What makes a book cover work at thumbnail size
Most readers first see your cover smaller than a stamp. Here is what still works at that size.
Book cover design, made for your genre
A cover that does its job before anyone reads a word. Covers designed for your genre and your readers, so they work as a small thumbnail on a phone as well as face-out in a bookshop.
Tell us about your book and the look you have in mind. There's no obligation. Prefer to talk first? Call or WhatsApp (opens in a new tab).
What's included in book cover design
A cover that does its job before anyone reads a word.
- Genre researchWe look at covers in your genre so that yours suits its shelf and still stands out on it.
- Concepts and refinementDistinct cover directions to choose from, then refinement of the one you pick.
- Full print wrapFront, spine and back, with the blurb, a barcode area, and the spine width set to your final page count.
- eBook and marketing filesThe eBook cover, plus versions for retailer pages, social media and advertising.
Guides from our blog
What to put on your back cover
Your back cover has a few jobs to do in a very small space. A simple checklist of what belongs there, and what does not.
Illustrated cover or photography? Choosing a cover style by genre
The right cover style tells readers what they are buying before they read a word. How to choose between illustration, photography and typography.
Questions about book cover design
Will the free review tell me which services I need?
It tells you where your book stands and what it needs next. If we're a good fit, we follow it with a recommended roadmap that names the services and explains why. For a detailed read with comments through the manuscript, an Alpha Reader Review is available as a separate service.
Our other publishing services
Book writing
Your story, written in your voice.
More about book writingBook editing
Editing that keeps your voice and sharpens everything else.
More about book editingBook design and illustration
Pictures that belong to your story.
More about book design and illustrationInterior layout design
Pages that are a pleasure to read.
More about interior layout designBook formatting
Files that work on the platforms you publish to.
More about book formattingIndependent assisted book launch
The practical side of publishing, explained and handled with you.
More about independent assisted book launchBook marketing and promotion
A plan for the months around your release.
More about book marketing and promotionReady for an honest read of your book?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review. Send the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. There's no obligation, and you'll hear what we think before you're asked to commit to anything.