Book Design
Do you know what a dinkus is? What about a folio? If you've never thought about how a book is laid out, you're not alone (and you're probably reading well-designed books). Great book design is more than flashy covers and serif fonts. It's a entire matrix of choices that help grab the right reader, set the mood, and ensure a comfortable reading experience. From the chapter headings to the space between each letter, I consider it all. I read every manuscript and learn about your goals before I begin, and every book I deliver is intentional, original, and uniquely yours. Learn about the basics of book design below.
Interior Design
Interior book design is making a number of choices so the mood and tone of your story comes through in the visual reading experience. There are the obvious elements such as text font, heading treatment, and page numbers, but there's a lot flying under the radar, too. The space between lines can make a book feel swift and airy or solid and academic. The size of each margin comes down to a sixteenth of an inch. If you have images or charts, a wider trim size might be in order. A great layout feels simple to the reader, but it's actually the result of a process that's as technical as it is creative. ​
Typesetting
With the design set, it's time to bring out the microscope and dive into the text. Typesetting is the art of deliberate type placement to support a pleasurable reading experience. It's a tedious process that involves inspecting each and every line in the book, but the look of a trim, clean spread makes it all worth it. In many cases, great typesetting is imperceptible to the reader. Poor typesetting, on the other hand, can distract from the main event: your story. A typeset book invites the eye to move across the page, flowing from one line to the next without intrusive blips like orphans, widows, awkward hyphenations, and more.
Cover
Just like the interior design, there are a lot of decisions to make with cover design. The goal is the attract the right reader and accurately represent the narrative inside. Considerations include color palette, mood, typography, text hierarchy, and thematic imagery. Some books benefit from a text-forward, graphic cover. Others are more illustrative, inventive. There are numerous ways to approach cover design, but it starts with the book inside. I read, digest, and wander around in the woods brainstorming before presenting several options for you to choose from.
eBook
eBooks are a great option to get your book in front of readers quickly and affordably. They're also accessibility-friendly, allowing readers to use assistive technology or customize appearance to their needs and preferences. Whether we're starting from scratch or converting a print layout to an EPUB, I'll make sure your ebook file is compatible with all the leading platforms.
Not quite here yet? Check out my editorial services.
Hear it from the authors
"Working with Riley was one of the most seamless and rewarding parts of our publishing process.
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Her design work brought our book to life. With an incredible eye for detail, intuitive layout choices, and a deep sensitivity to the story we were telling, she made every page feel intentional and beautifully aligned. Riley doesn’t just design books, she creates experiences. We couldn’t have asked for a more skilled or caring partner."
Miriam Novotny, Lindsey Godwin, and Molly McGuigan,
co-authors of Ditch the Ditty: Doing What Matters Instead of Doing It All