A good horror author website makes your skin crawl, but not for the wrong reasons.
Readers want to be shocked and unsettled. But not because they can’t figure out where your books are, what they should read next, or how to connect with you.
Your website needs to deliver creepy worlds packaged in a polished, recognizable platform that makes them want to come back for more.
My team at Rocket Expansion has built sites for million-book-selling authors, TEDx speakers, and writers across all major genres, including the dark, disturbing, and downright terrifying.
We know what’s needed to make a scary good website design.
So buckle up for the best horror author websites out there, because my team and I didn’t play it safe with this list.
And if you’d rather leave the website-building nightmares to a team of experts, you can get in touch here.
1. Debra K. Every’s Website
Leading With Intensity
First Impressions:
- A fierce intro image that gives goosebumps while establishing authority through a list of accolades.
- Good balance of content and white space to provide reprieve between tense copy and imagery.
It takes bravery to make a website like this…I would know. My team is the one behind this horror author website!
Reds, whites, and blacks drip through the pages, keeping a consistent tone for lovers of the genre.
A sprinkling of reviews and twisted short stories help bring this site together, letting newcomers get a taste of her writing capabilities.
We think we made the perfect atmosphere for Debra’s work, and if you like what you see, you can contact me, Matt, to get your own spooky website.
2. Little Morwenna’s Website
Creepy Yet Cute (And It Works)
What Paul Said About Working With Us
“I chose Rocket Expansion after searching for website designers/developers that I thought could get the vibe I was going for with my horror alphabet book. From the very first meeting, I could tell that Matt and Sonja had the creativity and the vision to create the website I was dreaming of in my head but knew I could never create on my own…
They nailed it. They brought in the illustrations from my incredible illustrator in such a beautiful, artistic way, which preserved the gothic piece, but then added these really great, contemporary design elements that make it look like such huge publishing house threw a ton of money into a marketing campaign for my book. It’s GORGEOUS. They were amazing to work with. Response times were fantastic, both in communication and in site creation. Highest recommendation I can give.”
First Impressions:
- Eerie and cute illustrations adorn every page, showcasing what you can look forward to (or dread) in the author’s work.
- Copy and design make it clear that Little Morwenna is suitable for kids and adults, making the draw to this website unique.
You may be wondering, “Why’s there a children’s website on this list?”
After one look, I’m sure it’ll be clear.
This website was designed to show off what happens when Paul Cuneo and Juno Abreu collaborate — we get the creepy, yet adorable, Little Morwenna.
But once you see the creative concept around the character and how it’s presented in website format, I think you’d agree.
Navigation is streamlined, so you can easily find the creation process, merch, character introductions, and printables.
This twist on a children’s author website is definitely one to see.
Got a unique concept for your own work? We can help you represent it online.
Get in touch, and I can see how my team can help you.
3. Tananarive Due’s Website
Queen of the Genre
First Impressions:
- Focused design that uses contrast, book covers, and geometric elements in the background to define the style.
- Mostly a one-page layout that creates streamlined navigation.
Bold reds and blacks welcome readers, creating an atmosphere horror fans will recognize, but I suspect seeing the name Tananarive Due should cause alarm bells to go off first.
Only her bio and contact are on a separate page, making for a pretty simple layout. This means it’s very clear about what the three most important elements are:
- Her newest books
- The films she’s worked on
- Her courses
Readers can find these with ease, but I’d prefer if the books had their own page, as they’re hard to see in the small block next to her recent books.
Another criticism I’d make is that the links on the books and courses take readers off the site. While this is fine for a big author, I’d recommend avoiding this for other authors who can’t rely on their names to bring in consistent exposure.
4. H.D. Carlton’s Websites
‘Graveyard Love’ Design
First Impressions:
- Ultra spooky animated intro, where bodies ascend and fall to the ground as you scroll, perfectly showcasing the eerie vibe you can expect from the author.
- Generous white space allows the unique design and content plenty of room to stand out.
The aesthetic on this author website is addictive and completely nails her branding and writing style for horror-forward dark romance.
But it’s the extra content that keeps readers coming back for more.
You can find progress bars for her works in progress, juicy bonus scenes, and a FAQ section answering questions readers are dying to know about her books.
This is a great example of how you can keep readers intrigued and enraptured by your world.
5. Josh Winning’s Website
Popcorn Horror At Its Finest
First Impressions:
- A full-bleed cover image leads the homepage, with blurbs from fellow authors stacked right beneath it.
- Moody photography (a haunted house, a vintage typewriter) breaks up each section instead of flat color blocks.
What a whimsical horror author website.
I bet you never thought you’d hear me call a horror site whimsical, but here we are.
Josh writes what he calls popcorn horror and fantasy, and the site delivers on that fast. His latest cover and a stack of author blurbs greet you before you even scroll.
His bio sits right under that, spelling out exactly what kind of stories he tells (think 80s movie puppets and 90s slasher flicks).
A nice touch further down: he’s got a children’s title mixed into an otherwise adult catalog, and rather than hiding it away, he simply tags it for ages 9 to 12 right in the book grid.
Simple site with clear voice equals a job well done in my books (pun intended).
6. Alexis Henderson’s Website
Personal Meets Ambience
First Impressions:
- Witchy fonts and design elements with earthy colors set an impeccable atmosphere that readers will love.
- One-page website with a unique use of ‘white’ space to segment content and grab attention.
This fantasy horror website is the ultimate combination of personal and genre ambience, and it happens on one page.
The colors feel almost vintage and mythical, drawing the reader in. Once they’re engaged, they slip into Alexis Henderson’s world.
She introduces herself after the intro, even sharing some fun facts about herself. You can also find an FAQ section where she answers common reader questions.
7. Isabel Cañas’s Website
Horror But Make It Classy
First Impressions:
- Refined homepage with velvety colors and a clear focus on the author’s books.
- Branding expertly conveyed through style and social proof.
Isabel’s horror author website stands out on this list because of how it utilizes elegance to convey her tense fantasy themes.
Ornamental elements and aged textures in the background set the stage, providing an excellent spotlight for her books.
But the design doesn’t distract one bit.
Pathways are clear as day, leading readers to her books, newsletter, and short stories. Everything is clearly labeled and is easy to navigate.
8. Lauren Beukes’s Website
Swimming in Social Proof
First Impressions:
- Techno-color intro that uses the bright hues of Lauren’s covers to grip the reader as they enter.
- Interactive book carousels for her novels and comic books that emphasize the book that’s settled front and centre.
Lauren Beukes is a genre hopper, making her sleek author website design appropriate for her brand.
White space, clean typography, and streamlined navigation keep things professional and focused as you explore.
But the standout feature is how the site displays her reviews and accolades generously.
From the intro down to her books page, her social proof takes centre stage, showing the reader how well received her work is and why they should give it a try.
9. Devyn Rivers’s Website
Moody Central Hub
First Impressions:
- A muted design with forest greens and greys delivers a melancholic ambience.
- Clear menu design for easy browsing.
The author uses a moodboard-like layout with gentle fonts and colors to create a medley of elegance and melancholy.
Her content and colorful book covers can’t help but pop on this dark romance author website.
Instead of having busy pages filled with content, the author opts for more tabs in the menu, making it simple for readers and industry professionals to navigate and find what they’re looking for.
The author also includes sections for wholesalers and Book Box Co. to encourage collaboration and keep herself open to opportunities at all times.
For authors looking to expand and collaborate with industry professionals, it’s vital to make it easy for them to get in touch, as Devyn Rivers has shown here.
10. Hildur Knútsdóttir’s Website
Never Lost in Translation
First Impressions:
- Each book gets its own section with a full synopsis and two or three blurbs from bestselling authors.
- A calm, solid color grounds the menu and surrounding sections, even with three genres sharing one homepage.
This is another unique site for the list, and I love it for that reason.
Hildur writes horror (Dead Weight, The Night Guest) alongside fantasy and YA titles like Rime, and her website treats that range as a feature, not something to hide.
Scroll through and you’ll find two or three blurbs per book from names like Olivia Blake, Delilah S. Dawson, and Rachel Hawkins.
The design stays out of the way of all that credibility, letting the solid color palette do the heavy lifting instead of busy backgrounds.
And because her work is translated from Icelandic, you can view the whole site in either her native language or English, letting it serve both markets at once.
11. Riley Sager’s Website
One Page Wonder
First Impressions:
- Eerie atmosphere from top to bottom with high-contrast colors.
- Forestry and water visuals give off an eerie vibe that’s perfectly suited to this genre.
Riley Sager is a hit author who pumps out books, so why should his website focus on anything else?
What the site lacks in extra content, it makes up for with a spooky vibe. All the content is on one page, and as you scroll, you’re left wondering what scene will come next.
Kind of like the twists and turns in a horror novel.
Some extras like short stories or bonus scenes would’ve been a nice treat for readers, but he does have a newsletter sign-up at the bottom (which I believe is one of the best ways to sustain your career), and he’s kept his branding consistent, so I’ll let it slide!
His site also made it onto our favorite thriller author websites blog. Check it out if you want more inspiration.
12. Stephen King’s Website
Authority of Horror Royalty
First Impressions:
- Promotional intro, showcasing everything new in Stephen King’s world.
- Splotchy splashes of texture against simple backgrounds add a sense of grittiness that complements the author’s work.
A grim energy looms across every page, with bold yet simple color choices and striking images, which suit his branding well.
This makes exploration easy for readers since his site largely functions like an archive.
But I have to be honest. With respect to Stephen King, I’m not a huge fan of the flow of his site.
While you can certainly find what you came for, much of the organization feels a bit convoluted.
For example, his Works page includes everything Stephen King has ever done in a long list, with no book covers or images to break up the wall of text.
It’s a tall order to organize content for such a decorated author, but I definitely think it could’ve been optimized to guide readers more efficiently.
But he’s basically horror royalty, so his name carries weight long before someone even lands on his website.
Ready or Not, You’re Next…
Putting this list together was as easy as Pennywise giving balloons to kids.
My team doesn’t shy away from shadows and dark alleys. But I hope it gave you some inspiration for your own gory design.
But if the idea of building your own website fills you with more dread than a horror novel, we’ve got your back.
Let’s Build You a Horror Website That Readers Will Love
My team and I have built over 150 author websites, spanning multiple genres, for million-book-selling authors, TEDx speakers, and writers looking to make their big break.
We know how to represent an author’s brand and themes on a platform that drags readers in.
Book a call with me, and if we’re a good fit, you’ll get a homepage concept free of charge so you can see what you’ll get before paying a penny. Or check out our author website design services page for more details.
