Website for Crime Fiction Novelist Elin Falk

Author website design
This project is a fictional author website for Elin Falk’s debut novel, Det som sjön gömmer. The idea was to create a website that captures the mood of the story through dark imagery, subtle motion and a colour palette inspired by the mystery surrounding the lake.

Challenge

This fictional author website was designed for “Det som sjön gömmer”, a crime novel where the lake and the secrets it holds are central to the story. I wanted the design to capture the mood of the book, using dark imagery, muted colours and subtle details throughout the page. The homepage opens with a hero image featuring a reader holding the book, with the title and book details clearly displayed. Below, a looping video of the lake sets the scene, alongside the book cover and a link to read the first chapter. Further down, I used warmer, muted tones for the author section to create a softer contrast with the darker imagery. The page also includes a newsletter sign-up and reader reviews, giving visitors more ways to connect with the book and its author.

Design

  • Muted, earthy colour palette combined with dark, mysterious backgrounds to reinforce the lake-inspired atmosphere
  • Cinematic hero section featuring a reader with the book and a subtle text overlay for strong emotional first impression
  • Lake video background to create a sense of movement, depth, and narrative mood
  • Soft transitions between sections to maintain flow and a calm, atmospheric browsing experience
  • Texture-inspired footer resembling a wooden pier to subtly connect the design to the novel’s setting

Development

  • Built in WordPress using Elementor
  • Fully responsive design optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
  • Smooth scroll animations and subtle transitions to enhance user experience
  • Basic on-page SEO setup including headings, metadata, and image optimisation