Frogtown specializes in fiction books of all genres and nonfiction books requiring straightforward formatting, including some illustrations, sidebars or the like. At this time, Frogtown does not offer design for scholarly books, books requiring highly field-specific formatting, or heavily illustrated books.
Choose how I create your book:
Collaboration. You can be as involved in the choices that go into creating your design as you want to be.
Or if you prefer, Worry-free. Just send your material and I’ll turn it into a handsome book design for your approval.
I’m happy to discuss whether Frogtown’s designs would be a good fit for your project. Please contact me for a free consultation.
What does an eBook include?
An uploadable file with interactive features (table of contents, web links, etc.), including the cover designed by Frogtown or supplied by you.
You then upload this file to the seller of your choice (such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or others).
What does a print book design include?
An interior “block” includes a title page, copyright page and any other front matter you request, the book text itself, illustrations, if any, and the back matter (such as an author bio). Frogtown will happily advise on what should be included, and in what order.
You’ll also want a cover. Paperback covers include a front, back and spine. Hardback jackets have the same, plus jacket flaps.
All covers include a front cover image sized for web and other marketing.
You’ll get the interior block and covers as separate .pdf files ready for uploading, unless you request it in some other form.
Do I need anything else?
If your book will be for sale, it needs an ISBN number so distributors can handle it. The ISBN is included in the book, so you’ll need one by the time your book goes into design. The publisher or self-publishing author buys the isbn numers. Each format (kindle, epub, paperback, print book) needs its own isbn number. They can be bought in lots.
Some print book publishers also choose to get a Library of Congress number. This should also be obtained in time to include in the finished book.
Some print book publishers also choose to purchase Cataloging-in-Publication data (a library call number and official categories). The categories are useful for bookstores and book reviewers as they categorize books. Libraries use the call number.
What format, size and resolution are required for images to be used on my cover?
Artwork or photographs for covers should be in .jpg format, if possible. I do accept several other formats; contact me.
Image size should be at least 2,000 pixels by 1500 pixels, at 300 dpi/ppi or more. If you don’t know what size and resolution your image is, I’ll be glad to help.
For an e-Book cover, the image resolution is ideally 300 dpi.
Note: although sources like Wikimedia Commons provide free images in public domain or licensed for use, most of these aren’t in high enough resolution for a professional quality print cover. Standard web resolution is only 75-150 dpi, compared to the 300 or more needed for good print quality.
Again, if you have an image but aren’t sure if it will make a professional quality printed cover, I’m happy to let you know.
What are the legal requirements for image use?
Book publication is commercial use. Any image used on or in a book must be licensed for commercial use, or else the photographer’s or artist’s permission must be obtained by the book’s publisher (or self-publishing author). This information will appear on the copyright page. Licensed images can by bought economically at venues such as shutterstock.com. Or Frogtown can help you locate the perfect image(s) for your cover and will guarantee their legal use. Frogtown respects the ethics of intellectual property rights and will not knowingly use any image or font in any way that violates US copyright laws or the artist’s intellectual property rights, but for any image the client provides and Frogtown uses in good faith, legal responsibility lies not with Frogtown or Beth Tashery Shannon, but entirely with the publisher of the book.
How about the author’s copyright?
Frogtown will provide you with a legally effective copyright notice and copyright disclaimer. This is all you need to establish your copyright firmly by law. If the copyright holder is someone other than the author, please let me know who the copyright page should establish as the copyright holder.
You, the client, gain the copyright to your cover and interior design. Frogtown Bookmaker has no copyright over your book or its text and retains only the right to use the designs it creates to in order market Frogtown Bookmaker (for instance, on the “covers” and “interiors” sample pages on this site). Frogtown will not re-sell or re-use your design for any other purpose. The book’s copyright holder gains no ownership of fonts, images or other elements not created by either the author, publisher, or Frogtown Bookmaker. All legal responsibility for correct attribution of others’ intellectual property in the text of the book belongs to the author or copyright holder of the book.