Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Book Design

How to design and layout your self-published book

February 21 2009
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Durham College Uxbridge Campus
Testa Building
2nd floor

Computer Lab

“You can’t judge a book by its cover” is an old piece of wisdom — but lots of people do!

Without the credibility of a commercial publishing house behind it, a self-published book arguably needs professional quality layout for both its interior and the cover even more than a publishing industry trade book does, so as to hold its own in the marketplace. Print-on-demand companies offer layout and design services as add-ons to the publishing process, but these services can cost from $1000 to $2000 or more.

This workshop is designed to provide participants with the skills needed to prepare both their own interior manuscript and professional cover design incorporating appropriate graphic elements of colour, type and image (such as photo or illustration), so that their self published book is visually competitive in the market place.

Participants are welcome to bring a manuscript they are working with and an image they think they might want to use for the cover. If participants don’t have these elements yet, working files will be provided.

Instruction is hands-on with participants working on a computer throughout the day. Class members will also be provided with a book to take home with all the notes from the day’s lessons — beautifully designed of course!

Sue Reynolds was a graphic designer in the book publishing industry for 16 years, and has assisted several authors to self publish their trade books and chapbooks in a professional and visually pleasing format.

Class size is limited to the number of computers in the lab, so early registration is recommended.

$100 for WCDR Members/ $110 for non-members

Fee is due upon registration.