Commissions are closed for 2026. Please check back in October for scheduling in 2027.
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.
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, $30 is no color, $60 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.
