Transforming Your Memoir and Photographs into a Beautiful Book
As a professional book designer, I love taking your memoir manuscript into which you have poured your time and energy and returning back to you a beautiful book you can be proud of, one that reflects your talent and the importance of your story.
Including photographs and original materials can help your reader connect with you so I will scan in and lay out anything you like.
Everyone needs a second pair of eyes on a book as it goes through production so I will let you know if I see any issues or problems as they arise.
I am always here to help you in whatever way I can whether that is figuring out technology or deciding what materials to include.
There are numerous options in how to display your photos and I will carefully lay out each one so it looks its best.
Memoir and photography book interiors to fit your story
Each memoir and photography book has a different style and the author a different way of sharing themselves with the world. Especially when it comes to your personal story, the design of your book should match the themes and reflect what you’re trying to say as a writer.
What I love about memoirs is there can be so much creative license in how the text is laid out, the design of photographs, and what the finished product looks like. With personal stories and family history, we can create a book that is both stunning and professional—a book you will be proud to share.
As a professional book designer, I love taking the manuscript into which you have poured your time and energy and returning back to you a beautiful book you can be proud of, one that reflects the story you have to tell and the importance of your work. Whether you want to publish the book to have it for sale or to simply share it with friends and family as a beloved keepsake, I am here to help.
Included in the interior book design is:
- Table of contents
- Front and back matter
- Page numbering
- Main text
- Headings and subheadings
- Images and captions
- Footnotes
- Endnotes
Frequently Asked Questions
To design your book, I’ll need the entire manuscript from beginning to end including all the front and back material such as the introduction and acknowledgements, and any pictures you want to include along with their captions. In addition, I need information including the title, subtitle, author, publishing company, copyright information. Lastly, I need the book cover to incorporate into the design.
I am a self-publisher just like you! I learned how to layout a book, code ebooks, and design covers through working on my own five books as well as designing for other authors. It is truly my favorite work to do. When publishing this way, you are own publisher, keeping all the rights and royalties, and you hire me for the services you need to create your book such as cover design, ebook coding, and page layout. I can even upload your files and work with your printer.
I design for all genres including:
Once we’ve talked and you’ve sent me all the material, the signed contract, and the deposit to start the project, I will create three possible designs for you to look at and give feedback on. I’ll then create one design based on your choices and once we agree to the look, I will then lay out the entire book in Adobe InDesign and send the a PDF file for you to go through with a fine tooth comb for any last editorial changes. After two rounds of changes, I will send you the final packaged files. As my guarantee, I always make sure you are thrilled with the results!
Whenever I design an interior or code an ebook, I design it to match the cover so it is all one cohesive look.
Once your book is complete, you’ll receive all the PDF files so you can upload them to online distributors. I’m also a firm believer the author should have all the design files for archival purposes and for any changes down the road so I package and deliver everything you’ll need. I will also keep all the files in my own archives so your design is never lost.
I do! I love working on book covers! For more information, please see my cover design page.
In addition to designing print books, I would be happy to code a matching ebook for you as well. Each format has its own design requirements and formatting needs. If I know you would like both formats, I will first design the print book then the ebook so they can be uploaded at the same time.
Yes, I can certainly upload the book for you on whatever websites you would like. All you will need to do is open the account and send me the login and password. That way you are the only one handling your bank information. Thus, when Amazon sells your book, they will send it to the buyer and deposit the money in your account. I also have a lot of experience working with printers and am happy to oversee your book through their proofing process.
Having a book professionally designed makes a world of difference in how seriously people will take you as an author and how much attention they will give to your book. Though most people can’t name them, professionally designed books have certain qualities that, unfortunately, many self-published authors don’t know about much less know how to design. From graphic details incorporating your cover, to spacing, font choices, and layout, I know how to make your book look fantastic and easy for people to read.
Yes, I can absolutely include images in your book along with any captions. I can even make sure all the images are sized correctly with the right color type for a printer.
Yes, I can repair photos by removing a tear, taking out “white noise” and filling in missing information. If you would like this to be a part of your project, please send me your photo and we can talk about what I can do to help it look its best.
The amount of time to design a book depends on the details of the manuscript. A layout with a lot of headings, subheadings, section breaks, and images will take longer to lay out than a simple fiction book with a chapter number and text. For a quote on your specific manuscript, please see the investment section below or contact me and I will be happy to provide you with a quote.
I would love to talk with you about your book project. Please contact me via the contact form, phone, or email and we can start the conversation.
The Design Process
Step 1
We’ll talk about your ideas for the book design and sign an agreement to start work.
Step 2
I’ll create three different designs for you to look at and give me feedback on.
Step 3
Based on your choices, I’ll create one new design with two rounds of changes.
Step 4
You approve the final design and I upload your finished book.
I'm here to help!
I love how each of our stories are unique and how everyone carries inside them a tale to tell of where they and their family have been and what they’ve learned. Many of us, though, need a helping hand to take it from files on our computers to a finished book up for sale.
With years of experience designing all types of memoirs, I will help you in whatever way is needed whether that is figuring out technology issues to scanning in any photos or text. Together, we will see your book through to completion.
Photograph Repair
If you have original documents and photographs you would like included in the book, I can digitalize them and lay them out in a beautiful way showing off their timeless quality.
If your photos have been damaged over time, I can repair them by removing a tear, taking out “white noise” and filling in missing information. If you would like this to be a part of your project, please send me your photo and we can talk about what I can do to help it look its best.
Portfolio
Investment
The amount of time it takes to design and layout a memoir, and thus the cost, depends on the details of the manuscript, whether the book includes photographs and documents, and how many design elements need to be laid out such as quotes and footnotes.
A layout with a lot of section breaks, spacing, and images will take longer to create than a simple memoir with chapter titles and only text.
I understand as an author myself, though, that gaining an idea of cost is important so listed below are the costs for three different book designs I have recently completed and what was included. For a quote on your specific manuscript, please contact me and I will be happy to provide you with a quote.
Need additional help?
Ebook Coding
Whether you want an ebook to go along with your printed text so they look the same or are publishing an ebook only, a professionally coded book will stand out among the competition, make the text easier to navigate, and let people know you are a serious author.
Cover Design
A great book cover is essential to your success as an author. A professionally designed cover will not only grab your reader’s attention but also sets the tone for the text inside. To get a reader to pick up the book and turn the pages, an attractive cover is vital.
Author Consultation
When self-publishing a book, you want someone with you who has been there saving you time and energy. As an experienced publisher, we’ll talk about the road ahead to get your book published and what changes you can make for your project to be successful.
