Choosing the Future and Choosing the Right Category
Designing Choosing the Future raised an unusual publishing question: should a business novel be categorized as fiction or business? This case study explores book positioning, KDP categories, subtitle refinement, and balancing professional credibility with storytelling.
Case Study: Redesigning a Photographer’s Book Cover
To gain perspective, I created a PDF showing all four covers and shared it with friends and colleagues. Over lunch with two retired friends, both immediately favored the fourth option—San Pablo Pier—describing it as more distinctive and visually interesting than typical photography book covers.
What Is Metadata for a Book?
Metadata is a must for every author. Because the publishing industry evolves constantly, authors should revisit and update their metadata regularly—especially the book description, keywords, and categories. Even small updates can improve visibility and boost sales.
Designing Singing the Gospel: Finding the Right Image
Designing Singing the Gospel meant capturing the energy and spirit of gospel music in a single image. After striking out on traditional stock photo sites, I turned to Creative Commons and discovered a powerful image of the Howard Gospel Choir that brought the cover to life. With a glowing background, curved typography, and thoughtful layout, the final design truly sings.
Clean Up the Manuscript: Whose Job Is It?
Who’s responsible for cleaning up a messy manuscript—the author, editor, or designer? After working on two poorly formatted books, I share what went wrong, what worked, and why using Word styles can save hours in the design process.
Coaching a Friend: Jeanette’s Self-Publishing Journey
What does it really take to help a first-time author self-publish a niche book? From fixing awkward layouts to strengthening cover design and maximizing those final pages, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at coaching a friend through the process.
A Book For People Who Love Typography
If you love typography, vintage lettering, and elegant script fonts, Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design’s Golden Age is visual inspiration at its finest. This beautiful collection by Steven Heller and Louise Fili showcases hundreds of examples of hand-drawn typography, ornamental flourishes, and vintage trademark designs from around the world.
Some things haven’t changed
Some self-publishing advice stands the test of time. After revisiting Peter Bowerman’s The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, I realized that many of the core principles of book marketing and publishing are just as relevant today as they were in 2007. Here are eight timeless lessons every author should remember.
Elegantissima: The Design & Typography of Louise Fili
A review of Elegantissima: The Design & Typography of Louise Fili, a beautiful collection of branding, packaging, typography, and identity design work from one of the most influential designers in book and lettering design.
The Library and Memories
A visit to the library and a chance discovery of Cat Dog by Mem Fox and Mark Teague sparked memories of reading children’s books aloud and inspired reflections on children’s book design.
Book marketing and publishing
A recent webinar on profitable book marketing reinforced key publishing lessons every author should know—from defining your genre and writing compelling blurbs to researching keywords, building a mailing list, and understanding your target audience. As a book designer, I share the marketing insights that help authors create books readers notice and buy.
The Little Brown Book
A simple pocket-sized prayer book became one of the most memorable projects of my career. From paper selections and gold-foil stamping to spot-raised UV and soft-touch laminate, every detail was carefully considered to create a keepsake worthy of its purpose. This case study shares the design journey behind The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order and the collaborative effort that made it a conference success.
Meeting in my garage
A new client undergoing chemotherapy needed a safe way to meet in person, so we held our design consultation in my garage. The unusual setting led to an inspiring discussion about specialty papers, foil stamping, and creating a memorable anniversary booklet.
Designing an Art Book: A Dream Project for a Book Designer
Designing The Light in the Kiva was a dream project. Learn how careful planning, page sequencing, image selection, and thoughtful book design transformed an artist's vision into a beautifully printed art book.
The Extra Steps That Help First-Time Authors Publish a Better Book
First-time authors often don’t realize how many decisions are involved in publishing a book. From choosing the right trim size and BISAC category to researching competition and writing effective sales copy, a book designer can provide guidance beyond design. These extra steps help authors move confidently from manuscript to finished book.
Be a Prepared Author: What to Do Before You Meet with a Book Designer
Many first-time authors are eager to design and publish their books, but they're often missing the foundation for success. Before meeting with a book designer, take time to define your audience, create a marketing plan, and understand your publishing options. A little preparation can save time, money, and frustration.
Four Red Flags I Found in a “Finished” Book Layout
A former corporate client reached out with an unfinished community-involvement book that was “90 percent complete.” A closer look revealed several book-design problems that could have affected printing, readability, and the final quality. Here’s why professional book design matters.
St. Louis Cardinals Uniforms and Logos
Discover the fascinating design history behind the St. Louis Cardinals’ iconic birds-on-the-bat logo. Illustrator Gary Kodner researched and recreated more than 130 years of Cardinals uniforms and logos for the official book St. Louis Cardinals Uniforms and Logos.
Back to the future
I found a list of design and marketing ideas from 2004 on an old CD. More than 20 years later, the advice still holds up—from consistent branding and clear messaging to professional book cover design
What do authors want to know?
Authors have a lot of questions about publishing a book. Here are answers to some of the questions I hear most often about book design, production, ebooks, printing, and getting a book ready to publish.