The Romance Author’s Direct Sales Playbook: Turn Your Website Into a Money-Making Store in 2026

Let’s talk about something that might make your accountant very happy: keeping more of your book money.

I know, I know. You didn’t become a romance author to think about profit margins and sales funnels. You became an author because you love writing stories that make people feel things. The butterflies. The tears. The “I need a cold shower” moments.

But here’s the reality that smacked me in the face after a building websites for authors: some authors are making 60-80% of their monthly revenue through direct sales channels – their own websites, stores, and platforms they control.

That’s not a typo. 60-80%.

Meanwhile, when you sell a paperback on Amazon, you’re getting what? Maybe $2-3? Less for ebooks if you’re priced under $2.99?

Direct sales changes that math completely. And for romance authors specifically? You’re in one of the best positions to make it work.

Let me show you how. (And fair warning: I’m going to be really honest about both the awesome parts and the pain-in-the-butt parts, because that’s how I roll.)

Why Direct Sales Actually Works for Romance Authors (No BS Edition)

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why should I even bother when Amazon is right there.”

Because here’s the thing: direct sales isn’t for everyone. It requires setup. It means managing inventory (or at least managing a fulfillment service). There’s customer service involved. It’s definitely more work than just uploading to KDP and calling it a day.

I’ve got three grown boys, I write my own books, I run this business, and I still manage my direct sales. Is it extra work? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes.

But romance authors have some serious advantages that other genres don’t:

Romance Readers Are Genre-Loyal AF

Your readers aren’t just buying “a book.” They’re buying your books. Specifically. By name. They’ll follow their favorite authors anywhere – including directly to your website.

I’ve seen this firsthand building sites for over a hundred romance authors. Romance readers are some of the most dedicated fans in publishing. They join reader groups. They engage on social media. They buy entire backlists. They pre-order based on author name alone.

And they genuinely want to support authors they love. If you give them a way to support you directly, they’ll do it.

Higher Perceived Value Items Sell Well Direct

Authors offering diverse products – signed editions, special editions, exclusive merchandise, bundles – generate significantly higher revenues Kindlepreneur.

And romance readers? They LOVE special editions. They collect them. They display them on their bookshelves and TikTok them and Instagram them. They’re willing to pay premium prices for signed copies, exclusive content, and limited editions.

Last month, I had a client sell out of signed hardcovers in 48 hours at $35 per book. These were books available on Amazon for $18. But the signed aspect, the exclusive bookmark, the personal note? Worth the extra money to the right readers.

You Can Offer What Amazon Can’t

Signed books with personalized dedications. Exclusive bonus chapters. Limited edition covers. Character art prints. Special edition hardcovers with sprayed edges. Merch bundles. First edition copies.

Amazon can’t compete with that. Amazon is convenient, yes. But you can be special.

The Profit Margin Math Actually Makes Sense

Higher profit margins mean you keep most of the money instead of retailer percentages BookBubSubstack.

Let me make this real with actual numbers:

Amazon Sale:

  • Reader pays: $14.99 paperback
  • Amazon takes their cut (usually 40-60%)
  • Printing costs: ~$4-5
  • You get: $2-3 per book

Direct Sale:

  • Reader pays: $17.99 paperback (or more for signed)
  • Platform fees (Shopify): ~$0.50
  • Printing costs: ~$4-5
  • Shipping (if you charge it separately): covers actual shipping
  • You get: $8-10+ per book

That’s not a small difference. That’s the difference between “I have a nice hobby” and “I can pay my mortgage with this.”

Data is Gold

Direct access to reader data and building relationships.

Every sale through your store means you have their email address (with permission, obviously). You can communicate with them. You know what they bought. You can send them targeted emails about the next book in that series.

When someone buys from Amazon, Amazon keeps all that information. You get nothing except a royalty payment.

Which author has more power? The one with 10,000 Amazon sales and no reader data, or the one with 2,000 direct sales and 2,000 email addresses of people who love their work?

What You Can Actually Sell (The Fun Part)

Here’s where romance authors get creative, and honestly, this is my favorite part of the whole direct sales conversation.

The Basics (Start Here):

  • Ebooks (delivered via BookFunnel is easiest)
  • Paperbacks
  • Hardcovers
  • Audiobooks (if you have rights to sell them direct – again, Bookfunnel is the easiest way to do this)

The Premium Stuff (Where You Make Real Money):

Signed Editions Readers will pay $3-5 extra for your signature. Some will pay $10 extra if you personalize it to them. This is free money you’re leaving on the table if you’re not offering it.

Special Editions Exclusive covers, sprayed edges, alternative cover art, different interior formatting. Romance readers collect these like Pokémon cards.

First Edition Copies Mark them as “First Edition” and watch collectors show up. Seriously.

Limited Runs “Only 100 copies available” creates urgency. Scarcity works, even if it feels manipulative to say it. (It’s not manipulative if it’s genuine – limited runs exist for real reasons. Don’t, however, engage in pity marketing)

The Bundles (Easiest Way to Increase Order Value):

Complete series bundles are popular because readers love them – saves them from buying individually Kindlepreneur.

Complete Series Sets All the books in one purchase, usually at a slight discount from buying individually. Readers love these because it’s easy. You love these because the average order value just jumped from $15 to $50+.

“Start Here” New Reader Bundles Books 1-3 of your series at a discount. Gets new readers invested in your world.

“Complete the Collection” Sets For readers who already have some books but not all. “Missing books 4-7? Get them all here.”

The Exclusives (Creates Urgency):

  • Deleted scenes that aren’t available anywhere else
  • Bonus chapters from another character’s POV
  • Epilogues showing where characters are 5 years later
  • Character interviews or “case files”
  • Annotated editions with your commentary
  • Behind-the-scenes content about your writing process

The Merchandise (Because Why Not?):

My clients have sold all of this stuff successfully:

  • Bookmarks (easy, cheap to produce, high perceived value)
  • Character art prints
  • Quote prints from books
  • Tote bags with book quotes or character names
  • Candles (romance readers are OBSESSED with book candles – this is not an exaggeration)
  • Stickers
  • Mugs
  • T-shirts with trope references (“I read romance for the plot” etc.)
  • Notebooks
  • Pens
  • Whatever else your creative brain comes up with

Hot Take: You don’t need to offer everything at once.

Start with books. Add signed copies. Test one or two merch items. See what sells. Add more based on actual data, not just what sounds cool.

I’ve seen authors stress themselves out trying to offer 47 different products at launch. Start simple. Build from there.

The 5-Step Direct Sales Setup (The Actually Doable Version)

Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s how you actually do this thing without losing your mind or your life savings.

Step 1: Choose Your Platform (And Stop Overthinking This Part)

You have two main options, and honestly, both work great:

Option A: Shopify

Pros:

  • Designed specifically for e-commerce (this is literally what it’s built for)
  • Tons of apps and integrations for everything you could possibly need
  • Professional-looking stores without needing to be a designer
  • Handles everything including payments, inventory, shipping calculations
  • Great customer support
  • Mobile apps for managing on the go

Cons:

  • Monthly fee (starts around $29, more for advanced features)
  • Bit of a learning curve if you’ve never used it
  • Transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments

Best for: Authors who want a dedicated store OR plan to sell lots of products/merchandise OR don’t already have a WordPress site

Option B: WordPress with WooCommerce

WordPress with WooCommerce dominated the 2025 author direct sales survey, beating Shopify according to Kindlepreneur.

Pros:

  • More flexibility and customization options
  • Integrates seamlessly with existing WordPress sites
  • One-time costs for most features (though hosting is ongoing)
  • Complete control over everything
  • Huge community and lots of resources

Cons:

  • More technical setup required
  • Need to manage more moving parts (hosting, security, updates)
  • Steeper learning curve
  • You’re responsible for keeping everything updated and secure

Best for: Authors who already have WordPress sites they love OR who are comfortable with tech OR who want maximum control

Other Options Worth Mentioning:

Payhip: Good for digital-only products. Super simple. Lower fees. Limited features.

Squarespace: If you’re already using it for your site, their commerce features are decent for basic stores.

Wix: Same situation as Squarespace.

My Honest Recommendation:

If you’re starting from scratch and plan to sell physical products, go with Shopify. It’s built for this. The learning curve is worth it.

If you already have a WordPress site you love, add WooCommerce. Don’t rebuild from scratch unless you have a really good reason.

DO NOT spend three months researching every possible option. Pick one and move forward. You can always switch later if needed (it’s annoying, but possible).

Decision paralysis has killed more author businesses than bad platform choices ever did.

Step 2: Decide on Your Fulfillment Strategy (How Books Get to Readers)

This is the “okay but who actually mails the books?” question.

Option A: You Handle It (DIY Fulfillment)

You order books (from IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, whoever). You store them (in your closet, garage, spare room, that corner your teenager finally moved out of – and if you managed to get them to do this, please tell me how!). When someone orders, you pack and ship.

Pros:

  • Complete control over the experience
  • Can personalize every single package
  • Can include fun extras (stickers, bookmarks, thank you notes, candy, whatever)
  • Sign books as you pack them
  • Relatively low costs if you’re not doing huge volume

Cons:

  • You’re doing ALL the work (packing, printing labels, going to post office)
  • Need storage space (I currently have about 20 books in my closet)
  • Time-consuming (especially during launches)
  • Gets overwhelming fast if orders pick up
  • You’re responsible if something goes wrong

Best for: Authors just starting with direct sales, or those who genuinely enjoy the personal touch and don’t mind the work, or those with lower order volumes.

Real Talk: I do this for my own books and I actually enjoy it. There’s something satisfying about packing orders, signing books, including a personal note. But I have the space and time for it. Not everyone does.

Option B: Print-on-Demand Fulfillment

A service prints and ships books when ordered. You never touch them.

Amazon KDP and IngramSpark tied for most popular printers for paperbacks sold directly by authors Kindlepreneur.

Popular Services:

  • BookVault (integrates with Shopify & Woocommerce)
  • Lulu Direct
  • IngramSpark’s print-on-demand
  • Amazon KDP (yes, you can use them for fulfillment even for your own store)

Pros:

  • No inventory to manage or store
  • No trips to post office (this alone might be worth it)
  • Scales automatically (10 orders or 1000 orders, same effort from you)
  • No upfront inventory costs
  • Don’t need storage space

Cons:

  • Can’t sign books (unless you order them first, sign them, send to fulfillment center – adds cost and complexity)
  • Higher per-unit costs
  • Less control over packaging and presentation
  • Can’t include personal touches as easily
  • Slightly longer shipping times usually

Best for: Authors who want hands-off systems OR have day jobs OR can’t manage fulfillment logistics OR are scaling to higher volumes.

My Take: Most authors start with DIY, then move to fulfillment services as they grow. There’s no wrong answer here. Do what fits your life.

Some authors do hybrid – signed editions they fulfill themselves, regular editions through POD. That’s fine too.

Step 3: Set Up Your Store (The Actual Technical Steps)

This is where it gets real. Here’s what you actually need to do:

A. Create Your Products

For each book or item, you need:

Product Photos: Your book covers work great for books. For merchandise, clear photos showing what it actually looks like. No blurry phone pics – invest in decent product photography or learn to take decent photos yourself.

Descriptions That Actually Sell: Your product descriptions aren’t just book descriptions. They need to answer: “Why should I buy THIS version from YOU instead of Amazon?”

Bad Description: “Book 1 in the Riverside Series. Contemporary romance. 320 pages. Available in paperback.”

Good Description: “Start the Riverside Series with this SIGNED paperback edition, exclusive to this store! Get lost in Emma and Jake’s enemies-to-lovers small-town romance – plus every order includes a free bookmark featuring the full series reading order and a personal thank you note. These signed editions are limited to 100 copies and won’t be available anywhere else. Not on Amazon. Not in stores. Only here.”

See the difference? You’re selling the experience of buying from you, the exclusivity, the extras – not just the book itself.

Pricing: Here’s the formula I use:

Production cost (what it costs to print/buy) + Shipping costs (if not charging separately) + Platform fees (Shopify takes a small percentage) + Time/handling + Your actual profit = Final price

For signed paperbacks, you can absolutely charge $3-5 more than the Amazon price. Often more. Readers expect that and are happy to pay it.

If your paperback is $14.99 on Amazon, selling signed editions for $18-19 is completely reasonable. Some authors charge $25+ for signed hardcovers and they sell just fine.

Variants: Set up variants for different formats (ebook, paperback, hardcover), signed vs unsigned, personalized vs just signed, etc.

B. Configure Shipping

This is tedious but important:

Decide Which Countries You’ll Ship To: Start with your own country. Expand later if you want. International shipping is expensive and complicated…and don’t even get me started with taxes. So many countries have a zero threshold. Don’t stress about it at launch.

Set Shipping Rates:

  • Flat rate is easiest (charge the same regardless of order size)
  • Weight-based is more accurate but more complex
  • Free shipping over $X is great for increasing order value

I recommend flat rate starting out. Something like $4 for US orders regardless of size. Simple. Clear. Profitable enough.

C. Set Up Payment Processing

Shopify handles this automatically through Shopify Payments (or you can use PayPal, Stripe, etc.).

WordPress/WooCommerce also has their own Woopayments which runs through Stripe, or you can use Paypal or even Square (a lot of authors already use Square for events).

Pretty straightforward. Follow the platform’s instructions. Don’t overthink this part.

D. Design Your Store

Make it look good and work well:

  • Use your brand colors – make sure readers know it’s YOU!
  • Keep it clean and uncluttered
  • Make navigation obvious
  • Ensure “buy” buttons are clear and prominent
  • Test on mobile (most people shop on phones)
  • Make checkout as simple as possible

If design isn’t your thing (and let’s be real, most authors aren’t designers – that’s why I have a job), this is where working with someone who knows what they’re doing pays off.

E. Test EVERYTHING

Before you launch:

  • Buy something from yourself
  • Go through the entire checkout process
  • Make sure email confirmations work
  • Verify payment processing works
  • Test on desktop AND mobile
  • Fix anything that’s confusing or broken

I cannot stress this enough: BUY FROM YOURSELF FIRST.

Step 4: Make It Easy for Readers to Actually Find Your Store

Your store is set up. Beautiful. Functional. Ready to go.

Now you need to actually get people there.

On Your Website:

  • Prominent “Shop” button in main navigation (don’t hide it in a dropdown)
  • Shop mentions on your homepage with clear CTAs
  • Buy links from individual book pages going to YOUR store (not just Amazon)
  • Exit-intent popup or banner announcing you sell direct (not obnoxious, just present)

In Your Books (Back Matter):

Add a page at the end:

“Love signed books and exclusive goodies you can’t get anywhere else?

Visit [your shop URL] to:

  • Get signed editions with personalized messages
  • Access exclusive deleted scenes and bonus content
  • Shop special edition covers not available on Amazon
  • Join my reader group for early access to new releases

Plus, every order includes a thank you note from me and a free bookmark!

[Your Shop URL]”

In Your Email List:

This is HUGE. Email marketing remains the most reliable channel for authors.

Your email subscribers are your warmest audience. They’re most likely to buy direct.

Email them about:

  • New releases available signed
  • Limited edition drops (create urgency)
  • Bundle deals exclusive to your store
  • Special sales for subscribers only
  • Behind-the-scenes of you packing orders (makes it feel personal)

On Social Media:

  • Link in bio goes to your shop (or to a landing page linking to shop)
  • Stories showing you packing orders, signing books, new arrivals
  • Posts about exclusive items or limited editions
  • Unboxing posts from happy readers (user-generated content is gold)
  • “Shop direct” messaging woven naturally into content

The Key: Make it feel special to buy from you, not like you’re begging people to avoid Amazon.

Frame it as: “Here’s this cool thing you can only get from me” not “Please don’t buy from Amazon I’m desperate.”

Step 5: Create Irresistible Offers (The Psychology Part)

Here’s the secret nobody wants to admit: people need a REASON to buy direct instead of one-clicking on Amazon.

Amazon is convenient. Prime shipping. Easy returns. They already have an account.

You need to be MORE VALUABLE than convenient.

Ways to Do That:

Exclusivity Works:

  • “Signed copies only available in my store”
  • “Special editions with exclusive covers not sold anywhere else”
  • “Bonus content included with direct purchases only”
  • “Limited to 100 copies” creates urgency

Better Pricing (Sometimes):

  • Bundles that save money vs buying individually
  • Free shipping over $X
  • Subscriber-only discount codes
  • Pre-order pricing incentives

Added Value:

  • Include bookmark or sticker with every order
  • Personalized signatures (“To Sarah” not just your name)
  • Thank you note in each package
  • Exclusive content download code
  • Pretty packaging (people TikTok unboxing videos)

The Comparison That Makes It Clear:

Amazon Purchase:

  • Click button
  • Get book in 2 days
  • Pay $12.99
  • The end

Your Store Purchase:

  • Order signed copy with personalized message
  • Get personal thank you note from author
  • Includes exclusive deleted scene not available elsewhere
  • Free bookmark with character art
  • Arrives in pretty packaging perfect for gifting
  • Pay $15.99

That extra $3? Absolutely worth it to the right reader.

You’re not just selling a book. You’re selling an experience, a connection, something special.

Real Talk: Common Mistakes to Avoid (Learn From My Failures)

Let me save you some headaches by sharing what I’ve learned the hard way:

Mistake #1: Making Checkout Complicated

Keep it simple. Name, address, payment. Done.

Don’t require account creation for first purchase (let them do guest checkout). Don’t ask for 47 pieces of information. Don’t make them click through 5 pages.

Every extra step loses sales. I learned this when my checkout had too many fields and my conversion rate was in the toilet. Simplified it, sales went up. Math.

Mistake #2: Forgetting About Mobile

Most people shop on their phones. If your store doesn’t work perfectly on mobile, you’ll lose sales.

Test it. Actually pull out your phone and try to buy something. If you’re frustrated, your readers will be too.

Mistake #3: Not Offering What Amazon Can’t

If you’re selling the exact same product at the same price as Amazon with no extras, why would anyone buy from you?

Add something special. Signature. Personalization. Exclusive content. SOMETHING.

Mistake #4: Terrible Shipping Costs

$8 shipping on a $12 book? Nope. Nobody’s paying that.

Figure out how to make shipping reasonable. Build it into your prices if needed. Offer free shipping over a certain amount.

Mistake #5: No Email Capture

Every person who buys from you should end up on your email list (with their permission, obviously).

That checkbox during checkout? “Yes, send me updates about new releases.” That’s future sales right there, and if you’re using Shopify, you can have it checked by default.

Mistake #6: Giving Up Too Fast

You’re not going to sell 1000 books in week one. This is a slow build.

Month one might be just your superfans. That’s fine. That’s expected. Keep promoting. Keep adding products. Keep showing up.

Direct sales is a marathon, not a sprint.

What to Expect: Real Numbers (No Sugarcoating)

Let’s be honest about what realistic numbers look like.

Month 1-3: You’ll probably sell mainly to your existing superfans and email list. Maybe 10-30 sales per month if you’re actively promoting.

Don’t panic if it’s slow at first. You’re building something new. It takes time for people to know it exists.

Month 4-6: As you build momentum and get better at promoting (which you will), you might hit 30-50 sales monthly.

You’ll figure out what works. What products people want. What messaging resonates. This is your testing phase.

Month 6-12: If you’re consistent, actively promoting without being annoying, and adding new products based on what’s working, you could be at 50-100+ sales per month.

Some authors hit this faster. Some take longer. Variables include: your email list size, your social media following, how often you promote, what you’re selling, your prices.

Year 2 and Beyond: This is where compound growth kicks in. Your store has a reputation. People know you sell direct. Word of mouth happens. You might be at 100-300+ sales per month.

The Reality Check:

Authors selling diverse product bundles and offering varied formats generate higher revenues Kindlepreneur.

The authors making serious money from direct sales (that 60-80% of revenue number I mentioned earlier) didn’t get there overnight. They built it over time. They tested. They adjusted. They stayed consistent.

But here’s the thing: even “small” numbers add up fast when you’re making $8-10 profit per sale instead of $2-3.

30 sales per month at $8 profit each = $240 100 sales per month at $8 profit = $800 300 sales per month at $10 profit = $3,000

That’s not “quit your day job” money for most people. But it might be your car payment. Your health insurance. Your “I can hire an editor” fund. Your writing retreat savings.

It matters.

Your First 30 Days Action Plan (The Step-by-Step)

Okay, you’re convinced. You want to do this. Here’s your exact roadmap:

Week 1: Make Decisions

Monday-Tuesday:

  • Choose your platform (Shopify or WooCommerce – just pick one)
  • Decide on fulfillment method (DIY or POD)
  • If DIY: Order initial inventory (start with 25-50 books, you can always order more)

Wednesday-Thursday:

  • Set up platform accounts (Shopify account, or hosting + WooCommerce)
  • Configure basic settings (currency, time zone, etc.)
  • Connect payment processing

Friday-Sunday:

  • Plan what products you’ll offer to start (3-5 products max)
  • Write product descriptions
  • Gather product photos/covers

Week 2: Build

Monday-Tuesday:

  • Set up your store design (choose theme, customize colors/fonts)
  • Add your logo and branding elements
  • Create main navigation and pages

Wednesday-Thursday:

  • Add your 3-5 products with descriptions, photos, pricing
  • Set up variants if applicable (paperback/hardcover, signed/unsigned)
  • Configure inventory tracking

Friday-Sunday:

  • Set up shipping options and rates
  • Configure tax settings (we don’t do tax advice, but make sure you’ve gotten a Sales & Use Number for your state if you’re in the US. You automatically have to collect and pay Sales Tax for your state since that’s your “Nexus”)
  • Double-check payment processing works

Week 3: Test & Polish

Monday-Tuesday:

  • Buy something from yourself (test entire checkout process)
  • Fix any issues or confusion points
  • Test on mobile (actually use your phone)

Wednesday-Thursday:

  • Set up email confirmations and receipts
  • Create “About” and “Shipping Policy” pages
  • Add FAQ page if relevant

Friday-Sunday:

  • Write your first promotional email
  • Create social media graphics announcing your store
  • Prepare launch content

Week 4: Launch

Monday:

  • Soft launch to email list (VIP early access)
  • Fix any immediate issues

Tuesday-Wednesday:

  • Full public announcement on social media
  • Update website with shop links
  • Update book back matter with shop info

Thursday-Friday:

  • Keep promoting (stories, posts, engagement)
  • Respond to any customer questions promptly
  • Start planning your next promotional push

After Week 4:

  • Promote to email list weekly
  • Share on social 2-3 times per week
  • Add new products monthly based on interest
  • Track what’s selling and what’s not
  • Adjust and improve continuously

When Direct Sales Makes Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

Real talk time: direct sales isn’t for everyone, and that’s completely okay.

It makes sense if:

✓ You have (or are building) an email list
✓ You’re active on social media where your readers hang out
✓ You’re willing to handle customer service (“Where’s my order?” emails are real)
✓ You want more control over your author business
✓ You’re in this for the long haul (not just one book)
✓ You write in romance (seriously, genre matters here)
✓ You can invest initial setup time and money
✓ You’re comfortable with basic tech (or willing to learn)

It might not be worth it if:

✗ You have zero online presence and no interest in building one
✗ You hate dealing with logistics and people
✗ You’re only writing one book and moving on
✗ You just want to write and absolutely nothing else
✗ You’re not willing to promote it (it won’t sell itself)
✗ You can’t afford initial inventory or setup costs
✗ The thought of customer service makes you want to hide

And honestly? That’s completely fine. Not every author needs to sell direct.

I know successful authors who only sell through traditional retailers. I know authors who tried direct sales and decided it wasn’t for them. That’s valid.

But if you’re looking for ways to increase income, build a sustainable career, have more control over your author business, and create deeper connections with readers? This is one of the best strategies out there.

The Bottom Line (After Years of Watching This Work)

Direct sales for romance authors isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. Anyone selling you that is lying.

It’s a long-term business strategy that gives you:

✓ Higher profit margins on every sale (like, significantly higher)
✓ Direct relationships with your readers (you know who they are!)
✓ Control over pricing and promotions (you set the rules)
✓ A buffer against platform changes (Amazon changes terms? You’re fine)
✓ The ability to offer unique products (signed books, exclusives, merch)
✓ Email addresses of your actual buyers (this alone is worth it)
✓ Data about what your readers want (what they buy tells you things)

Is it more work than just uploading to Amazon? Yes.

Is it worth it? For many authors, absolutely yes.

The romance authors I know who are making consistent full-time income? Most of them have multiple revenue streams, and direct sales is usually one of them.

You don’t have to replace Amazon. You don’t have to sell 1000 books a month from your store. You don’t have to choose one or the other.

But imagine: 50 direct sales per month at $10 profit each. That’s $500.

100 sales? $1000.

That’s not nothing. That’s your car payment. Your health insurance. Your “I can afford a cover designer” fund. Your writing retreat savings. Your “actually I can do this full-time” cushion.

And the best part? You’re building something that belongs to you.

Amazon could change their terms tomorrow (they’ve done it before, they’ll do it again). Your store? That’s yours. Those email addresses? Yours. Those customer relationships? Yours.

You can’t get deplatformed from your own store. You can’t wake up one day and find out the algorithm decided you don’t exist anymore.

That’s power. That’s security. That’s a real business.

Ready to Build Your Money-Making Store?

Here’s the thing: you can spend months researching, watching YouTube tutorials, trying to figure out Shopify on your own while also writing books and managing your life and pretending you have it all together…

Or you can work with people who literally build author stores every single week and know exactly what works.

We’ve set up dozens of romance author shops in 2025 alone. I know what converts browsers into buyers. I know where people get stuck in checkout. I know what products sell and what just looks good but never moves.

I know what works because I’ve been doing this since before my boys were teenagers (they’re all grown now, one’s approaching thirty *sobs* and one is still in school).

Our Marriage of Convenience Package (yes, we name everything like romance tropes because we’re on-brand like that) includes everything you need to start selling:

  • Fully customized store designed to match your brand
  • Up to 10 products set up with descriptions and photos
  • Newsletter and social media integration
  • Mobile-optimized design (because most people shop on phones)
  • Secure payment processing setup
  • Shipping configuration
  • 30 days of launch support (we don’t just build it and ghost you)
  • Complete tutorial so you can manage it yourself after launch
  • Starting at $2,000 (2026 pricing: $2,800 – book now for current pricing!)

Want Both Website AND Store?

Our Enemies-to-Lovers Package gives you everything:

  • Custom website designed to grow your email list
  • Fully functional store
  • Cohesive branding across both
  • All the setup and support
  • Starting at $3,000 (2026 pricing: $4,200 – book now for current pricing!)

Here’s what we believe: You should spend your time writing books that make people feel things. Not wrestling with Shopify settings at 2am while wondering if you set up shipping zones correctly.

Want to talk about setting up your store?

Schedule a Meet Cute call (that’s our 30-minute discovery call where we talk about your project, your goals, and what’s actually possible for your author business).

We’ll send you our complete services guide with all the details, answer your questions, and if we’re a good fit, we’ll create a custom proposal for your specific needs.

Because here’s what I want for you: I want you to start 2026 with a store that’s actually making you money. I want you to open your email and see “New order!” notifications. I want you to pack boxes and sign books and include personal notes and build real relationships with your readers.

I want you to stop leaving money on the table.

2026 could be the year you take control of your author business. The year you stop relying entirely on Amazon. The year you build something that belongs to you.

Let’s make it happen.

Questions about setting up direct sales for your romance author business? Drop them in the comments or schedule a Meet Cute call to talk through your specific situation. I love talking about this stuff (obviously, given the length of this post).

P.S. Current Swoonworthy subscribers can lock in 2025 pricing through the end of December. After January 1, our prices increase (website packages go from $1,500 to $2,200, store packages from $2,000 to $2,800). Not trying to rush you, just being transparent about what’s coming. Schedule your Meet Cute before year-end to lock in current pricing.

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