Want to publish a book?

DON'T BE JUDGED BY YOUR COVER


Cover design templates & tutorials to make your book stand out.

PICTURE THIS...

You wrote a great book, but everyone is ignoring it.


You try to get reviews but your emails go unanswered. You advertise and promote but nobody is buying. Your book is getting rejected by people who haven't even read it yet. That means you have a packaging problem. But what if professional book cover design is out of your budget?

Hi, I’m Derek Murphy. A few years ago I had a thriving six-figure book cover design business working with exclusive bestselling authors, and touring the world to speak at publishing conferences (even one on a cruise ship). I gave it up to focus on my own writing - hoping to put my PhD in literature to use - but started making free resources to help authors make their own book covers on a budget, without any specialized design skills or software.

The incredible demand for this unique skillset has grown to nearly 3 million views, and I’ve put together a ton of insider secrets about book design, self-publishing and book marketing for you. So if you’re at all interested in publishing a book (that actually sells) keep reading.

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Ok, so what is this site exactly?


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It started with a crazy idea: making book cover templates in Microsoft WORD – a resource most authors have that can be surprisingly effective at book design. I made a bundle of 150+ design templates for all the most popular fiction and nonfiction genres.

I even invested a ton of money in an online design tool, but it broke when Flash stopped working. I still have my free ISBN barcode maker and free 3D book mockup generator – so check those out because you’ll need them later. More recently, for those authors who want to get a bit more serious and have access to Photoshop, I’ve been making detailed Photoshop tutorials.

Tell me about the templates!


Ok sure, you can buy a whole package, and things are set up so you can add your art or picture, save your cover and be done in 15 minutes. That said, it’s a hack not a solution: covers are super important, and if you can afford it, you should probably hire a professional.

But if you want to play around at designing your own, my templates will save you some time and effort. I'll also tell you where to find the best photos, artwork, and genre-appropriate fonts for book cover design.

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BUT WAIT A MINUTE!

Here’s the important thing...


Most authors don’t need a blank canvas to scratch out their cover design ideas. You can be a great designer and still get everything wrong, if you don’t understand the fundamentals of book design and publishing. So I like to think the tutorial resources and educational material is the most valuable thing I offer (even though, most authors just want to do what they want to do, and won’t realize until much later they destroyed their sales or launch momentum).

This is too important not to share, because it’s so absolutely crucial, and it’s the one thing you can definitely, easily control – if you bother to spend a little time. That’s why I’ve made a ton of resources and my guide to book design, 100% free for life. You can even download some sample templates to play around with. And I’ll give you two bonus guides, to self-publishing and book marketing – in the hopes it saves you the extra $5000 most authors spend on a failed launch.

The free stuff will help you understand the basics, so you can start designing your own covers without making noob mistakes. But if you actually want a great cover that sells the book, I recommend grabbing the full bundle. It works out to less than $1 per template; you can make unlimited covers with them; and for a limited time I'm offering my $297 course on book marketing as a special bonus.

  • Already made up your mind? Great! Click a button below.
  • Still skeptical, need more info? Keep scrolling for a ton of positive testimonials.
Free Book Cover Design Starter Pack
DIY your book design
$0

Get the free package of sample templates, 3+ hours of free cover design tutorials and 2 bonus guides.

  • 15+ templates
  • 3+ hours of tutorials
  • Cover Design secrets (Guide)
  • Publish on a Budget (Guide)
  • Book Marketing is Dead (Guide)
Guerrilla Publishing & Book Marketing Program
Book launch prep and support
$497

Save a ton of time and get help now - I can help you avoid common mistakes and succeed faster, by making sure your book is perfect inside and out.

  • Feedback On Your Cover
  • Edit Your Blurb + Keywords
  • Deep Critique of Your 1st Chapter
  • A bundle of 6 courses
  • 3 Months Coaching + Mentorship

 

 

Free Training

Unskippable Cover Design Tips



Don't Forget to Grab Your Free Guide!


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Sign up now for my free starter package of templates and the full video series on book design, and I'll send you a BONUS book on publishing on a budget. You'll learn....

You'll learn: 

➽ 3 Foolproof Layouts That Work for Any Genre
➽ 8 Cover Design Secrets Readers Can't Resist
➽ 60 Fonts You Should Never Use on your Book Cover
➽ 7 Foolproof Design Strategies to Make your Cover Perfect
➽ The Best Free Online Graphic Software for Your Book Covers
➽ 300+ Recommended Fonts for Every Genre
➽ 5 Common Book Cover Myths Most Indie Authors Believe
➽ The Simple Tweak that Tripled my Book Sales
➽ How to Find the Best Art and Photos (that NOBODY else is using!)

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Yes! Give me the free guide!

You're still here?

You probably have questions...


Maybe you don't have time to read a bunch of books, and are looking for fast solutions. You're probably wondering whether the free package is good enough, or if it's worth upgrading to the $47 offer. Real quick, here's a summary of what you get access to when you sign up. Everything is hosted on the "Teachable" platform, which will give you life-time access to the course modules and downloadable template files. I keep it updated and my newer tutorials are the bomb. That said, I'm an ADHD racoon pirate and it's impossible to keep everything updated.

  • 1

    150 Book Cover Templates for MS Word

    Open and edit the templates with Microsoft Word.

Learn the design tricks that let you work magic in Microsoft Word. Use any fonts you have installed on your system. Who knew you could make covers this good?

  • Strip background
  • Transparent layers
  • Limitless fonts
  • Blend layers
  • Text effects
  • Save PDF, convert to JPG
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    Learn to DIY your own covers

    Just in case you need them.

You'll learn the basics of design theory, and then we'll roll up our sleeves and make dozens of sample covers together using a variety of tools. You'll learn to design your own covers from scratch and master the art of book covers. You’ll also see how the littlest changes can make a huge difference in sales.

  • Expert design
  • Easy to customize
  • Limitless functionality
  • PSD files and font list
  • Save to any format
  • More flexibility
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  • 3

    Photoshop templates

    Just in case you need them.

I don't want you to have to choose between DIY Book Covers and some other premade Photoshop templates; so I've decide to make 100 of my own and add them into the member's area, for those who prefer to work in Photoshop. Coming soon.

  • Expert design
  • Easy to customize
  • Limitless functionality
  • PSD files and font list
  • Save to any format
  • More flexibility
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    Headers, ads and online graphics

    Templates for Facebook and Twitter, image quotes for Pinterest, ad boxes and optin offers... we've got you covered.

Build a branded author platform with a universal style. We've got stuff you don't even realize you need.

  • Adboxes
  • Optin offers
  • Headers and covers
  • Promotional graphics
  • Image quotes
  • Facebook ads
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  • 5

    Full print cover templates

    I'll show you how to turn your cover into a full print cover.

Once you've learned how to make front covers, it's not that difficult to finish up the spine and back and make a print cover for CreateSpace or IngramSpark.

  • Calculate spine width
  • Back copy that sells
  • ISBN/barcode
  • Author photo / bio
  • Publishing imprint
  • Print specs
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    Business cards, bookmarks and postcards

    Not just for the web!

These templates can produce 300dpi, print-ready files. I'll show you where to use them, so you can get physical promotional materials to hand out at your next event.

  • Postcards
  • Bookmarks
  • Business cards
  • High quality print materials
  • Professional image
  • Marketing edge
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FACT: Even a slightly better book cover can double or triple sales overnight.

Cut your marketing budget in half, spend less time on social media, and still sell more books - with a great cover.

There's way more stuff than you'll ever need, but even a fraction of it could make a huge impact. The free package is full of information but it can be time-consuming. The paid package has a bunch of done for you templates, tools and time savers... not to mention the courses on book marketing and building an author platform. If you just want to throw up a book and don't care about sales, go for the free package. If you hope to be a successful self-published author, then the $47 deal is the best offer on the internet, because it'll help you avoid expensive mistakes. That said, if everything feels overwhelming and you need more support and guidance, check out the coaching offer, which is the only choice that comes with personal feedback.

Summary of benefits

TESTIMONIALS

Smart people saying nice things...


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Limited time bonuses

Act fast to grab these extras!


My cover templates are already a steal for $47 (other people charge more than that for a *single* template) but I have an obligation to try and sell stuff, even though it feels icky to me. It keeps the lights on so more authors can access my free tools. So if you grab the package deal today, I'm adding in some special bonuses, including my $297 course on book marketing. You'll get help building your author platform, email list, getting more reviews and more.

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MS Word and InDesign Interior Formatting Layout Templates

After the cover, you'll need help with formatting, which can be tricky. I've put together a package of professional book layouts to help - along with video tutorials.

REGULAR PRICE = $349

Reach Your Readers (Author Platform Building)

Millions of books are published each year, and less than 1% of them ever turn a profit. I want to help you do better - but that means understanding how books get found. This course focuses on discoverability, SEO and keywords, blogging and blurbs, getting more book reviews, building an email list and engaging readers, and so much more!

REGULAR PRICE = $297
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ISBN Barcode Generator

Bowker charges $25 to make a scan-ready barcode from your ISBN. You can use my online barcode generator to make one for free and add it to your book cover.

$25 PER BARCODE

Self-editing tips

I spent 10 years getting a PhD in Literature, and another 5 as a developmental editor. I've put together some of my best writing and self-editing tips to help you avoid critical, amateur mistakes. Whether or not you hire an editor, these resources will help give your book a "final polish" that will set it up for success.

Regular Price $197
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Slick 3D Mockups

When your front cover is ready,  use our tool to make some slick 3D renderings you can use for online promotion.

REGULAR PRICE = $97

(That's over $671 worth of free bonuses, in case you are wondering).

All this, for only...

Free Book Cover Design Starter Pack
DIY your book design
$0

Get the free package of sample templates, 3+ hours of free cover design tutorials and 2 bonus guides.

  • 15+ templates
  • 3+ hours of tutorials
  • Cover Design secrets (Guide)
  • Publish on a Budget (Guide)
  • Book Marketing is Dead (Guide)
Guerrilla Publishing & Book Marketing Program
Book launch prep and support
$497

Save a ton of time and get help now - I can help you avoid common mistakes and succeed faster, by making sure your book is perfect inside and out.

  • Feedback On Your Cover
  • Edit Your Blurb + Keywords
  • Deep Critique of Your 1st Chapter
  • A bundle of 6 courses
  • 3 Months Coaching + Mentorship
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60 Day Money-back guarantee

Your purchase is 100% Risk Free. I understand DIY Covers may not work for everyone. If you can’t use it or are unhappy for any reason, just email me and I’ll happily refund your money.

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Don't leave empty handed

"A rising tide lifts all boats."

Even if you never buy anything from me, I want to make sure I do everything in my power to help your book succeed. So here are 3 free, full-length guides to help you out. Avoid promotion mistakes that can kill sales. Plug up the holes in your sales funnel so you’re not throwing money away. Learn how to advertise effectively (for less) and run powerful promotions. Make friends with key influencers who can sell thousands of copies. You don't even need to give me your email - just click to download.

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About Me

Hi! I'm Derek Murphy. I've designed book covers for hundreds of writers and many best-selling authors. I'm also developing other ways to help authors sell more books.

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DIY Book Covers

Customizable book cover templates for indie authors. Make your book beautiful.

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