Are you an author wanting to offer a beautiful handmade edition of your book for your next crowdfunding campaign? Let's make that happen! I can design a book perfectly tailored to your story, something your fans will be able to hold in their hands that connects them to your world.
I'm currently scheduling new projects for January 2027.
Book cost
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Each book created for the campaign has a base cost of $400.
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Included: foil or hand-painted decoration, single color edges, ribbon bookmark
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Additional decorative add-ons available.
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The minimum for a campaign is 1 book.
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Please read on for details, but in general, the base cost for a project ends up being $630. ($200 design fee, $30 book printing fee, $400 for 1 binding).
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Design fee
$200 deposit/design fee - required to hold your place in the queue. This is fully refundable until I start work on your design. This fee is for the design and does not go towards the cost of building the books.
Timing
Promotional copy: 2.5 months after your timeslot begins.
Reward books: 3 a month after payment.
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Once your timeslot begins, I begin designing the book which takes about a month. You are given a digital mockup to provide feedback on.
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Once we confirm the design, I start ordering materials and working on the book(s).
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You have the option of ordering all books to be created or wait to see what gets pledged, or a mix.
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Some authors choose to have copies made regardless of the campaign results and keep unpledged books for conventions or for sale on their website.
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A 50% payment is due before production begins.
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If I am printing, please allow 1-2 weeks for printing then 3 weeks for building the promo copy.
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All told, please allow for approximately 10 weeks in your campaign timeline from when your timeslot begins to having the promo copy ready.
Book minimums and maximum
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The minimum is 1 book.
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This will be created in advance of the campaign for you to have for promotion.
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It can count towards the number of pledges, be an author copy, or be sold at a later date, etc.
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Includes 5 high quality photos of the binding.
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The maximum is 10 books, not including the promo copy.
Add-on prices
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Embellishments - price varies based on the actual item selected
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Metal studs - $10+
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Gemstones - $15+
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Decorated edges
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Single color - included
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Gradient - $25
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Sprinkled foil - $20
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Cloth clamshell box or slipcase - $150
To discuss a project, please contact Holly at: blackoakbindery@gmail.com.
Please browse around on the journal section of my website to get an idea of what I can do. I am also able to do higher end bindings like those in the Fine Binding section but the cost is considerably more as these use materials like gold leaf and more time-consuming techniques.
FAQ
Can you print the book?
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I can print the book but recommend having it printed and supplied to me. This does require a sewn binding but results in a smoother process.
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There is a printing fee per book if I print it. This ranges from $30-60 depending on the amount of color. For example, $25 is no color, $50 is color on every page with some full bleed illustrations. A quote will be obtained if it’s outsourced.
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If I print it, it’s limited to printing on 8.5x11” paper which results in a book that’s about 5.5”x8.5” when finished. I can print in color but any full bleed color or double spread illustrations will have to be discussed.
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A note on typesetting and design: please know that about 3 mm of page edge on the gutter side is lost when I create the rounded spine of the book. Plan any art or text accordingly. I suggest keeping it 8 mm away from the gutter.
Edge decoration
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Possible:
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Colored edges, whether it’s metallic, flat color, a gradient, or a combination.
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Sprinkled foil
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Rough gilded edges (head and tail only)
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Not possible:
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Pictorial representations
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Smooth gilded edges
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This is because the pages of these books are collated and folded by hand, so there is variation and the edges are not completely smooth.
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What type of paper do you use?
Classic Crest by Neenah 60 lb text weight in natural white with a smooth texture. It is archival, being both acid free and lignin free. Other papers available on request.
Do you have a max page count?
When a book gets to be over 700 pages, there will be a material fee increase. 1,000 pages is a soft cap but we can discuss options to make this page count work.
What do you use for endpapers?
I hand paint the endpapers for each book. I use Bugra, Canson Mi-tienes, or Lokta paper as a base and acrylic paint to decorate them.
Can you include a map?
Yes, but not as the endpages if it is a two page spread. The map can appear right after the fly leaf. This has to do with the way I construct books because the gutter would disrupt the map too much for it to look good as endpages.
If you have a strong preference for the map to be right up front, I can have it be a tipped-in fold out on the flyleaf.
I have a zero AI tolerance. If you use AI to write your books OR illustrate them, I will not accept your project.
