UNLOCK THE SECRET TO STUNNING BOOK COVERS
Effortlessly Create Book Covers that Sell, With DIY Templates & Tutorials
Dive into our treasure trove of FREE book design templates and easy-to-follow tutorials, so your book can finally get the attention (and sales) it deserves. No design skills? No problem. Get started today and transform your book from Blah to Wow!
Just pick a cover template and edit the text...
It couldn't be easier to create a cover you love, that's perfect for your book.
"I can't thank you enough. I already went and canceled my
PSD Covers subscription. This is a fabulous tool."
I'm determined to create the perfect online book cover solution for indie authors.
Play around and have some fun with these free templates!
When you're ready to get serious about your book cover, sign up for a free video tutorial series on designing covers that sell, and you'll get instant access to more free templates and some exclusive tips to building an author platform and launching your bestseller.
Ready to get Started?
Get instant access to these (and more!) cover design templates for free. Learn how to design a powerful cover that attracts the right audience. Change the images and texts with our free online cover maker for stunning, ready-to-publish files.
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Why We're Different
There are plenty of "Canva Clones" and online design tools that can make a basic, flat cover (boring!) but ours is the only one with Photoshop-level quality and professional genre templates. Get a book cover you love, without the fuss of hiring an expensive book designer. Watch the videos below to learn more...
Book Cover Design Is Crucial To Your Success
Yeah yeah, you already know people judge books by their covers. The problem is, indie authors don't have the time and budget to hire a professional and there have never been any great options to DIY your own book covers... until now!
We're the perfect choice to help you...
A Crazy Experiment...
I started this site to share a package of DIY book design templates I built in MS Word, which isn't great is famously bad for graphic design. But it does allow authors more control to design their own covers without any fancy design software.
There's a free package you can sign up for, and over 100 premium book cover templates available. Although an imperfect solution, they've been very popular and have helped publish thousands of books. A video tutorial I made about designing covers in MS Word has 220,000 views!
Some of the stuff you'll find here...
New Templates + Cover Maker
For a decade I've been trying to build an online cover design creator, and I just finished the latest, newest version I'm excited about. This means I can (finally) make really professional covers in a variety of genres, with advanced features like text effects and blended layers, for that amazing depth and quality you see in bestselling book design. It's a powerful tool, but you'll need to (signup and) watch all the tutorials to unlock its full potential.
3D Mockups
We've also got the most popular 3D book cover mockup tool on the internet. Once you make a 3D mockup with a transparent background, you can add it into our social media, promotion and ad graphic templates for custom book marketing graphics.
NEW: our new 3D mockup tool can generate a background, and even add promo text! And that's not as cool as uploading a portrait and getting that person to hold your book...
Instant Book Cover Creator
Using AI for book cover design is complicated - but it's also pretty effective, and the technology will only get better. Rather than wait to be replaced, I built my own easy to use book cover maker, and most of the time, it works way better than anything else. You get 3 free covers just to try it out, so let me know how it goes!
Cover Critique
If you have a cover already but aren't sure whether or not it's good enough... try out my free "cover critique" tool! You'll get instant feedback on what's working, and what isn't. As long as you're above a 6 you're probably fine but if not, your book cover is costing you sales.
NEW! Improve your current cover automatically with our book cover redesign tool.
WE AIM TO PLEASE
We've been quietly helping authors for years. It's your turn to level up.
Derek has been designing amazing, professional covers for my own books for the last three years, and I can recommend his design skills highly. He has now taken those skills and turned them into an easy-to-use set of templates and guides so authors can design their own DIY covers for a reasonable price. Plus there are some brilliant bonuses that will help authors even more.
Joanna Penn
thecreativepenn.com
Derek really is the go-to guy on book cover designs. I was extremely excited when I heard he had made his own system and after checking it out, he didn't disappoint. This is clearly the best complete package on book designs I have ever come across.
Dave Chesson
Kindlepreneur.com
The customizable templates and clear instructions enable DIY authors to create an unending supply of gorgeous book covers. I'm really impressed both with the templates themselves, and how using them makes me feel like a rockstar designer, even though I've had absolutely no formal training. I'm saving a ton of money on cover design and am not beholden to anyone else's schedule.
Alyssa Archer
writership.com
Cover Design Secrets that Sell Books
(sign up for the free video series)
After designing hundreds of book covers, and even seeing a few hit the USA TODAY and WSJ Bestseller Lists, I've got an uncanny sense of which designs will perform best for your audience. Since I rarely take on new clients, I started teaching others. Want to sell more books? This is for you!
We've got you covered
Cover Design Secrets
Sign up now for a free starter package of templates and the full video series on book design, and I'll send you a *ton* of bonuses you can use to help launch your own bestseller.
"More time for writing"
"Thanks to Derek Murphy's Cover Design Secrets, not only did I save a thousand dollars (maybe more) and precious time that I could otherwise devote to writing, but I have a deeper understanding of what it takes to create an effective book cover that will sell lots of books!" - Adam Henig
"Your tutorials are amazing"
Thank you, I truly appreciate all the valuable resources you have provided. I look forward to challenging the learning curve. Thanks again! - Geri Dolinsky
"Mandatory Reading"
This should be mandatory reading for any writer on the verge of publishing. More than just the do's and dont's of effective covers, (details that catch a reader's eye and COMPEL them to buy), Derek explains WHY these choices should be made and gives examples! - Dianne Greenlay
"Do NOT decide on a book cover until you have read this book! I cannot believe you get all of this information for free."
A few things you'll learn...
➽ 3 Foolproof Layouts for Any Genre
➽ 8 Cover Design Secrets Readers Can't Resist
➽ 60 Fonts You Should Never Use
➽ 7 Design Strategies for a Perfect Cover
➽ The Best Free Online Graphic Software
➽ 300+ Recommended Fonts for Every Genre
➽ 5 Book Cover Myths Most Authors Believe
➽ The Simple Tweak that Tripled my Book Sales
➽ How to Find the Best Art and Photos (that NOBODY else is using!)
"I've been going to your website for a while now so I could learn how to design my own covers. I don't have any education on the subject so everything I've learned is through online searches, watching a lot of Youtube videos, and simply asking other people questions. I can't afford to pay for anything so I'm a one-person shop lol. I finally downloaded the templates you made for covers and formatting. Thank you for everything you have done for us Indie Authors! I look forward to learning more!" - A.R. Grosjean
Bonus 1: Self-Publishing Basics
Publishing can be complicated (and expensive!) But it doesn't have to be. I've got a short guide to self-publishing on a budget. It's on Amazon, but if you want a free copy, just let me know where to send it.
Bonus 2: Book Marketing for Authors
Once you've uploaded your files and launched your book (yeah!) marketing can feel like a chore. But chances are, you're going about it all wrong. Book Marketing is Dead has nearly 500 reviews (it's free), and I have some new strategies that work even better.
TESTIMONIALS
Results You Can Trust
Following Derek Murphy's cover tutorial is akin to peeking over the shoulder of a design master. I could hardly believe that it was possible to create a cover myself. I am not a graphic designer - far from it - but in the end, I felt that I had created a cover that was workable. Give Derek's tutorial a try. At the very least, it can help you see what's important in cover design."
C.K. MacLeod
techtoolsforwriters.com
Derek Murphy is simply the best in the cover design world. I'm a co-founder of a publishing company and recently hired a new cover designer. The first "training" I did was to take him directly to Derek's portfolio to show him what I thought to be the gold standard of cover design. To be able to get a lot of Derek's secret sauce with his DIY book cover templates is a no-brainer. Do it!"
Matt Stone
archangelink.com
Many great, self-published books languish in obscurity simply because of poor packaging. The savvy author understands the necessity of a stellar cover, but often lacks the skills or the funds to create it. Derek offers an excellent opportunity for authors to design a cover at a DIY price, but with professional design results."
Kimberley Grabas
yourwriterplatform.com
100+ Nonfiction Book Cover Design Templates
How to Make Your Book Irresistible with Strategic Design
Why All Bestselling Authors Obsess Over These Design Elements
How a Tiny Change in Your Book Cover Can Skyrocket Sales Overnight
Why Your Book Isn't Selling: Top Design Mistakes Revealed!
Traditional vs. Self-Publishing: What Every Author Needs to Know
The Proven Formula for Writing a Book Readers Can't Resist
5 Writing Tips That Can Turn Any Newbie Into A Best-Selling Author
What font should you use on your book cover design? Check this awesome list of best fonts per genre!
Three book cover design layouts that work for any genre
How to Make a Book Cover in Canva (and When Canva Isn't Enough)
Book Cover Design by Genre: What Readers Expect in 10 Genres
How to Make a Full Paperback Book Cover (Front, Spine and Back)
Fake Book Cover Maker: Make a Cover for a Book That Doesn't Exist
Free Book Cover Images: Where to Find Them and What You're Allowed to Use
Book Cover Designer: How to Hire One, or Do It Yourself
"I LOOOOOOOVE YOU! I just made a sample cover and it looks great! You just saved me thousands of dollars! You are the best!"
Lina Jay
"Awesome!! I was able to follow the directions and actually create something that looks good."
Michelle Dennis Evans
"I needed an affordable solution for my first piece of short fiction. Imagine my excitement of these world-class book cover design templates by an uber talented cover designer - with an easy to use guide, and tons of indie author extras, so I can design as many DIY covers (ebook and print) as I want. You won't find a better book cover design solution."
Krystalle Kittons
"YOU are my new best friend! Just finished the book design templates and am so glad I found you and it! In the process of going through it all I decided to change my title. What a treasure chest of honest tips. Keep up the great work!"
Kathy Tauber
"Found it incredibly helpful. You’ve put together an amazing resource. The videos and the pdfs are in depth and step by step, and seeing both the work in progress and the finished product makes it very easy to picture what I can do with it. Brilliant stuff!"
Liv Honeywell
"I was just looking for something easier to use and came across this. What a blessing! I've used most of these Word tools before, but never considered using it in this capacity. Duh. Thank you so much."
Sue Fairchild
Learn How to Design a Book Cover that Sells in the Next 30 Minutes...
Derek Murphy
Just a guy, standing in front of an author, trying to give them the best possible cover, so more readers can enjoy their story. 3 million views, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestseller. Featured in Oprah Magazine and CNN. Want to learn how? Sign up for all my secrets...
Join now for free
These templates are completely free. Sign up and get instant access to the book design tutorials and a free sample package of book cover templates. The cheapest time to fix a cover is before you pay to promote the book.
COVER DESIGN
TUTORIALS (soon!)
WRITING TIPS
PUBLISHING
TERMS
