Sandra Barone Author

Challenge

Build a Brand Around a First-Time Author

Sandra Barone is a first-time author. Her inaugural thriller, When Revenge Calls, is the first book in her Revenge Trilogy. The challenge was to create a distinctive identity for both Sandra and her debut novel—one that could generate interest in an unknown author while establishing a flexible brand that could grow with the next two books in the series.

Strategy

Turn the Website Into a Movie Trailer

Sandra’s writing is rich in detail, with a multilayered story and several surprising twists. To capture and communicate its essence, I treated the website like a movie trailer—creating a mood, hinting at the story, and teasing readers rather than telling them too much. The goal was simple: hook them before they buy the book.

The About the Author page gives readers insight into the author and what she has written before, much like promotional material for a film includes biographical information about the director or screenwriter. The author’s headshot also matches the color scheme of the website.

Execution

Create a World Around the Story

With no photography accompanying the novel, I built a visual library from imagery created for the A.I. promotional video featured on the homepage. Those images became backgrounds and supporting content throughout the site, creating a consistent cinematic atmosphere across the Excerpts, Media, and other pages—and giving the author a cohesive visual brand beyond the book jacket itself.

The Media page contains photos and links to articles about the author. Above, Sandra stands in front of her billboard in Times Square, NY.

Outcome

From First-Time Author to Best Seller

The website became the centerpiece of Sandra Barone’s promotional platform, giving When Revenge Calls a distinctive identity while establishing a brand that can grow with the complete Revenge Trilogy. The campaign helped introduce Sandra to readers, supported media and promotional efforts, and created anticipation for the books to follow. Most importantly, When Revenge Calls became an Amazon Best Seller.