I Now Offer Book Design Services for Artists, Writers, Collectors, and Families
Book Cover and Interior for
New Paintings 2018
—Mark Fuller
“I don’t usually like how other people handle my work, but Stefan got it right. The book looks sharp, the website works, and both actually reflect my art and life without watering them down.”
—Mark Fuller
Helping You Preserve Your Stories
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We all have stories—and we all want them to be remembered. A book gives shape to that desire. It gathers what might be lost—words, art, recipes, and memories—and turns them into something lasting.
Whether you’re self-publishing a memoir or novel, documenting your artwork or research, preserving family stories and photographs, or cataloging a collection, I can help.
I offer design, editorial, and production services to create a beautifully crafted, professional-quality book that will last for generations.
Who It’s For
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Artists + Authors
Whether it’s a portfolio, personal project, novel, collection of poems, or children’s book, I’ll help turn your words and images into a professionally designed book that reflects your vision.
Collectors + Archivists
Whether you’re organizing a lifetime of collecting, creating a legacy for future generations, documenting for insurance records or estate planning, a book gives your collection structure, context, and value.
Family Historians
A book gives shape to stories and memories that might otherwise slip away. For families, it’s more than a record—it’s a way to be seen, valued, and remembered. Perfect for family histories, memoirs, children’s art, tribute books, and wedding or milestone albums.
“The cover Stefan designed for my memoir was thoughtful, striking, and professional—everything I hoped for in presenting my story to readers.”
—Ashley Warner
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Services
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Every book begins with an idea. Whether it’s a memoir, family history, or art book, I’ll help you clarify your concept, organize your material, and uncover the story at its heart. This stage is about more than structure—it’s about shaping your ideas into a narrative that flows and feels complete. Together, we’ll define your goals, map the content, and choose the best format and approach for your project.
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Clear, polished writing makes all the difference in how a book is received. I can provide light proofreading for typos and consistency, or more detailed editing to help with flow, clarity, and readability—whatever your project requires. If your book would benefit from deeper editorial work, I’ll connect you with one of the professional editors I collaborate with.
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Strong visuals can elevate a book, but images often need adjustment before they’re ready for print. I’ll let you know what you can do to improve your own photos—whether that’s better lighting, scanning, cropping, or adjusting resolution. If that’s not enough, I can prepare your photos, artwork, or scanned materials so they reproduce clearly and beautifully on the page. For older or damaged images, I can also provide restoration. The goal is to ensure every image looks its best and fits seamlessly into the design of your book.
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Design is where the project takes shape. I create books that are clear, elegant, and engaging. Covers draw the eye without distraction, while interiors are structured for readability, and every choice—typography, spacing, imagery—serves the story. The result is a professionally produced book made to endure for generations.
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The final step is turning your design into a finished book you can hold. I’ll guide you through printing options—whether you need a single copy or a larger run—and help you make choices about paper, cover, and binding so the book feels exactly right. From proofs to delivery, I make sure the production process is smooth and the result is a book you can be proud of.
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A professional author website gives you visibility, credibility, and a central hub for your readers. I design clean, templated or custom websites for authors that showcase your book, author bio, and events, with options for blogs, media coverage, reviews, and contact forms. Each site is tailored to your brand and optimized for search engines (SEO), so your book and name are easier to find online. Built on Squarespace, your site will look polished, work smoothly across devices, and grow with your career.
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Publishing a book is only part of the journey—authors also need professional tools to promote themselves and their work. I design concise, impactful materials that help you stand out, whether you’re pitching your book to bookstores, reaching out to media, or presenting yourself for events. From one-sheets and sell sheets to press kits, event collateral, and social media graphics, I create marketing pieces that are clear, consistent, and aligned with the look and feel of your book.
Author One-Sheets
A single-page overview that highlights the author—bio, headshot, speaking topics, book list, and contact info. Used for pitching authors to agents, event organizers, and media.Book Sell Sheets
A one-page overview of the book—cover image, description, ISBN, pricing, distributor info. Used for bookstores, libraries, and distributors.Press Kits / Media Kits
A small packet (digital or PDF) that includes: author bio, book synopsis, Q&A, headshots, endorsements, and contact info. Useful for media outreach, podcast pitches, or event organizers.Event Materials
Postcards, bookmarks, posters, or flyers for book launches, readings, or signings. Branded but affordable add-ons you could offer.Social Media + Web Graphics
Branded graphics for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts announcing a book. Consistent visual design that matches the book cover.Author Branding
Consistent author logo/monogram, color palette, or typography to unify website, one-sheet, and promotional items.
“Stefan designed two unique and beautiful photography books for me. In each case, the design was clean, elegant, and perfectly suited to the work.”
—David Rathbone
Photo by David Rathbone
Pricing
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Book Design
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My Template Options use pre-designed interior and cover layouts and provide a streamlined, affordable path to a professional-quality book—without the cost of full customization.
Novel Template — $4/page + $300 cover
Ideal for manuscripts that are primarily text. Clean, elegant layouts that read beautifully in print or digital form.Poetry Template — $5/page + $300 cover
Designed for visual balance and rhythm, with careful attention to line breaks, spacing, and flow.Memoir / Family History Template — $5/page + $300 cover
Includes placement for up to 20 images. Perfect for storytelling projects that combine text and photography.Cookbook Template — $8/page + $300 cover
Built for clarity and functionality, with layouts for recipes, notes, and photography.
Each project includes two rounds of proofing.
Ask for my Design, Production, and Printing Overview for full details.
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Clients who want more design control than a template allows can choose fully customized designs for their novels, poetry collections, memoirs, and other text-driven works. Every element—typography, layout, and cover design—is tailored to your vision.
Custom text-based books generally start at $6/page plus $500–$1,500 for the cover design, depending on complexity. A typical simple 200-page book (including cover) costs around $1,700–$2,700.
Ask for my Design, Production, and Printing Process for full details.
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Art books require special care. I design each page to highlight your artwork while balancing text, captions, and white space for a polished, gallery-quality presentation. This option is ideal for artists, photographers, collectors, and families who want to preserve visual legacies.
Because art books vary in scope, pricing is based on both page count and image preparation. Design typically starts at $30/page, with cover design from $500–$1,500. A 60-page art book typically costs $2,300–$3,500.
Ask for my Design, Production, and Printing Process for full details.
Additional Services
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Some clients begin with only an idea, scattered material, or a rough draft. In consulting sessions, I help you clarify your concept, define your goals, and map out a plan for your book—what it could be, how it might be structured, and what’s needed to make it happen.
I bill consulting at $150/hour. If you move forward with a design project, your first hour of consulting will be applied as a credit toward the total fee.
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Clear, polished writing is key to a professional book. I offer light editing and proofreading for grammar, consistency, and flow, billed at $125/hour. For larger editorial needs, I can connect you with trusted editors in my network.
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I review all visuals to make sure they print beautifully and consistently. You can prepare your own files using my specs, or I can crop, color-correct, and optimize them for print. Billed at $125/hour.
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A simple, well-designed website gives your book and creative work a professional online presence. Each site is built on Squarespace and includes basic SEO setup, mobile optimization, and training so you can update it yourself after launch.
Scrolling Templated One-Page Website — $1,000
Ideal for promoting a single book or project. Includes:
One long scrolling page with up to five content sections (e.g., About, Book Overview, Images, Purchase Links, Contact).
Integration of your book cover, description, author photo, and retailer links.
Basic SEO setup and mobile formatting.
Basic Website — $1,700
Best for authors or artists who want more flexibility. A three-page layout offers a cleaner, more navigable structure than a single scrolling page—ideal if you have multiple projects or want to keep sections distinct. Includes:
Up to three pages (e.g., Home, About, Book/Portfolio).
One design layout customized to your branding.
Basic SEO, contact form, and social media integration.
Expanded Website — $2,300
A more robust site for showcasing multiple books or bodies of work. Includes:
Up to five pages (e.g., Home, About, Books/Projects, News, Contact).
Additional layout variations as needed.
Basic SEO, mobile optimization, and training session.
Additional Services
Domain connection and Squarespace account setup (if needed)
Ongoing maintenance and content updates billed at $125/hour
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Each project is billed at a flat rate, so you know exactly what to expect. Pricing includes design, clear communication, and delivery of polished, print- or web-ready files.
Author One-Sheet – $300
A single-page overview featuring your bio, headshot, speaking topics, book list, and contact info—perfect for pitching yourself to agents, media, or event organizers.Book Sell Sheet – $300
A one-page overview of your book with cover image, synopsis, ISBN, pricing, and distributor information—ideal for bookstores, libraries, and reviewers.Press Kit / Media Kit (PDF) – $450
A professional packet that combines your bio, book details, endorsements, Q&A, and media-ready assets in one polished document.Event Materials – $150–$300 each
Design for postcards, bookmarks, posters, or flyers—customized promotional pieces for launches, signings, or readings.Social Media + Web Graphics – $300
Branded graphics for Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn that align with your book’s design and message.Author Branding – $450
A simple, consistent author brand system—logo or monogram, color palette, and typography to unify your marketing materials.
Book Cover and Interior for
Pit Bull Flower Power
—Sophie Gamand
“Stefan brought extraordinary sensitivity and precision to the design of Pit Bull Flower Power. The book was complex—hundreds of photographs, layered stories, and fine details—and he handled it all with clarity and artistry. The final result is stunning: a book that perfectly captures the soul and strength of this project.”
—Sophie Gamand
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FAQ
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Email me below to set up a free 30-minute conversation to talk through your goals, your material, and what you’d like the finished book design to be. If it feels like a good fit, I’ll provide a clear estimate before we begin.
Next, we’ll organize your content and decide on the style, length, and outline of your memoir, family history, art book, or novel.
From there, I’ll handle the book layout and typesetting according to the goals we set. You’ll receive a PDF proof to review, and we’ll make revisions. Once finalized, I’ll prepare print-ready files and guide you through the printing options—whether you want a single copy or a larger run.
The result is a professionally designed, self-published book you can share, sell, and preserve for generations.
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I work on a wide range of personal publishing projects—from art books and photography collections to novels, poetry, memoirs, family histories, and private collection catalogues.
Books for Artists and Authors:Novels, Short Stories, or Poetry Collections – A curated book of your writing, whether new, unpublished, or previously released.
Art and Photography Books – Single-artist or group catalogues, monographs, or themed collections with essays and commentary.
Exhibition Catalogues – Showcasing work from a gallery or museum show, with artist statements and installation images.
Project Archives – A comprehensive book documenting a creative project from concept to completion.
Children’s Books – Picture books, chapter books, or story collections, with custom layouts that integrate text and illustrations seamlessly.
Books for Collectors + Archivists
Private Collection Catalogues – Documenting art, antiques, or rare objects with detailed descriptions and photographs.
House Histories – The story of a historic home or property, with images, plans, and narratives.
Hobby Documentation – Books about specialized collections such as stamps, vinyl records, vintage toys, or ceramics.
Books for Family + Legacy
Family Histories – Stories, timelines, and photographs of past generations.
Memoirs – Personal life stories, written and designed for sharing with family and friends.
Cookbooks – Family recipes or themed collections with stories and photos.
Tribute Books – Honoring a loved one’s life through photos, stories, and memories.
Wedding Albums – A beautifully designed keepsake that brings together photos, vows, and memories into a lasting record of the day.
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Not at all. Some clients come to me with a finished manuscript and images ready to go; others are still sorting through materials or shaping their story. I can help organize content, advise on structure, and guide you through what’s needed—whether you’re starting with a folder of photos, a rough draft, or just an idea.
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Only one of the Personal Publishing services I offer uses a template — the Personal Publishing Essentials. Using a template for this option offers an affordable option for families and individuals who want a beautifully designed memoir or family history book without the cost of full customization. Using a clean, professional template, this package focuses on clarity, readability, and lasting design.
The other Personal Publishing services I offer are unique designs, established through a conversation and a collaborative design process with you. -
Every project is different, but most books take 2 to 4 weeks from start to finish, though more intricate projects can take longer. Timing depends on how complex the book is, how prepared your materials are, and how quickly we move through edits and approvals. If you have a specific deadline—like a birthday, exhibition, or family reunion—I’ll do my best to work with your timeline.
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Once your book is designed and finalized, I’ll prepare print-ready files and upload them to a high-quality on-demand printing service like Blurb or Lulu. You’ll be able to order copies for yourself, share with family and friends, or even sell the book directly through their platforms—no inventory or upfront printing required.
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Yes. Most of the books I create are designed for print, but I can also prepare files for digital formats like PDFs or eBooks. If you’re not sure what format is best for your project, I’m happy to talk through your options.
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Yes. You retain full ownership and copyright of your content and final book. My role is to help you design and produce it—but the book belongs to you.
“I never imagined how powerful it would feel to hold my own printed story in my hands. Stefan’s design turned my memoir into a book that looks like it belongs in a national bookstore chain. My family treasures it—and I’ve never been prouder. Thank you, Stefan!”
—Carl Martens
Let’s Get Started
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Self-publishing can feel daunting—there are a lot of decisions to make, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’m here to simplify the process, offer clear guidance, and help you create something you’ll be proud of. Reach out with questions or to talk through your project. No pressure—just a conversation.
“I don’t usually like how other people handle my work, but Stefan got it right. The book looks sharp, the website works, and both actually reflect my art and life without watering them down.”
—Mark Fuller