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Custom Book Cover Design & Formatting

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Mandi Lynn works full-time as a freelance graphic designer and author. To design book covers, she works in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. She also uses Adobe InDesign for interior design and formatting. Her skill-set includes composite photography and text customization to design a personalized, original cover design. She does not design character illustrations.

How Does the Design Process Work?

A 50% deposit is required before I begin cover design. The other 50% is due before receiving final files via DropBox, or if the author needs to pause the design process (whichever comes first). The design process is most often paused when the author needs more time to finalize the page count of the book before we can design the print wrap.

Formatting fees are due in full before I can start. If you select a design package that includes cover design and formatting, the entire invoice must be paid before I begin formatting.

All designs must be scheduled in advance. Please know I book out at least a month or two in advance. If you need your design faster, it is sometimes possible, but there will be a rush fee.

COVER DESIGN

Clients are asked to fill out a custom cover design form upon scheduling. Two cover drafts are designed and sent to the client at the end of the month clients are scheduled. One draft cover will be sent if the book is a sequel in a series (this is because the overarching concept is already established).

After receiving drafts, clients are asked to give feedback in order to make revisions to the cover. The revision process can take anywhere from just a day or two, or weeks depending on number of revisions needed. 

Please view our design policy with any other questions.

Along with your cover, you will receive the following:

  • 3D rending of your book
  • Cover Style Sheet (fonts and colors used for your cover so you can create marketing material in the future)
  • Transparent PNG of your title (used for formatting and marketing material)

BOOK FORMATTING 

Please wait to format your book until it has been professionally edited. Every formatting package comes with one free revision to the text (unless revisions are extensive). Additional revisions to text cost $20 each, sometimes more if revisions are extensive.

Some non-fiction books require more advanced formatting. Please note more advanced formatting is subject to an increased price.

A sample of the book manuscript is required before booking any formatting service. Books requiring more advanced formatting are subject to additional fees. Advanced formatting can sometimes include:

  • poems
  • images
  • footnotes
  • workbook pages
  • headers and footers through the book

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

Please note that while I create YouTube videos on how to publish books, my job is as a designer, not a publishing coach. I am happy to occasionally answer questions you have about the publishing process, but I cannot walk you through everything. There is just not enough time or energy to do so. If you’d like publishing advice, please check out my YouTube channel where I cover a wide variety of topics.

All communications are done via email. I do not do phone calls, video chats, text messages, or voice memos. Email only.

Want to Schedule a Design?

Currently closed to new clients.

Want to save money and design your own book cover?

Explore my book cover design courses to learn everything you need to know to design your book cover from start to finish. Explore the courses below:

1- Photoshop Basics for Authors: Beginner – Tutorials on Photoshop

2- Typography in Book Cover Design: Intermediate – Adding Text to Book Covers

3- Designing Book Covers in Photoshop: Advanced – Photomanipulation Book Cover Tutorials

MATERNITY LEAVE

Starting in September I will begin to taper off work with clients as I prepare for maternity leave.

My maternity leave will take place from November 2023 through March 2023. 

During this time I will be unavailable to keep up with emails, start new designs, or make updates to current clients. Please contact me ahead of time with any concerns.

Cover Design Packages

*Some clients like to print their paperbacks through multiple POD (print on demand) companies such as Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and Barnes and Noble Press. Each company has different printing requirements. Packages include the design of a print-ready PDF wrap for one POD company. Additional wraps for multiple POD companies are $30/each.

Book Formatting

Ebook– $190

Print– $270

Ebook & Print– $420

Advanced Formatting Add-On: $75+

 

One revision to update text included. Additional revisions $20/each (unless revisions are extensive).

A sample of the book manuscript is required before booking any formatting service. Books requiring more advanced formatting are subject to additional fees. Advanced formatting can sometimes include:

  • poems
  • images
  • footnotes
  • workbook pages
  • headers and footers through the book

Please email a sample of your book to learn if you qualify for “advanced” formatting.

Interested in learning how to format your book to save costs?

In my online course, I teach you how you can format your book for print and ebook easily and professionally! Options for customizing your book will be endless! The course is an affordable $55 and includes three hours of video lessons, a step-by-step printable, and a template you can use when formatting your book!

Cover Design & Formatting Bundle

All covers include 2 draft versions of the cover, unlimited revisions (within reason to one cover), 3D cover rendering, cover style sheet, and transparent title PNG.

*Some clients like to print their paperbacks through multiple POD (print on demand) companies such as Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and Barnes and Noble Press. Each company has different printing requirements. Packages include the design of a print-ready PDF wrap for one POD company. Additional wraps for multiple POD companies are $30/each.

**Print formatting includes one trim size. Additional trim sizes are $75.

A’ La Carte

Pre-Made Covers: $50

Audiobook Cover: $30 (if I was the one who designed the original cover)

Marketing Material: $50/design

  • Bookmark
  • Business Card
  • Pull-Up Banner
  • Postcards
  • Social Media Graphics
  • Social Media Cover Banners

Design Package Add-On’s

Hardcover Case Laminate Design: Starting at $30 (depending on what you’d like on the case laminate)

Hardcover Jacket Add-On: $50

Additional Paperback Wrap Design: $30 

This is useful if you plan on writing through more than one print on demand company, as each company has different printing requirements. 


Additional Print Trim Size Formatting: Starting at $75*

This can be used if you want two different sized interiors for your book. One for your paperback book and another for your hardcover. Typically hardcover trim sizes are larger than paperback trims sizes.

*Price subject to increase for complex formatting.

 

Client Testimonials

“I had a wonderful time working with Mandi. She understood my genre, had great communication skills, and knew exactly what I needed even when I wasn’t sure how to explain it. Seeing my book come to life is a dream come true.”

Rebecca K. Sampson

The Fated Tales Series

“Communication was much more clear than with the other designers I had tried to work with previously. And her work is stunning! She did not disappoint. I will definitely be coming back to Mandi for more of my books, and I will be telling everyone I know about her cover design services.”

Mandi Grace

Return to Sherwood

“Mandi was a pleasure to work with, she managed to create the cover I didn’t even know I wanted. She was very receptive to feedback and implementing changes at short notice. I highly recommend her service and will be working with her again.”

Joel Preston

In The Shadow of Monstrous Things

I found Mandi to be extremely detail-oriented in both the cover design and formatting process. She took all of my specifications into consideration and quickly made any changes I requested. It was a seamless process and I would absolutely work with her again.”

J. L. Willow

A Weighted Soul

“Mandi was easy to work with, quick to respond to emails, and a great person to work with for a first-time author because she explained everything so well and answered all of my questions. She took my initial ideas for my cover and turned it into an amazing representation of what I envisioned.”

Nichole Heydenburg

The Long Shadow on the Stage

“I described the cover I wanted, and Mandi delivered! She created exactly what I wanted, and I’m so excited. The entire experience was so easy and painless, and I can’t wait for everyone to see how great her work is! Picking Mandi to do my cover design is one of the best decisions I’ve made as an author!”

E. C. Woodham

Back Home

"I definitely knew what I didn't want on my cover. I also had a lot of ideas about what I did want. The cover I got was both entirely unexpected and perfect, and Mandi carried that feel through to the formatted manuscript. You, the author, might know what you want your book to look like, but if you give Mandi enough information, she'll give your book the look it needs. I'm looking forward to working with her on my sequel!"

Linda Raedisch, author of Turn Left at the Mooncrow Skeleton

"Mandi's expertise in book formatting allowed the experience of completing this part of self-publishing in a seamless and issue free manner. Her end product delivery was professional and precisely met the specifications needed in order to move my project to print."

Dr. Cynthia F. Jones, author of Clara's Journey

"Mandi is an artist and professional. She did the interior design for my book and transformed it from a drab manuscript to pages filled with exactness, enticement, and excitement. I was awed by the first draft and cried with joy at completion. For a very affordable price, I expected just a page layout. But she took the initiative by adding design, drama, and fun. Not only is she creative, she provided attention, guidance, and patience beyond expectations. I give her limitless stars and highly recommend."

Linda Guecia, Fishing For Love: A Mosaic of Creature-Inspired Tales    

"Mandi was generous with her time in making sure I was pleased with every detail and I feel that I go excellent value for the price."

Savannah Goins, The Cathawyr

"I absolutely loved working with Mandi! She understood my vision and I never felt guilty asking her to change things! 10/10 will work with her again!"

Sydney Rain, Well of Vengeance

"Mandi did a great job creating the cover I asked for. I was pretty specific in what I wanted and she delivered it."

Kayla KnueThe Reckoning

"I had a lot of requests and fine-tuning details with the cover and Mandi was so patient with me and did great work to address all of my needs and make the cover exactly what I wanted! I feel so grateful that she did so many iterations with me because I love how the cover turned out and am so excited to see it on my print book!"

Zenith AislinChasing the Horizon

"I was worried this would be a long research process followed by an anxious wait on something that could turn out... well, who knows. But you made me feel confident in my decisions from the start. The price was reasonable, the questions fair, the collaboration an easy, pain free process. And the end result so beautiful! So glad I took the leap and trusted you with my baby."

Jacinta HudsonEmotional Ramblings

"I’m so proud of the way my cover turned out! Mandi worked hard to make my vision come to life and she took the extra time to find the perfect images and make sure it fit the genre standards, which both make such a huge difference! I’d definitely recommend her to anyone (and I do haha)!"

Bethany AtazadehThe Jinni Key

"Mandi is incredibly professional and welcoming to work with. The process she takes clients through is very smooth and she really goes above and beyond in her work. No revision request is too big or too small. I've loved working with her and will definitely be using her services again."

Pagan MalcolmSurviving Spring Break With Ryan Rupert

"We highly recommend Mandi. She is extremely knowledgeable and flexible to work with."

Liz Ryan & Kari Kim, A Simple Nest

"The service she provided was quick and efficient even with the small design changes that I had in mind. While she doesn't create character designs, the quality, and thoughtfulness that goes into creating a perfect design from the excerpts provided by the author are shown."

J.A. Alvara, Title: Storybook

"Mandi is wonderful to work with! She was very willing to make multiple versions of my cover when the first draft wasn't quite what I'd had in mind."

Jo Narayan, The Wraith's Bargain

"I would highly recommend Stone Ridge Books, the quality of work and the way that Mandi steered me through the process made it a stress-free and simple experience."

Maria F. Peters, Tooth Fairy Wanted - Apply Within

"Mandi was great to work with! She was responsive, offered suggestions, and graciously put up with my many changes until it was exactly what I wanted. I wasn’t sure what I wanted before I started the process, but Mandi took what I told her and created a masterpiece! I’m so excited for the cover and believe it will vastly improve my book sales. (This cover was a redesign of my original cover.)"

Melissa Frey, The Secret of the Codex

"Mandi's response time was fast and alway responded within 24 hours if I had any question, plus she is very understanding and kind. Her design skills are amazing and so beautiful."

J. Faith KenneyNeuroner It's Not A Blesssing But A Curse

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