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You have burning questions that can’t wait to be answered? In the facts page you will find answers to common customer questions at Black Cat Editing.

Do your services have a refund policy?

My deposits are non-refundable, the deposit is 50% of the contract service pricing. Services also require a contract to be signed with the remittance of the deposit for services. Project files will be held until full payment is made. Once full payment is received the project files will be surrendered to the customer.

Do you need a deposit? What about a signed contract?

All my document technician services need both a deposit and a signed contract. Editing, layout and book covers need a deposit and signed contract. The deposit is non-refundable. I use digital contract services (Adobe Signatory Services) for my contracts that are traced and verified through a service called Adobe Signatory Services.

What payment methods do you take?

I take wire transfer; however, the customer is responsible for the costs incurred for a bank to bank wire transfer. I take cash if you are local to me and I take email interac payments, Stripe and PayPal.

Why do you need so much information for a cover design from me?

KDP, the print on demand service from Amazon, calculates their covers with specific information like the trim size and page count of your book. In order to provide you with the proper size for your cover I need that information to calculate what KDP will need to accept your cover for both print and ebook. LuLu has their own requirements as well. I need the back cover synopsis and your author name and title to add the typography to your cover for you.

Why do I have to provide a credit to you on my copyright page in my book?

I believe in credit where credit is due. I firmly believe in ethics before profits. In exchange for this I make it a point to feature your book on my blog with the relevant links to where your readers can buy it as a thank you at no extra cost. I ask for the same credits if I have provided you with copy editing services as well. However, if I am a beta reader or proof reader I don’t require the credits on the copyright page.

Covers will be credited within your copyright page to me:

Sheal Mullin Berube

Cover Artist

Why do I get two file formats for my cover?

KDP, Amazon’s POD (print on demand) service requires a PDF file format of your cover for print editions while it requires JPG format for their kindle (aka digital edition) covers.

Why do you keep the PNG file format?

I keep a copy of the PNG file format for my online and offline portfolio. My portfolio of my work helps me to create a dialog between a potential new client and myself that may lead to contracted work.
What is a limited creative commons license and why do you use one?

A limited creative commons license is an agreement between the person who owns a piece of work (your cover in this case) and the person who created it for you (me in this case) that allows that creator to use it in a limited manner online and offline. I use one to help create a dialog between a potential client and myself to generate profit leads for BCE.

I WILL NEVER USE YOUR COVER FOR ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN MY PORTFOLIO. YOU OWN YOUR COVER OUTRIGHT.

KDP PROOFING
How does it work you ask? Here are the steps:

You have uploaded your files and KDP sent you an email that says “this, this and this is wrong” (aren’t they so preciously vague sometimes with those emails?)

You curse the hallowed server rooms of KDP for a few minutes and then decide to forward that KDP “it’s wrong fix it” message to me with the file information needed (trim and page count).

I will then check the page count, cross reference the trim size most appropriate for your manuscript, check the bleeds, gutters and all that jazz then give you an estimated turn around time with your no obligation quote for the service fee.

From there, you can either choose to contract my services or say “No way Jose” and go on your merry way.

If you choose not to part ways and decide that it’s worth the cold hard cash (or in this case, interac email) to have me look at your files and fix it for you then the next step would be to send me the original manuscript files to layout, package and export to PDF for you. Need a cover too? Well, I can do that – Check out my portfolio for covers.

These services do include a file for Ebook, the PDF for print which includes the descriptions, SEO and meta data for both – you just provide the information for the description and the genre and a small mini synopsis of your manuscript.

COVER DESIGN

I do full front, spine and back cover pieces or wrap around. My covers are in PDF, PNG & JPG formats at 300DPI resolution.

You will be provided with the two formats that KDP accepts for cover files. I will provide 3 adjustments at no extra cost for cover sizing if KDP asks for any cover image adjustments.

I will be using the PNG format for my portfolio with a limited creative commons license. The license is limited to strictly online and offline portfolio use for the purpose of acquiring new clientele with.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST

    Please send an email using my contact form on my landing page
    Please use <cover art> as the subject matter.
    Include the following information in your message:
        Include what sizing standard you require (6×9, 7×10, etc)
        Page count of the book
        Include the title of the book
        Author name
        Back cover blurb
        A synopsis and general plot outline
        Release date of the book

After I have your information: I will send you a client contract to look over and sign. NaNoWriMo discounts are based on condition of being a participant and the discount only applies during the month of November. Prefab covers have their own limitations and you find them on the prefab cover page

Don’t see your question here or have a suggestion? Contact me directly, I welcome all manner of feedback and am more than happy to clarify my services for you. Use my contact form here to get in touch with me!

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