Beware of package dealscompendium

I don’t offer preset package deals; they are rarely a good value. These use templates and pre-made designs, and tend to have a “self-published” look. I custom-design every aspect of your project from start to finish.

Read the fine print carefully. Package deals for covers usually require you to provide a suitable photo (which must meet specific criteria). Finding good photos (or other images) is the designer's job, not the author's. Also, a photo is not always the best choice for a book cover. Go to a bookstore and look at book covers; chances are that the ones which really catch your eye are not just photos with a title. I create original cover designs which capture the essence of your book. Most packages simply take a photo you supply and slap some text on it.

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Beware of hidden costs. Most package deals charge extra for basic steps such as photo editing, tables, barcode, etc. The price quote you recive from me will be for the complete project, with no "extras" added on later.

For book interiors, many package and “discount” services simply take your text file and dump it into a pre-made template. They don’t check for and adjust the myriad of typographic details that separate professional publishing from something less (they either don’t know about these things, or their package price is so low that they can’t afford to do them).

Avoid potential legal problems. "The "free" stock photos others use often have copyright restrictions that forbid their use for commercial purposes—like books for sale. I only use images with the appropriate copyright terms. Also, most package deal services won't tell you this, but they own the copyright to your book—not you. With Salem Book Design, you will own the cover design, the ISBN/barcode registration—everything.