Genre-Perfect Direction
We study your story, genre, audience and market to create a visual direction that feels right for your book.
Cover Design · Illustrated
Illustrated covers,
Illustrated covers,
original art.
Original illustration-based covers for novels, memoirs and children's titles. Never templated. Every piece is drawn for your book.
- Service
- Illustrated Book Covers
- Starting price
- From $650
- Typical timeline
- 10–14 days from brief
- For
- Fiction, memoir, and children's authors
- Revisions
- Two full rounds, then corrections
- Copyright
- 100% yours on final payment
Section 01: What's included
Everything you need, nothing held back.
Delivered in your name. Copyright assigned. Nothing rented.
- Illustrated concept developed from your genre, mood, and brief.
- Two initial sketches: loose compositions for direction approval.
- Full colour rendering in a style matched to your book.
- Three revision rounds on the final illustration.
- Print-ready and digital files: PDF, JPEG, PNG, and EPUB thumbnail.
- Source files transferred on final payment.
Section 02: How it works
Five steps, signed off by you.
No surprises. Each stage closes before the next begins.
1
Brief & Proposal
A free consultation covering your goals, scope and timeline. A fixed-price proposal lands in your inbox within 48 hours.
2
Plan & Outline
Detailed outline or project map, approved by you before any work begins. No ambiguity, no scope drift.
3
Draft & Deliver
Work arrives in stages and you review and mark it up freely. Every project includes two full revision rounds.
4
Revise & Refine
Your feedback incorporated fully. Final polish, proofread, and quality check before sign-off.
5
Deliver & Hand Over
All files in every format you need, copyright transferred, and support through your first 30 days live.
Section 03: Portfolio
Books we've published.
A selection from our 214+ published titles.
Section 04: Testimonials
Authors who let us name them.
“
The fixed-price proposal meant I knew exactly what I was committing to before I signed
anything. The work came in on time, on budget, and I kept every right. That's rare.
★★★★★
James HartleyAuthor · 2025
“
I'd worked with three other services before American Publisher. The difference is the
attention. Nothing felt like it was being pushed through a system. The book looks and reads exactly as I
imagined it.
★★★★★
Sarah OkonkwoAuthor · 2025
“
Zero KDP rejections. They handled everything: metadata, categories, A+ content. My book
went live and correctly categorised on the first upload, and I haven't touched the account since.
★★★★★
Michael TorresAuthor · 2024
Section 05: From concept to cover
We Turn Your Story Into A Cover That Gets Noticed
Custom Cover Design
From typography and imagery to colour and composition, every element is crafted around your story — never a generic template.
Built To Stand Out
Your cover is designed to look compelling whether it appears as a tiny online thumbnail or a full-size printed book.
Ready For Every Format
Get professionally prepared covers for ebook, paperback, hardcover, and every major publishing platform.
Section 06: Investment
Three editions, honest numbers.
No retainers, no hidden fees. Most authors choose the middle edition.
Starter Edition
The essentials, done well.
$650 · starting
- Core deliverables as scoped
- One revision round
- Standard turnaround
- Copyright assigned on delivery
- Email support throughout
most chosen
Full Edition
Everything, beautifully made.
Custom · quoted in 48 hrs
- Full scope as agreed in proposal
- Two revision rounds
- Priority turnaround
- Copyright assigned on delivery
- 30-day post-delivery support
Bespoke Edition
A tailored solution.
Quoted · per project
- Multi-volume or series scope
- Dedicated project manager
- Unlimited revision rounds
- Rush turnaround available
- White-glove delivery
Section 07: Guarantees
Things we put in writing.
Each of these is in your contract, in plain English, on page one.
Author retains 100% of rights.
Copyright transfers to you on final payment. We never licence, resell, or retain any claim on your work.
Fixed price, fixed scope.
The number in the proposal is the number on the invoice. If scope grows, we re-quote in writing before any additional work begins.
KDP-acceptance promise.
If your files are rejected at upload for a technical reason we caused, we fix it free, usually within 24 hours.
Confidentiality, always.
A mutual NDA is signed before any brief is shared. We never disclose client names, titles, or any project detail.
Section 08: How to begin
Four steps from idea to published.
-
Tell us about your project.
A short email or the contact form below. We respond within one working day.
-
Receive a fixed-price proposal.
Within 48 hours you get a written quote, a timeline and a one-page contract. No obligation and no sales follow-up.
-
Approve and we begin.
Work is delivered in agreed stages with review points built in. You're in control at every step.
-
Receive your files.
All deliverables in every format you need, copyright assigned, and 30 days of post-delivery support included.
Section 09: FAQ
Questions we're asked.
What illustration styles are available?
We match the illustrator's style to your genre: painterly, graphic, ink-line or collage.
Can I request a specific artist?
Yes, subject to availability. We can also show you a portfolio of styles before you commit.
Who owns the cover illustration?
Full copyright transfers to you on final payment.
Do you write the back-cover blurb?
Yes. Included as standard.
What if the concept isn't right?
Two initial sketch concepts are shown for direction approval before any rendering begins. We realign at that stage.
Section 10: Related
Often paired with this.
Begin your book.
A fixed-price proposal in 48 hours. No obligation, no follow-up sales call.