Q: Are you creating custom images or using stock photos?
A. Both—depending on your book’s needs and your vision. For some projects, high-quality stock photos are the perfect fit. In other cases, I create custom imagery to capture a character or world that doesn’t exist in real life. For example, in one fantasy cover design, I combined multiple images to craft a completely original main character—bringing him to life visually, even though he exists only on the page.
Q: What is the timeline for the design project?
A: The timeline depends on the complexity of your book cover and the format (hardcover, paperback, or ebook). Typically, a standard book cover design takes 3–5 weeks from concept to final files. More intricate projects—like custom illustrations, multiple revisions, or multi-format covers—may take longer. I’ll provide a detailed schedule upfront and keep you updated throughout the process to ensure your cover is delivered on time and meets your vision.
Q: What software do you use for design?
A: I typically used a combination of Adobe Creative Suites programs from Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Q: What are the licensing terms for fonts and stock images used?
A: All fonts and stock images I use are properly licensed through reputable platforms to ensure they’re legally cleared for commercial use on your book cover. This means you can publish, sell, and distribute your book without worrying about copyright issues. The license covers use of the images and fonts as part of your cover design, but it doesn’t grant ownership of the image or font itself—meaning the same image or font could still be available for others to license in different contexts and you can’t use it outside of the actual book cover. If you’d like a completely unique design without stock elements, I can create custom illustrations or composites tailored specifically to your book.
Q: Do you use templates or premade designs?
A: No. Each cover is custom-designed for your book’s genre, target audience, and publishing platform.
Q: Will I receive the source files and copyright ownership of the completed design?
A: Yes! Upon completion, you’ll receive the final format you need (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc.). You will also have full copyright ownership of your book cover, so you can publish, distribute, and use it freely across print and digital platforms.
Q: Have you designed covers for a book series?
A: Yes! I’ve designed covers for everything from trilogies to five-book series. Sometimes an author starts with a single book and later decides to expand into a series—and that’s where flexibility matters. I’ve even had a client who realized, after completing the first cover, that the story would become a trilogy, with the original book now becoming book two. I can adapt and pivot your cover design to accommodate new series developments while keeping a cohesive look across all books.
Q: What if I don’t know what style I want?
A: No problem. I’ll review your book description, genre, and target readers to suggest concepts that align with current market trends.
Q: Do you offer social media graphics?
A: Yes, once your cover is finalized I can design graphics for many social medium platforms.