Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I hire a professional for the interior design of my manuscript?
A: If you are proficient in Word, you may be able to format a simple text book (fiction or narrative) for print. Using Word for eBooks is not advisable unless you also know HTML code. Word for book layout can give your book an amateurish look and feel. Using Vellum, which only is available on Macs, has a look that is coming to be recognizable, not custom. Reviews of Atticus say “it’s a nightmare” learning it and the results are poor requiring careful proofing for errors.
Non-fiction formatting is more complex with requirements like headers, footers, table of contents, precise spacing, block quotes, index, footnotes, tables, graphics, and more. Hiring a professional ensures a polished final custom product which you can be proud to put your name on in publishing, and avoid the likely frustrations of DIY.
Q: If I want to hire a professional, how do I go about choosing one?
A: Finding interior designers for books can be challenging; you need to be confident they know all the rules of bookmaking as well as having the typographic and graphic design skills. The best way is through referrals, reviewing samples of their work, and spending a few minutes on the phone with them. How do they describe the process? Are they knowledgeable. At Modern, we provide a list of references and client testimonials on our website. You can also request samples, which we are happy to email to you. Email us for more information or call. View a partial portfolio - click here. Read client testimonials - click here.
Q: How much should I expect to spend on formatting the interior and designing the cover of a typical paperback novel?
A: Fees in the book design industry vary widely. For the interior design of a lightly formatted book, you can expect to pay between $200 and $1,500 for custom design and print-ready pdf files. For a book cover design, the costs might range from $100 to $3,500. Although these ranges are broad, hiring a professional can significantly enhance your book's appeal. Be sure to assess your budget and choose accordingly. Find out what the pricing includes. For the interior, does the formatter expect you to “clean up” your edited manuscript? How many cover designs or revisions are included. Our prices start at $200 for interiors and $100 for covers. Contact us anytime, for a quote.
Q: How do I get my book printed and selling on Amazon, or with other booksellers, or on my own website?
A: At Modern Book Design, we offer consulting at NO charge to you for whom we are designing interiors and covers for print-on-demand. We coach you on: how to get your ISBN, a Library of Congress Control Number (optional); how to setup your accounts for printers or book distributers; how to get your book listed on Amazon and with other booksellers. We prepare the print-ready files per the specification requirements for printing with companies like Lightning Source, IngramSpark, KindleKDP, Lulu.com, Diggypod.com, or your preferred printer. We can guide you through the maze between your manuscript and hitting that PUBLISH button. Note: You retain the royalties; we keep 0% of your royalties.
Q: Should I design my own cover?
A: At Modern Book Design, we specialize in cover design, focusing on space, line, direction, movement, color, and typography, in order to convey your theme and mood to attract readers. Software choice impacts quality, spacing, margins, and bleed areas. If you don’t understand print layout specifications for print (which vary among the different printing companies), we recommend you enlist a professional to save your “sanity”. Note: Canva is not the final software for print-ready files. It’s good for exploration, only.
Q: Do you use the same cover for an eBook version?
A: Yes, we usually do; the front cover. Covers for eBooks are sometimes tailored differently from their print counterparts due to how they are displayed. It's important to design a cover that fits well in its digital format while maintaining a consistent brand look for recognition.