What Traditional Publishers are Teaching Us About Book Cover Design
For authors planning to self-publish, paying attention to traditionally published titles can be one of the smartest forms of market research. Publishers invest a lot of time and money in cover design because they know a cover has only seconds to capture a reader’s attention. A quick look at the latest publisher catalogues shows a noticeable shift toward type-driven covers. Rather than relying on elaborate artwork, many books feature bold titles and clever typography to garner attention. It’s a practical approach in a marketplace where readers often encounter a book cover for the first time at thumbnail size. They [...]
How to Get Useful Feedback Choosing a Book Cover Design
One of the advantages of self-publishing is that authors have the freedom to test ideas and gather feedback before their books go to print. Many writers share draft covers with friends, family members, and online communities to see how people react. Feedback can be incredibly valuable—but the most useful feedback isn’t necessarily about which cover people like best. A book cover has one primary job: attract the right reader. When people respond to a cover poll, they are usually expressing a personal preference. They may prefer blue over red. They may like a particular illustration style. They may simply be [...]
How to Write a Copyright Page
There is no set formula for what material goes on a copyright page, but some essential elements exist. Before you begin, grab three or four traditionally published books from your bookshelves, printed in your country, to see what details they included.Below is an outline you can copy/paste into your document and customize with your details.Some notes:The text on a copyright page can be centred or flush left.Although it’s unnecessary to have everything on this list, such as a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) or the printing number, these are the sort of details that make your book look more [...]
How to Get Your Book Into Libraries
by Cathi Stevenson—When independent authors think about marketing their books, they usually focus on Amazon, bookstores, advertising, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Libraries rarely make the list. That’s a mistake. Getting your book into libraries probably won’t make you an overnight bestseller, but it can do something equally valuable: put your work in front of readers who may never have discovered it otherwise. Unlike a bookstore sale, where one copy usually reaches one reader, a single library copy can circulate for years. It may be borrowed dozens—or even hundreds—of times. Every checkout is another opportunity for someone to recommend [...]
How to Find the Best Free Fonts for Your Self-Published Book
This is a carefully curated list of Google Fonts that work well for typesetting both print and digital books. After this list, you’ll find more on what makes certain fonts better than others, what to look for when choosing fonts, and a list of those used by major publishers like Random House.The traditional choice for typesetting books has always been a serif font. (insert picture). However, John T. T. Richardson’s paper The Legibility of Serif and Sans-serif Typefaces: Reading from Paper and Reading from Screens (2022) found “there’s no difference in the legibility of serif and sans-serif typefaces either when [...]
How to Get Reviews for Your Self-Published Book
Most authors understand that book reviews are powerful tools for increasing visibility, establishing credibility, and driving sales. A well-placed review can influence purchasing decisions and open doors to broader opportunities.Below is a list of publications and websites that offer free reviews for self-published nonfiction books. But, before you pitch, we’ll briefly discuss preparing your book for the review process and define the different types of reviews available.Preparing for the Review ProcessBe mindful of the reviewer’s policies. Some reviewers will not allow author publishers to use the review elsewhere, or will not allow authors to use reviews in [...]
How to Republish Your Book
Self-publishing your books after they’ve been published by a traditional publisher or another publishing service will give you complete independence and control of your book projects. At first, this can seem daunting; you’ll spend many hours setting up accounts, organizing tax information (required to sell books online through sites like Amazon), and applying for a business license, depending on where you live. While we can’t help you with the tax information or business licenses, we can help simplify getting your book from your computer to the public.Here’s an itemized list of what you’ll need to do. We’ve also included links [...]
How to Find and Hire a Book Cover Designer Part 3
Check out part 1 | don't skip part 2What should you Ask a Book Cover Designer?Before committing, ask questions to ensure you're on the same page:What's your design process like?Do you have a contract I can read before making a deposit?Will you provide links so you can license fonts and stock images in my name so I can control everything?How many revisions are included?Do you provide the source files?Will the cover be unique and not based on a template?Do you also create ebook and print versions?If you're providing original artwork (illustrations and photos), what are the terms for using those?Finding [...]
How to Find and Hire a Book Cover Designer Part 2 of 3
Check out part 1 | don't miss part 3There are plenty of ways to track down talented designers, but a few tried-and-true methods include.Freelance Marketplaces: We don't recommend these for several reasons. I would avoid using these sites because the person doing the work is not getting all the money. Sometimes, they're getting very little of the money. And, there's no real accountability, which could leave a self-publishing author in a precarious legal position regarding copyrights both for the project and for any images and fonts the designer used. Since you're working through a platform, you cannot directly contact the [...]
How to Find and Hire a Book Cover Designer Part 1 of 3
Read part 2 of How to Find and Hire a Book Cover Designer PartWhat Skills Does Your Book Cover Designer Need?A book cover is more than just decoration—it's one of your most powerful marketing tools. It's the first thing potential readers see, and in a crowded marketplace, it needs to work hard to grab attention, set expectations, and drive sales.They say, "Don't judge a book by its cover." But let's be real—everyone does. A stunning cover can make the difference between a reader clicking "Buy Now" or scrolling past. So, how do you find a book cover designer who understands [...]
