A book cover has one job: make the right reader stop scrolling and click, and it does that by signaling genre instantly, staying legible as a small thumbnail, and looking professional next to the books it's competing with. Interior layout has a quieter job: get out of the reader's way so nothing about the formatting distracts from the words.
This guide covers what makes a cover work, how expectations differ by genre, the basics of interior layout, and the AI-cover debate that's reshaped this part of publishing over the past few years. Each section links to a full article when you want more detail.
Most readers decide whether to click on a book within a second or two, often from a thumbnail-sized image scrolling past on a phone. The cover doesn't need to explain the plot; it needs to signal genre and tone instantly, so the right reader recognizes "this is my kind of book" before they've read a word of the description. A well-designed cover is doing marketing work, not just decoration.
Interior layout is invisible when it's done well and distracting when it isn't. Inconsistent margins, a font that's hard to read at length, chapter breaks that look accidental, these are the kinds of things that make a self-published book feel unpolished even when the writing is strong. See Interior Layout Basics and Ebook vs. Print Formatting.
Cover design and layout typically happen after editing is complete and before you're ready to publish, running in parallel with your final proofread and your first ARC outreach:
See the Complete Guide to Book Editing and Book Launch Timeline: From Beta Readers to Reviews for how it all fits together.
AI image generation has become genuinely capable, and it's changed what's possible on a tight budget. It's also become one of the most contentious topics in publishing right now, with real backlash from readers, real copyright limitations, and real disclosure requirements from retailers like Amazon. We think this deserves a straight, non-alarmist answer rather than either "never use it" or "it's fine, don't worry about it." See AI Book Covers: What They Are and How They're Made and AI Book Covers: Pros, Cons, and What Authors Should Know for the full picture before you decide.
Get Your Cover and Interior Designed
Entrada Publishing offers cover design and interior layout for print and ebook. Email us with your genre, trim size, and timeline for pricing specific to your project.
It signals genre and tone instantly, stays legible as a small thumbnail, and looks professional next to comparable books in its category. See What Makes a Good Book Cover?
Yes, they're prepared differently. A print cover is one continuous file including the spine and back cover, sized to the book's trim size and page count; an ebook cover is a single front-facing image. See Ebook vs. Print Formatting.
It depends on your goals, your budget, and how much the copyright and disclosure issues matter to you. See AI Book Covers: Pros, Cons, and What Authors Should Know for a full breakdown before deciding.
After your manuscript is through editing, running alongside your final proofread. Starting early gives you time to test the cover with your target readers before launch.