For 35 years, I designed books, CDs and advertising on Music Row in Nashville. I worked for some of the biggest names in music, including Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and my work won awards. I have published 5 books, including two novels, short stories, non-fiction and poetry. I love the art of words, but I also enjoy color, typography, and beautiful images. and I like to keep the creative process simple.
I will give you exactly what you need to make your book stand out from the crowd.
Send me an email, listing your name, address, phone number and email address. List the title of the book and the author's name exactly as it is to appear. Then add a brief synopsis. It is possible to design a cover without knowing what is in the book, but it helps to get the flavor right, and besides, I love a good story.
Tell me any ideas that you have for your cover. If you have seen something that you especially like on Smashwords, Amazon, or anywhere else, give me that title and I will look it up. It will help me give you what you want. If you have photos that you want to include on the book cover, scan them and attach a jpeg file to the email. Or you can mail the photos. I will scan them and mail them back to you. Within a week (usually sooner), I will email a proof copy of your cover design. The proof will be of lower resolution than you can use on Smashwords or other e-publisher, but it will give you a good look at the finished book cover. The high-resolution image will come later. You can critique the design by email or phone and I will refine it as needed.
Smashwords advises the author to pay the cover designer in advance, but I want you to be comfortable with our relationship, so I ask to be paid only after you approve the art. When you are happy with the proof copy, pay $60 on PayPal, and I immediately email the final file, at the optimum size and resolution for publication. The only reason that the cost could be more would be if we need to purchase stock photography or if special illustration is needed. If you have any questions, call or email.
A good book deserves a good cover
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Charles Hooper
2299 N. Berry's Chapel Rd.
Franklin, TN 37069
615-891-0240