How do I make contact? How do we begin?

1. Begin by reading these FAQs and looking at book illustration samples or graphic design samples to determine if my range of illustration and design styles is suitable for your project.

2. If all that is workable for you, send an email to me with a brief description of your needs, and, if a storybook project, attach your finished manuscript. If you have specific design or illustration ideas that you want incorporated, include those in your email.

3. Within a day or two you will receive an email to acknowledge receipt of your inquiry and to let you know when to expect a response with prices and suggestions. For smaller projects, that first email may include the quote and a schedule for completion.

My quote for a storybook will include a text-only layout (emailed to you as a PDF attachment) showing where illustrations will be placed, and a brief, written description of each illustration. If you have supplied ideas about what text you want on each page, and what each illustration should be, I will lay out the book with your ideas in mind. In most cases I can make those decisions for you. We can adjust the layout as you wish to get the book you want.

4. Smaller illustration or design projects that will be done in a month or less require a 50% deposit to reserve a slot in my schedule and to begin work. Longer projects can be paid in thirds with the second payment due when I'm halfway through. The balance is due promptly upon completion, and your competed, publishing quality files will not be released until final payment is received.

When can you start on my project?

My schedule for storybook projects can sometimes be full for a few to several months, although sometimes I can be available right away. If you just need a cover or another single item of graphic design or illustration, I can usually get started more promptly.

What does your service include?

I provide a complete design and illustration service including the preparation of high-resolution PDF book interior and cover files to meet the specifications of your publishing service. A storybook project will include the full cover (front and back), and the illustration, design and formatting of the complete book.

If your project is just a book cover or a limited number of illustrations or pieces of graphic design, I will provide the artwork in whatever file format you need. All work is done digitally from start to finish, so I provide digital files rather than artwork on paper or canvas.

What does it cost?

My total fee for complete storybook projects (all illustration, design and final prep for full cover and interior pages) have ranged from $2-8,000, but most fall in the $3-4,000 range. The price depends on book dimensions, number of pages, and how many and what kind of illustrations are needed. I must see a finished manuscript to set a fee for your book project. At this time, for the typical self publishing author, I ask for no commission or royalty on book sales, so my fee is a one-time expense for the self publisher.

The prices below are typical but may change depending on the needs of your project. Very complex, detailed art will call for a higher price. That is why I must see your manuscript and specifications to arrive at a price for your project.

• A typical color page illustration is $100-200 depending on the needs of the project. Larger, 2-page spread illustrations are typically $250-350. Small spot illustrations are a minimum of $50 each.
• Covers begin at $500 if part of a complete storybook project, or $750 and up for covers only, or for covers of books with limited interior art.
• Design, formatting and PDF preparation is $15/page for storybooks (picture books) that I am also illustrating. (If you are providing all the art and only need me to prepare your book for publication, the fee is usually $30/page, but can vary up or down depending on the needs of your project.)
• Novels and other books that are mainly text are priced based on the needs of the project.
• Other design or illustration projects are priced based on the specifications of the work required.

Do you also print and sell my book?

As a self publishing author, you must hire a publishing or printing service to print your book and help you sell it.

Many of the authors I work with use the services of Amazon's self publishing service, CreateSpace. Another interesting option is lulu.com, but there are many other publishing services on the internet that cater to the self publisher. It's a good idea to visit their websites to find the mix of services and rates that suit your needs and budget.

Each service will have specifications as to what sizes and types of books they can print, so it's important to first do some research to find the service that can do what you want done. That way we can be confident that the book I design for you will meet the specifications of your publishing service. Otherwise, it can mean extra time and expense to re-format a book we've already begun or completed.

Some authors control the entire process themselves by forming their own small publishing company and hiring a printer. Some also hire a PR firm to help market their book, or become very active themselves in promoting and marketing their book.

As a courtesy, I place a "purchase this book" link on my sample pages when your book is available on amazon or some other website.

Will you proofread and edit my manuscript?

All text is the author's responsibility and should be in final form by the time I see it. However, as the book progresses I can correct typos you spot, or make other minor adjustments as you direct so that the final product is letter perfect. I strongly recommend that all manuscripts be proofed and corrected by a professional editor. Your publishing service can usually provide one. I can not start working on a book that has only a rough, unedited manuscript.

Do I get a chance to review the work?

Yes. This illustration service is designed to include the author in the creative process. When work on a project begins, I create a web site where you can review your design project or your book project as it progresses, page by page. Suggestions, corrections, and other feedback can be offered at any time via email.

Will you illustrate anything?

I may feel I'm not be the right illustrator for your project or I may feel it's not ready for professional treatment. Don't bother sending politically or sexually charged, violent or hateful material.

What software and hardware do you use for illustration?

I work completely digitally from rough sketch to finished art. My current workstation includes a 9x12 Wacom pen tablet and a 24" LCD monitor. I use Corel PainterX and Adobe PhotoShop CS4 for most artwork and production chores. Adobe InDesign CS4 is used to set up book pages and covers. Adobe Illustrator CS4 is used when vector-based images are called for. As of this writing, all my work is done with a 2005-era Pentium 4 PC running Windows XP Pro 64-bit.

How do I pay?

A check or money order (US Dollars) payable to:

Don Berry / 2544 E. Linden St. / Tucson AZ 85716-3046.

You can also pay with your PayPal account or visa or mastercard by clicking on the PayPal button on my Payment Page.

How long does it take?

A typical 32-page picture book will take 8-10 weeks to complete. After I review your manuscript I can better determine a schedule for your specific project.

Other design projects can usually be scheduled to meet your deadlines.

What if I need to call you or send a fax as we work together?

E-mail is my preferred way of communicating with you, but if you need to call during the course of the project, my phone number is 520-326-5148, weekday business hours, please! (USA Mountain Standard Time). It would be best if we first agree, via email, on a time for you to call so that I can be prepared and available.

My fax number is 1-815-361-9173.

What about copyrights and royalties?

For the typical self publishing author this is a one-time fee that includes rights to the artwork for any and all uses related to the self published book and it's promotion and marketing, and no artist royalties or other fees will apply. However, I must be clearly identified as the illustrator and/or designer, as appropriate, on the cover and on the title page and/or copyright page. If you wish to use the artwork for some other purpose entirely, that must be negotiated as a separate project and other fees may apply.

If you are not a typical self publishing author--if you are famous or otherwise assured of major sales, we will negotiate advances, copyrights and royalties as would be done with any reputable publishing house.

Note: In traditional publishing, the author typically has no say about how or by whom the book is illustrated and designed. As a self publisher, you make all those decisions but must pay all the bills.