Picture of PeterMBall

PeterMBall

Peter M. Ball is a speculative fiction writer, small press publisher, and writing mentor from Brisbane, Austraila. He publishes his own work through Eclectic Projects and works as the brain in charge at Brain Jar Press.

Custom Book Cover Design

I’m currently CLOSED to freelance book cover design commissions. If you’d like me to design your book cover, email me at PeterMBall@gmail.com and we’ll have a chat about your book, determine the price, and negotiate a spot in my schedule. Want to get an idea of the work I do? I’m the primary cover designer for Brain Jar Press, and there’s a gallery of selected Brain Jar and freelance projects below.

My starting rates are:

  • Ebook cover: $200 AUS (approx $150 US)
  • Ebook cover + 1 Additional format (KDP print; IngramSpark Print; Audiobook): $350 AUS (Approx $250 US)
  • Each Additional Format after the first: + $40 AUS (Approx $30 US)

More complex covers (requiring composite images) and additional design assets: $50 AUS an hour.

I’ll typically offer you three rough concepts at the start of the design process, then use your feedback to figure out the final image. Discounts available if you order multiple covers at once. If you’re working on a budget, I’ve got some pre-made cover options available.

Want to hire me for your design needs? Drop me an email here.

  • Cover design for Alan Baxter’s Shaodow Bites: A Horror Sampler
  • Private commission for a book printed as a christmas present
  • Full-wrap print cover for Corella Press’ Death of a Nom De Plum
  • Cover for Corealla Press’ From Shadow Lands and Other Genre Stories (Original art by Kathleen Jennings)
  • Cover art and promo image for Sean Williams Little Labrynths from Brian Jar Press
  • Cover art and promo image for Kim Wilkin’s Headstrong Girl from Brian Jar Press

FAQ

What counts as a Complex Cover?

Covers where there are very specific images/layout requirements, requiring the creation of composite images, prolonged research or the commissioning of original art. Most covers don’t fit into this category; in the gallery above only Death of a Nom De Plum fit this description, as Corella Press wanted a very specific suite of locations and images that saw us build the final image out of three different source photographs (although I should note Corella had already commissioned the original cover art for From Shadow Land before hiring me to do the cover).

How Long Will My Cover Take?

Between three weeks and two months, depending on current commissions, how many additional formats we’re designing for, and how focused your title development. There’s typically a three-step process in play:

  1. Peter designs three rough covers and forwards them to you for feedback.
  2. Peter designs the final ebook cover.
  3. Peter then creates additional formats and design assets from the ebook cover, as required.

The initial designs will typically run pretty quickly, and if we’re working to a specific deadline let me know when you first email.

More to explorer