Book Design
Many book design companies simply take your book and spit it back out, leaving you with little originality or customization. I believe that the author should feel in control during production, so it's important to me to get to know your aspirations and vision so that I can deliver your book exactly how you want it. I approach each project as a creative collaboration, personalizing my process to accommodate your needs and welcoming questions and feedback. Below are the key components of book design.
Layout
Congratulations! Your manuscript is complete. Now you need to ready your book for print or download. After a discovery call in which I learn about your goals and vision, I'll immerse myself in your book. Keeping in mind your book's genre, tone, and mood, I'll design three custom styles. Each will take into account your vision, your audience, and best practices for ensuring a comfortable reading experience. You'll see harmony between font, headings, margins, pagination, page numbers, image placement, footnote treatment, and more. Next, you'll choose the design you love best (or mix and match!). Once we settle on a design, typesetting begins.
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'm here to make sure your ebook file is compatible with all the leading platforms.
Typesetting
With the design set, it's time to add your text. Typesetting is the art of deliberate text placement to support a pleasurable reading experience. In many cases, such as in a novel or memoir, great typesetting is imperceptible to the reader. Poor typesetting, on the other hand, can distract from the main event: your story. Paragraph by paragraph, I'll make sure your text flows from one line to the next without intrusive blips like orphans, widows, or awkward hyphenations.
Cover
We all judge books by their covers; that's why it's so important to have one that catches a browsing eye and speaks to your readership. I'll work with you to give your book the eye-popping cover it deserves using the fundamental rules of design and mind to current trends. After a discovery call to get to know your goals and vision, I'll read your book cover to cover. Then, I'll provide a handful of cover mockups for you choose between or mix and match. I take feedback very seriously, and it's my goal to deliver a visual that captures the essence of your book and helps it thrive in the marketplace.
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