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?
All designs are scheduled ahead of time. Whatever month you are scheduled for means you will receive your draft at the end of that month. The only time you will receive your design sooner than the end of the month is if you request a rush order, which includes a fee depending on the project and timeframe.
HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR DESIGN
- Read our design policy page.
- Decide on which design package you want.
- Fill out our form to reserve your design month. Start by letting her know ideally when you’d like the design process to start or when you need the cover finished by.
- Once a date is chosen you will be sent an invoice to pay your 50% deposit through PayPal.
Cover Design Packages
BRONZE PACKAGE
Ebook- Ebook Cover
- 2 Drafts Versions of Cover
- Unlimited Revisions (within reason to one cover)
- 3D Cover Rendering
- Cover Style Sheet
- Transparent Title PNG
SILVER PACKAGE
Paperback & Ebook- Paperback Wrap*
- Ebook Cover
- 2 Drafts Versions of Cover
- Unlimited Revisions (within reason to one cover)
- 3D Cover Rendering
- Print-Ready PDF File
- Cover Style Sheet
- Transparent Title PNG
GOLD PACKAGE
Hardcover, Paperback & Ebook- Hardcover Jacket
- Paperback Wrap*
- Ebook Cover
- 2 Drafts Versions of Cover
- Unlimited Revisions (within reason to one cover)
- 3D Cover Rendering
- Cover Style Sheet
- 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.
Want to learn how to design your book cover yourself?
I have a cover design course coming in 2023! Get on the waitlist to be notified when the course goes live and to get an exclusive discount when the course goes live!
Book Formatting
Ebook– $185
Print– $235
Ebook & Print– $395
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.
RUBY PACKAGE
Ebook Bundle- Ebook Cover
- Ebook Formatting
PLATINUM PACKAGE
Paperback & Ebook Bundle- Ebook Cover
- Ebook Formatting
- Paperback Wrap*
- Print Formatting**
DIAMOND PACKAGE
Hardcover, Paperback & Ebook Bundle- Ebook Cover
- Ebook Formatting
- Paperback Wrap*
- Print Formatting**
- Hardcover Jacket
*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.”
“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 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”