Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas - Designer

Cardiff, UK

A highly collaborative designer, producing impactful covers, interiors and marketing images for a wide range of genres. I cannot scuba dive.

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Overview


6+ years in business. Over 400 book collaborations. 250+ Reedsy 5-Star reviews!!! :-)

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A book cover and interior format designer, with many (many!) years of multi-discipline creative experience in graphics, illustration, photography, video & marketing.

Happy working for either print or e-book / digital, I like direct, punchy and – occasionally – intriguing (in my book covers!). Oftentimes my work is character-focussed and photographically-based.

On occasion, some of my work may now include little bits of CGI. (Oh, my giddy Aunt... '.' )

Client-centric, highly collaborative and quality driven: your needs are mine to fulfil (and are normally fulfilled quickly, too).

All of my design offers - whether for e-book, print, or both - always include promotional images such as simulated 3D paperback and hardcover book covers, on-device ebook cover renders. Nice!

I provide full interior formatting services for both print and ebook; whether with cover design or just interiors only. For such work, a first interior proof is normally back to the client within 2-3 working days from receipt of manuscript.
My interior layouts are completely professional in appearance and can include full-image title pages, use of cover fonts for chapter headings (print versions only), drop capitals for starts of chapters and excellent attention to detail and flow. (Psst: ask me for some of my interior samples!).

I can also advise on technical matters, marketing options and even book titles, taglines and back cover blurbs, if needs be.

My motto: always a pleasure, never a chore. *nods*

:-)

Main Book Design Service List:

Any or all of the following services can be commissioned either together, or totally separately from each other (a good example here: if another designer is already doing your book cover design, I’m totally happy to do the interior formatting elements…)

• Print book cover design (inc. paperback, dustjacket hardback and case-laminate hardback)
• Ebook cover design
• Print book interior formatting & design
• Ebook interior formatting & design
• Book promotional images (ie: simulated images of your finished print book or ebook)

Secondary Services:

• Image manipulation, retouching, clean-up and - occasionally - colourisation.
• Maps: I now provide a limited map illustration service, providing authors for simplified maps for narrative purposes. Projects I've recently worked on include both factual historical and fantasy titles.
• Book title, tagline and synopsis feedback: I can provide objective assistance in regards the aforementioned. I've worked on a number of projects where those essential have changed following collaborative discussions.

Author Website Design:

I'm also provide author websites for my book design clients.
These include various pages, image galleries, blogs, contact forms and more.
Website packages include design, hosting and support for the first year, with further annual support available on the site's anniversary.

You can find full details - and examples - of my web design services via my separate Reedsy web developer account:

https://reedsy.com/mark-thomas-webdev
Languages
English
Fiction
African American Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Science Fiction
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs

Work experience

Designer / Owner

Self-employed
March, 2016 – Present (about 7 years)

I own and run my own busy book design and media illustration company, providing a full range of services to traditional and self-publishers. Services include interior and cover design, marketing imagery and adaptable author website design.

Head of Creative Services

Visit Wales
August, 2012 – June, 2015 (almost 3 years)

Creative Services Manager

Visit Wales
May, 2011 – August, 2012 (over 1 year)

Mark has 256 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

David Weinstein
Mark is the wizard behind the curtain that creates what we love as much as the stories we read and write: the book that we hold in our hands with deep satisfaction, or admire on our shelves. What he did with my own writing was just this: he took my words and created something entirely new: an objet d’art in its own right. If I never read what I have written it will be too soon, but I will alwa...
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David Weinstein, March 2023


Eliade Moldovan
My collaboration with Mark was very beneficial. I learned a lot about what cover design means and formatting a book for both print and eBook versions. And Mark did more than formatting and an astonishing design. He came up with ideas about the back cover blurb, reviews to be added to the introduction, and acknowledgments. I would recommend him to everyone asking for such services.

Eliade Moldovan, February 2023


Paul Rauch
Mark was a pleasure to work with -creative, smart, patient, and helpful. As a new author he took the time to answer my questions - even if not directly related to our design development - and made what could have been an intimidating process, fun. I will definitely hire Mark for my next book!

Paul Rauch, February 2023


Brian Dearborn
Mark did an exceptional job on the interior design for my novel. I could not be more thrilled with the outcome! It looks absolutely fantastic. He is extremely communicative throughout the entire process, answered all my questions, and was extremely responsive. I cannot wait to work with Mark again!

Brian Dearborn, February 2023


Liza L. Hernandez
Mark is wonderful to work with. He has a lot of experience and a way of guiding you to make better decisions than you would have made on your own. He is easy to work with and I love his design ideas. I plan to work with him in the future.

Liza L. Hernandez, February 2023

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