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How It Works

My tried-and-true creative process makes design magic.

girl_homepage_writer2.jpg
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shows
your story

spectacular 
title

unique
design

Ready to start?

Let's talk about your book.

 
 
 
 

Share your ideas with me, and I'll turn them into a stunning cover design.

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50% INITIAL DEPOSIT

I will issue you an invoice. You have to pay

50% deposit before I start working on the cover and the balance before I send you the final files.  

Financial transactions can be made through PayPal or Wise.

Get a 5% discount off the listed price when you pay with Wise. This discount covers the percentage that PayPal will deduct as a fee for business money transfers.

DISCUSSION

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We will communicate by email.

  • Send me an excerpt from your book to feel the mood in the story​

  • Tell me about the theme, plot, genre, symbolism, characters, scenes, environments. Everything you think I need to know to get the feel of your novel.

  • We will discuss what will be best for your cover to attract your target audience.

Reach out through my contact page or email me directly at artofdonika@gmail.com

 

I will get back to you within 24 hours and we will go over any question you might have. I am happy to work with first time writers, so don’t worry about asking any kind of question. I am happy to help you through the process.

CONTACT ME

 

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FINDING THE RIGHT IMAGES

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I'll search for suitable images on the stock sites and comment on what would work for your book cover. Finding the right images takes about a week when several projects overlap at the same time.

FIRST DRAFT

Once I have the necessary photo material, I will work on the cover for a day or two and send you the cover ready at about 30-50%. I will send this to you for approval and you can make any changes at this point, or we can start from scratch if it isn’t working.

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SECOND DRAFT

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After the initial draft is approved, I will proceed with the further detailing. Depending on the nature of the project, there may be multiple occasions where I need to reach out for additional input. However, if the project is straightforward and requires no changes, I will complete the detailing process.

FINAL

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Once you approve the cover, I will send you the final deliverables.

 

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After finalizing the book cover, I will design a promotional image specifically tailored to market your new book. Once the book is released, I will promote it across multiple social networks, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 
 

PROMO

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I ask to be credited on the credits page at the start of the book like this:

 
 

CREDITS

Cover design by Donika Mishineva

www.artofdonika.com

 
 

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Many of my clients are delighted with the positive reviews they receive for their new book cover, often expressing their desire to provide me with a bonus as a token of their appreciation.

 
 

YOU ARE DELIGHTED

Please, there's no need to send me any extra money. However, I would be incredibly grateful if you could send me a signed copy of your new book by regular mail to Bulgaria. Being able to read your book and add it to my growing collection would bring me great joy.

If you're interested in giving me this thoughtful gift, please get in touch with me, and I'll gladly provide you with my mailing address.

 
 

Let's talk about your book.

 
 
 
 

Share your thoughts and inspirations, and I'll work my magic to produce an exceptional cover design.

READY TO START

 
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

For your convenience, I have grouped the questions according to the topic with these tags.

 

If you still do not find an answer to your question,

please write to me directly by email artofdonika@gmail.com,

and I will contact you within 24 hours. I will be happy to answer all of your questions.

  • What is the difference between the book cover design services?
    The four types of services vary in production intensity and turnaround time. The Stylish Book Cover service caters primarily to non-fiction genres. Typography takes center stage here, with images playing a complementary role. This service doesn't involve complex photo manipulation but aims for a clean aesthetic, suitable for business, medical, political, and minimalist designs. The Superb Book Cover service is ideal for covers requiring intricate photo manipulation and special effects, catering to various genres like romance, thriller, spiritual, and biographical books. For those seeking fantastical elements like paranormal characters or mythical creatures, the Fantastical Book Cover service is the perfect choice. Whether it's spaceships, extraterrestrial civilizations, or intricate character designs, this service brings any idea to life using advanced techniques like photo manipulation, digital painting, and 3D titles. Lastly, the Illustrated Book Cover Design service offers unique illustrations created from scratch, distinct from those using licensed photos. This style, popular in modern teen or young adult romance novels, stands out with its playful tone and vibrant colors, drawing attention in bookstores.
  • How can I order a book cover design?
    You can order through the site, filling out the Design Request with questions about your book, or email me at artofdonika@gmail.com
  • What information do I need to send?
    I need the following details to start working on your book cover design: Title, subtitle and author’s name A print book, an ebook, or both Book size and the number of pages Blurb for the back cover Author’s bio and photo The genre of the manuscript Place depicted on the cover Timeframe Character’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, appearance, and outfit Particular details you want to see on your book cover 1-2 chapters from your manuscript for inspiration
  • Do I get unlimited revisions?
    The execution time of a book cover design is fixed to have an exact price of the service. Most authors fall in love with their cover after 3 revisions, and some are completely happy after the first design I show them. People are different. Some of them want every detail on the cover to be exactly as they imagine it. I do not mind making the cover as the author sees it in detail and working on the cover until you are 100% satisfied. You can order unlimited revisions for €100. It is not fair to offer such a service with unlimited adjustments, since one author wants 2-3 revisions and another 20-30, to both pay the same price. That's why I made a price that is as light as possible. I have written up to 7-10 revisions in the services. If you need another 1-2, no problem, they will be free of charge.
  • Can you use my own image for the cover?
    I can utilize your image, provided it's licensed and has a resolution of 300 PPI. Please mention this in your design request beforehand, or email me to assess if your photo is suitable and captivating enough for an exceptional cover.
  • Can you send me the PSD file?
    I can send a flattened PSD file with the small text separated on different layers for an additional US€50. Unfortunately, I cannot provide a non-flattened version due to copyright restrictions with stock images.
  • I don't have the final number of pages yet. Can we start designing at this stage?
    Yes, of course. I will start the design, and after you have the final number of the pages, I will make the file adjustments at no additional cost. It could be in a month or a year. When you are ready, I am at your disposal to make the final file for printing.
  • I have some specific ideas in terms of concept, imagery, etc. Are we able to discuss them before you beginning work?
    Absolutely! I would love to hear your ideas. The better I know your requirements, the faster and better your cover will become.
  • I don't have a blurb for the back cover yet. Do I have to have all this information now, or could you add this for me later?
    No, it is not necessary. The text on the back can be changed at the final stage before the preparation for printing. This is not considered a separate revision. If you need a text correction before the file is ready to print, no problem.
  • I don’t understand techy things, but I want to self-publish my book. Can you help me?
    No, but I can recommend a few people who could help you with this for a fee.
  • I like your book covers, but I don’t see an example of the same genre as my book. How do I know you can design what I want?
    I've been in the book cover business for 4 years, so I still may not have examples of all different genres or types of design. Please write to me and let us discuss your book and ideas without any obligation to order. I'm sure I can make an excellent cover for every genre and every taste that will stand out from the crowd.
  • Is there a need to sign any non-disclosure agreements or privacy documents?
    No, there is no need for that. All conditions and prices are carefully described and explained; if additional agreements are needed, we will discuss them during the work process.
  • Should I credit you on my book’s copyright page?
    Yes, please. I ask to be credited on the copyright page at the start of the book like this: Cover design by Donika Mishineva www.artofdonika.com
  • What payment methods do you use?
    Financial transactions can be made through PayPal or Wise. Get a 5% discount off the listed price when you pay with Wise. This discount covers the percentage that PayPal will deduct as a fee for business money transactions.
  • Do I have to pay the full amount in advance?
    No. I require only 50% payment by Paypal or Wise when I begin your book cover design. Тhe balance - after the design is complete and before sending the final files to you.
  • Do I have to pay the balance before the final files are delivered to me? My manuscript is being edited, and I still have no idea about the final number of pages, so we will be able to prepare the file for printing in 3 months at the earliest.
    Yes, the balance must be paid within 1 month of the invoice being issued. When we have the final number of pages, you will contact me. I will then make you the prepress and will send you the print file, whether it will be in 3 months or three years. Preparing the file for printing is included in the book cover design service price, and you have paid for it.
  • I do not have an account in either PayPal or Wisе, and I do not know how to make an online payment.
    No problem! I can send you a payment request via PayPal, and all you'll need is a credit card to make the payment.
  • What if I decide to change back cover text/trim size/page count after I get the final print files?
    If you decide to change the: back cover text - €25 page count - €50 trim size - €70
  • Can you send me the PSD file?
    I can send a flattened PSD file with the small text separated on different layers for an additional €50. Unfortunately, I cannot provide a non-flattened version due to copyright restrictions with stock images.
  • It's been a year since the design was finalized and all we have to do is prepare the file for printing. Can you make some changes for me on the image itself before we prepare and send the file for printing?
    Of course, but it will cost you extra, depending on the type of change. You won't need to pay extra if the change is limited to small texts.
  • Why do I have to pay extra for a second prepress file when I'm publishing on two or more platforms?
    Each platform issues its own template with the exact dimensions. The Amazon template is radically different from the one IngramSpark sends to its customers. Prepress is done in other software from which the design is made. Even if the spine differs by 5 mm, for example, it costs me a double adjustment of texts, and sometimes of design elements, to center everything correctly. Two different templates, although with the same trim size of the book, cost me two times to prepare the files. For this, the second file is paid separately.
  • Why I have to pay for unlimited revisions?
    The execution time of a book cover design is fixed to have an exact price of the service. Most authors fall in love with their cover after 3 revisions, and some are completely happy after the first design I show them. People are different. Some of them want every detail on the cover to be exactly as they imagine it. I do not mind making the cover as the author sees it in detail and working with it until he is 100% satisfied. This requires much more time. Accordingly, the price will be different. It is unfair to offer such a service with unlimited adjustments since one author wants 2-3 revisions and another 20-30; to both pay the same price. That's why I made a price that is as light as possible. If someone wants additional revisions, there is a specific price in the respective service.
  • When is the change of concept paid extra?
    If you decide to change a concept - there was a character, but now you changed your mind, and you think there must be a symbol-type design. In this case, I have to start from the beginning, and this will cost you €100. If you decide to present a radically different scene and character, I have to start looking for photos and making a montage all over again. Again, this will cost you €100. You can change the concept without paying anything extra if we are still discussing and searching for photos, and I have not put hours of work to present you the first version.
  • Do I own all rights to my book cover design once I have paid for it?
    Yes, you own the right to use the cover as you see fit once you've approved the design and paid me in full. I retain the right to showcase the cover in my portfolio and advertising. For services such as Stylish Cover, Superb Cover, or Fantastical Cover, any royalty-free images used in the design retain their original copyright, which is held by the photographer. I purchase a commercial license for you to use the image on your cover, typically sourced from platforms like Freepik, where designers have the right to use images for book covers for their clients. Sell an unlimited number of e-books and promote the book Use your print cover to sell up to 500k physical copies of books For books with a run of over 500,000 units, the additional license has to be purchased by the client for each stock photo that has a major role in the cover design. If you opt for an Illustrated Book Cover Design, you will have full rights to the cover.
  • How and where can I use the cover image?
    You must abide by the website's terms and conditions as to how you use the cover. All images in your design are under the Standard License. You can use the book cover on specific promotional materials, like a business card and bookmark. Still, you would need the Extended(Enhanced) License for other promotional materials like merchandise to use the cover/images on products like mugs, t-shirt, postcards, bags, etc. Standard License allows you: - Web and app advertising - E-publications and email marketing - Use in social media and on video-sharing services (like YouTube) - Small film productions, TV series, or ads with a budget under $10K - Printed materials, including product packaging, with less than 500K total prints
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