The cover is the first impression a reader gets of your book
Take care of the outside of your story as much as you have taken care of the inside.
You've spent months (or years) writing your story
And revising it countless times, working tirelessly to perfect the final product.
Finally, you're publishing that book. Your story is no longer just yours. It belongs to your readers.
And after months or years of dedication, you spend one afternoon creating a cover using Canva, choosing a photo you liked from the internet, and adding a title.
In fact, since you want it illustrated—because everything seems to have an illustration these days—you decide to use generative AI.
That's the gateway to your whole world.
What could go wrong?
✘ That the image you used isn't royalty-free.
✘ That your book gets punished for using AI.
✘ That the cover is too generic.
✘ That the title is difficult to read.
✘ Worst of all, may the cover doesn't resonate with your reader or fit the genre you write in.
A cover isn't just an image with your story's title
It has to identify the genre of the story and capture the reader's attention.
And that's much more than choosing a pretty picture and adding some text.
The process of creating a book cover involves as many phases as any design project:
〇 Analysis of the story's information and reading.
〇 Preliminary research into the genre, concepts, and formal aspects.
〇 Ideation based on the conclusions.
〇 Sketching and development of concepts.
〇 Illustration process.
〇 Selection of typographies and layout.
〇 Preparation of the final files for printing.
Throughout this process, the author and designer must work closely together and listen to each other to ensure the final result is the most suitable for the story and the reader.
I'll be honest: when I started designing covers, I also thought a cover was simply creating an eye-catching illustration and adding text. But...
A cover requires a lot of planning, and every decision made must have a design justification.
Back then, I simply illustrated what the author requested, I drew what they liked.
Eh! But OF COURSE the cover has to appeal to the author. Simply, it's not the only thing that matters.
The cover balances what makes the story unique and what readers expect from it.
And what will the process be like?
It all starts with a message. You can send it directly to info@kalisdice.com or through the form below (I recommend the second option since there are guiding questions that will make the process easier).
You can tell me about yourself and what this novel means to you.
I will also need:
〇 The first chapters of your manuscript (as the best way to understand your story is to immerse myself in your universe)
〇 The complete synopsis of the story.
〇 The main topics.
〇 The target audience (age is enough!)
〇 The genre.
〇 The format in which you want to publish (paperback, ebook...)
〇 Your ideas and references (if you have any).
If you know them, also the publication date and approximate dimensions.
You might have no idea when to publish or what steps to take. Don't worry, most of the authors who contacted me don't know either.
After self-publishing my own book and publishing two others with publishers, I can help you make those decisions and guide you.
Throughout the process, you can ask any questions you have about self-publishing or traditional publishing
I'll help you as much as I can, sharing everything that worked for me
Your idea matters more than you believe
Maybe you have a clear idea in your head that you want to bring to life. Or on the contrary, you have no idea what would work for your book.
Whether you have a thousand ideas or none at all, I'll be there to guide you through the process and treat your story with the same care you've given it.
I've had the opportunity to design covers for authors who came with brilliant ideas that worked very well from start to finish! On other occasions, they had a clear idea, but after seeing the different sketches, they preferred to pursue another compositon line.
In all cases, you will be the one making the decisions; I'll only act as a guide with a paintbrush.
〇 You'll receive initial sketches, along with my conclusions and explanations of my decisions. This will be the starting point for our work.
〇 During the rest of the process, you can suggest up to three changes per phase (lineart, color, rendering, etc.) and evaluate different typographic styles.
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Choose the option that matches your format
Depending on the result you want to achieve,
choose the option that best suits you.
Prices may vary depending on the number of copies of the book
and the region where it is published.
Bilogies, trilogies and sagas can get a 15% discount!
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This is all you'll get:
〇 Final illustration (no text)
〇 Cover in various formats
〇 PNG of the title only (useful for the inner layout)
〇 Video of the process
〇 Some mockups of the cover
〇 Non-exclusive commercial license (you can use the illustration for prints, both as gifts and for sale)
〇 10% discount on future orders
〇 Follow-up and updates if you need them!
Make your book even more special
Add extras to your book for a lower price than if you ordered them separately.
All of them come with a commercial licence (non-exclusive) included!
Promotional content on my social media
Need a little boost for your story? My social media accounts focus on books and art.
If you send me a physical copy of your book once the order is complete,
I will dedicate two posts to talking about it.
Only available for books written in Spanish
All in one project
Looking for different professionals for each part of the project can complicate the process, which is why I offer packages to bring the style together and get the most out of your novel.
If you are going to self-publish your story,
turn it into a work of art inside and out!
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Is it way out of your budget
but you still want to work with me?
A cover is a big expense, and with everything else you have to invest in your story,
I understand that these prices might not work for you!
That's why I've found a way to reduce this cost
while keeping the essence of my style.
Would you like to take a look at my budget-friendly options?
Take a look at these covers!
If there is one thing these authors have in common, it is that they all appreciated the art of their novels. You can add magic to your story too!
Reserve your spot for the next quarter of the year.
I don't work on more than three covers at the same time, to ensure that I dedicate the time they deserve to them, enjoying the story and being available to answer any questions.
To sum up...
This is what it would be like to work with me
if you allow me into your story:
〇 Reading of the first chapters of the manuscript and research.
〇 Different sketches to choose from, with justifications for the conclusions drawn from the analysis and research.
〇 Step-by-step guidance and continuous feedback.
〇 Choice of different typographic options.
〇 Delivery of final files, including the illustration separately, the title in PNG format, and a video of the entire process.
〇 Spine adjustments after delivery (they always need to be made!).
〇 Process monitoring. You can ask any questions after delivery. I will be available to address any issues that may arise.
If you still have doubts, remember that my first message will only be to give you a quote tailored to your needs.
If you're not happy with it, you don't even have to reply!
I know how stressful it can be when a quote doesn't fit and you have to apologize and reject it, so if I don't hear from you after ten days, I'll consider it a no! So, take that pressure off yourself!
