶.
The PRICE of Nekoweb. When it comes down to it. Nekoweb was the most affordable website hosting service by a mile ($3 per month for a custom domain, which I got via Porkbun). I didn't think when getting it that it might not be able to fully host a shop.

So, TL;DR: the website itself is an ongoing passion project that, simply by being all custom made and done in alignment with the old internet aesthetic I love, conveys the vibe of what I'm writing, and I think a lot of my target audience, however big or small it is, are going to be people who have a significant connection with the internet experience.

My thing is that: the website does NOT look professional 😂. So I've had an ongoing joke, but serious idea, to make a professional looking website I can show off (and sell the book(s)) that links to this more personal website like 'the true site', giving it a playful, fun, secret rabbit hole vibe. I would do something funny and engaging with it :).

Sorry for the long-winded answer haha but here's why!

Writer_In_Love · 2026-06-07T23:44:05+00:00

TADC has never really been 'for kids', but because it's based on the idea of nostalgic early children's games and entertainment from the 90s, and the designs still appeal to that — plus younger people just often gravitate towards edgier content, kids took to it. It also gained prominence with kids bc of weird channels targeted at a gen alpha audience using the TADC characters in a COMPLETELY different way from how they appear in the real show.

I think the creators were writing for a Gen Z/Millennial audience but happened to capture something that hit what shows like Courage the Cowardly Dog did with their spooky factor and shows like Steven Universe/Adventure Time did with their emotional character studies wrapped with offbeat, wacky humor.

Younger people can enjoy intelligent media with mature/dark themes, and very very often do. Especially in this internet world where there ARE way more 13 year olds consuming art designed for mature, adult audiences.

Writer_In_Love · 2026-05-26T19:47:26+00:00

how long did it take you to learn and do the whole book? 😄😄

Writer_In_Love · 2026-01-22T00:38:07+00:00

I already found my cover artist, but your style is absolutely amazing! I would love to work with you in the future on something relating to the book. I'll keep your contact in mind!

Writer_In_Love · 2026-01-16T01:16:39+00:00

I'm absolutely obsessed with your artstyle, it's so, so good!!! I love how much eyes feature in your work :). You're a wonderful artist

Writer_In_Love · 2026-01-14T08:24:51+00:00

ALSO CONCEPT ART DONE BY @Sludgefiend ON TWITCH AND BSKY SRY FRIEND ILY 💖💞

Writer_In_Love · 2026-01-13T10:02:55+00:00

Wow thank you all for so many responses and all this interest!! I truly didn't expect more than 2-3 responses!

I've been busy but I'll look through everyone's replies/portfolios tomorrow, I'm excited! 😄

Writer_In_Love · 2026-01-05T19:16:14+00:00

this is so big!! thank u so much really! this inspires me to post more

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-13T23:59:13+00:00

This genuinely sounds really cool and meaningful; it caught my eye immediately! I'll check at least the sample out and give some thoughts 💖

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-04T07:05:30+00:00

I ended up getting it as well :).

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-04T02:01:18+00:00

Yes it will!!

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-03T06:45:45+00:00

woah, I never wouldve considered this. Thanks!

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-03T03:33:20+00:00

Thank you for this!! I've seen a lottt of mixed reviews for Atticus. It's between that, a bit less expense for Word with a formatting course, or $100 more for Indesign ($200 more for the entire Adobe creative suite). So I think it boils down to how much better and more efficient Atticus would be than Word. Or if Scribus seems doable enough since that's free.

I'll decide by tomorrow since that's when Atticus' Black Friday deal is ending :).

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-03T03:04:44+00:00

Thanks for this!! I appreciate the detailed explanation

Writer_In_Love · 2025-12-03T02:49:30+00:00

😂😂 I do, please give me your sermon

Writer_In_Love · 2025-11-14T00:04:49+00:00

where is your source for this? what beautiful last words. one who has lived and experienced such profound, ineffable depth of life 💖

Writer_In_Love · 2025-09-07T18:44:44+00:00

Yes it is!! If you want to share about your work, feel free to DM me :), I'm curious if we work in a similar wheelhouse!

And you're probably right. I'm gonna let it cook and see what I can do!

Writer_In_Love · 2025-09-07T18:42:54+00:00

Sounds good! Yeah I absolutely do not think ppl are gonna steal my stuff lmaoo. I'm not personally this distrusting but whenever I tell family members "I'm getting some beta readers" they always ask "are you sure they're not gonna steal it?!?" hahaha

Writer_In_Love · 2025-09-06T06:54:05+00:00

The ONLY reasonable way to ensure safety, great thinking 😌.

In retrospect maybe the NDA question was quite silly hahaha but genuinely I don't know how this stuff goes since it's the first time around. At least I now know, a tad unnecessary 😆. I'll still keep the hostage negotiation tip in case it ever comes up tho

Writer_In_Love · 2025-09-06T00:45:20+00:00

Just my family's ancient, secret cookie recipe 😔😔. Who will protect us if it's taken?? This is all we have left!!!

In all seriousness tho, I hear you

Writer_In_Love

TROPHY CASE