For Authors
This page is for self-publishing authors who are looking for trusted cover design advice and personal recommendations from professionals in the industry. If you’re preparing to publish your own book, this page will guide you through how to use INABC and how to approach your cover design process with confidence.
INeedABookCover Is…
Whether you’re just beginning to think about your book cover or you’re ready to hire a designer, INABC is here to support you. This website can help you…
- Understand the cover design process
- Establish your unique design preferences by browsing thousands of professional book covers and noticing which styles resonate with you
- Learn the differences between photographic, typographic, illustrated, and other styles of cover design
- Find and hire a professional book cover designer
- Understand how to set an appropriate and realistic budget for your project
- Communicate effectively with your chosen designer to get the best results
At its core, this website is about empowering self-publishing authors with clear, practical information — turning what can feel like an overwhelming process into a manageable, even exciting, creative journey.
INeedABookCover Is Not…
INABC is not a full-service design agency. It’s a curated directory where you can connect directly with talented freelance designers. Each designer handles their own pricing, process, and contracts. We encourage you to communicate clearly with your chosen designer and review their portfolio carefully to make sure they’re a good fit for your project. Designers and authors are expected to draft, negotiate, and sign their own contracts to ensure that expectations, deliverables, and rights are clearly outlined before any work begins.
While we do our best to curate a talented community, INABC is not involved in the collaborations that follow, and cannot guarantee the outcome of individual projects.
Contact
If you need to contact a specific designer, please email them directly using the information provided on their personal portfolio website. INABC cannot share designers’ contact details or facilitate contact on your behalf. If a designer hasn’t made their contact information available, we unfortunately cannot assist.
To contact us with other questions, visit the Contact Page.
The Cover Design Process
If you’re new to commissioning cover art, the process can seem overwhelming at first, but we’ve broken it down into clear, easy-to-follow steps, outlined in the articles. We recommend reading these in this order:
- Creative Briefs Explained to Non-Creatives
- Choosing The Right Example Covers; or Creating A Mood Board
- How to Set a Realistic Budget for a High-Quality Cover
- Understanding Stock Imagery
These articles are all part of our Self-Publishing series, which can be accessed here.
Finding a Cover Designer on INeedABookCover.com
There are two ways to find a cover designer on INABC. One option is free, and the other costs $99.
Option 1: Browse on Your Own (Free)
- Browse the covers on our site. Save several favorites.
- Learn who designed them — the designer’s name is listed on each project.
- Reach out to designers directly by visiting each designer’s personal website and contact them through the information they provide.
Click here to watch a 3-minute overview that explains how to find a cover designer using this website (the free way!)
Option 2: Post Your Job on the Jobs Board ($99)
- Fill out our form, and we’ll automatically create a Creative Brief for you based on your answers.
- Review and approve your brief before it is shared.
- Next, your brief will be sent privately to our vetted group of 100+ professional designers.
- After it’s live, available and interested designers will contact you directly, explaining why they would be a great fit for your project.
- Review portfolios, compare proposals, and select the designer you want to hire.
Click here to watch a 2-minute video that will help you decide if using The Jobs Board is right for you!
Understanding Designer Availability
Not every designer listed on INABC is actively seeking freelance work. This site serves first and foremost as a curated directory of talented book cover designers working across the industry—including many who are employed full-time, in-house at major publishing houses. Some designers may be unavailable for freelance projects, may work only with traditional publishers, or may generally decline self-publishing assignments.
It is very common to reach out to several designers before finding the right fit. Please don’t take it personally if a designer declines—and don’t get discouraged. The directory represents a broad “who’s who” of professional book cover designers, not a roster of freelancers actively looking for new clients at all times. Having a profile on INABC is a mark of professional standing—but it does not guarantee that a designer is available for immediate freelance work.
That being said, all designers who receive Jobs Board notifications have voluntarily opted in and are actively seeking freelance opportunities! If you’re looking for designers who are available and excited to work with any type of client, big or small, the Jobs Board is a great place to start!
Using The Jobs Board
Have you explored our Jobs Board yet? To watch a 2-minute video explaining how the Jobs Board helps its users, click here!
Authors who post their projects there find experienced, available designers quickly—and with great results. You can read testimonials from past users here.
To see examples of successful cover collaborations that started on the Jobs Board, click here.
To see how we structure Creative Briefs on the board, click here.
If you’re curious about the types of designers who will be bidding on your project, read our Designer Requirements. If you want help setting up your brief and selecting your designer, we offer personalized, hands-on advice from the site’s creator. Read more about our White Glove Service here. Head over to The Jobs Board and get started!
Useful Resources and Friends of INeedABookCover
INABC can personally attest to the professionalism and high-quality service that these vendors provide to self-publishing authors. We can wholeheartedly recommend:
Editors
The Artful Editor
Betsey Thorpe
Book Coaches
Savannah Gilbo
Abigail Perry
Self-Publishing Experts
Cara Alwill
Katya Fishman at Endeavor Ink
Self-Publishing Answers
Kindlepreneur
Women in Publishing Summit
Full-Service Publishing Support
The Pub Pros
Art & Photo Databases
Unsplash.com
Web Design
