Squarespace Website for Author / Book Launch – Clean, Timeless, Minimal Design

I’m looking for a freelancer to build a clean, understated Squarespace website for my first book, The Shape of a Life: The Quiet Work of Becoming. The site should support the launch of the book while also serving as a long-term author platform for future books, speaking, and teaching. This is not intended to be a flashy marketing site or high-maintenance blog. I’m looking for something thoughtful, calm, timeless, and literary in tone—more editorial and understated than promotional. The site should emphasize the book and ideas first, with the author present but not overemphasized. I have a longer creative brief/spec sheet and two directional mockups that I will share with qualified candidates. Those materials outline the tone, page structure, design preferences, and functionality in more detail. Scope of Work • Build a Squarespace website for an author/book launch • Create core pages such as Home, About, Books, Book Detail Page, and Contact • Design a clean homepage that prominently features the book while keeping the author photo more subtle • Implement a book purchase / retailer section with links to Amazon and other retailers once URLs are available • Include basic analytics/search setup as part of the build, including Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, and—if feasible within Squarespace—basic tracking of clicks on retailer purchase buttons • Ensure the site is mobile responsive, elegant, and easy for me to update after handoff • Handle final launch pass to populate/test retailer links before closeout Domain Setup • Primary site / canonical domain: robertestewart.com • Author alias redirect: restewart.com should redirect to robertestewart.com • Book-title redirects: shapeofalife.com and theshapeofalife.com should redirect to the dedicated book page on the main site (e.g., robertestewart.com/books/the-shape-of-a-life) Design Direction The design should feel warm, minimal, and timeless. Think clean typography, navy/cream tones, generous whitespace, and a restrained editorial aesthetic. I want the site to feel credible and thoughtful—not like a generic consultant site or an influencer/personal brand page. Ideal Freelancer I’m looking for someone who: • Has strong Squarespace experience • Has a good eye for editorial / minimalist design • Can translate a clear creative brief into a polished site without overdesigning it • Communicates clearly and works efficiently