The Designing Process

Step 1 ~ Contact & Booking

Hiring a book cover artist/designer is always a big step. Use my contact page to send an e-mail for any inquiries or bookings. (Click here to contact.)

I like to book a month for every design. This allows us to have time for communication, for me to review your manuscript, design questionnaire, research the market genre styles, and create two design directions. One in the perspective of the author and one with the authors tastes–however in the designers perspective.

But am I ready to book my cover design?

Timeframe can be a tricky question when booking. I find most cover designs can be completed during the manuscripts editorial phase. Many manuscripts I review are not pristine, but they are after the developmental edits.

It’s always best to book after your developmental edits are complete. If you would prefer to wait until your edits and interior formatting is complete, then book what works best for your publication timeline and with my designing schedule.

Step 2 ~ Design Agreement & Deposit

Our dates have aligned and you’ve decided to book. Great! I will send over a design agreement to review, and both parties will sign.

Once the formal paper work is complete a deposit invoice for 50% of the projects cost will be sent. When the deposit is paid, your cover design is officially booked.

What payment service do you use?

I use PayPal for all of my invoicing, all payments will be done through this platform.

What happens if I have to cancel prior to the start date?

In the case you have to cancel the cover design, I would first see if we could reschedule. If there is no opportunity to reschedule, then 25% of the deposit will be refunded. However, I do try to reschedule if at all possible, life isn’t always peachy perfect for all timelines.

Life happens and we are sometimes along for the ride.

Step 3 ~ Design Questionnaire & Start Date

Not a questionnaire! Perhaps it’s as daunting as a synopsis, I bet probably not. I will send a design questionnaire after we are officially booked. This is where I get to see your ideas for your cover.

I do ask that authors know their genres and have books within their genres as inspiration. We all work through inspiration and sharing these with me, allows me to see your cover aspirations. What captures your eye? There’s never a detail too small to share. Your likes, dislikes, setting, characters, no faces, love faces, or simply aesthetics.

Also a huge question of an Illustrated cover or a photo based layered cover??

When do you need the questionnaire back?

Prior to the design start date, I will inquire for the questionnaire. I will contact you a week out from the start date incase I haven’t received the questionnaire or a digital copy of your manuscript.

Start Date?

This where I open your manuscript and read the beauty of your words. I will spend a week reviewing your manuscript making notes and also reviewing your questionnaire.

Step 4 ~ Creation & Final Files

After reviewing your manuscript & questionnaire, I will share the design directions. One based on your ideas and a second based on my ideas with your aesthetics kept in mind. From these directions, I will create two mocks. This will help visualize the concepts, colors, and will take about 1 week.

Once the rough mocks are shared, you will select the final mock to render fully for your cover. We will then move to the spine and back cover design upon the front covers completion.

When the full wrap is complete and finalized, the cover sizing will take place. Authors will need to provide the cover templates from the printer/publisher of their preference. (It is important to note the internal formatting of your novel will need to be completed to obtain the cover templates from the printer of your choice.) I have walked many clients through this portion if it seems daunting. I promise obtaining your cover templates for sizing is not very hard at all.

What happens if I’m not done with internal formatting?

Completely okay. I’ve worked with many clients in the same situation. We can hold off on the final sizing until your internal formatting is complete. At this point, you would pay the final design invoice, and I will note the cover sizing will be completed once your internal format is finished on the invoice.

Final Files

Final Files will be sent once the final invoice for the design is paid in full. If you are still waiting for the final sizing, then the final files will be sent once the cover is sized per the printers cover template specifications. (Please note the internal formatting final page count is needed for the author to obtain the templates for the designer to size the cover per the printers specifications.)