Euan Monaghan - Designer
Specialising in fiction, memoir and poetry, I work directly with authors as well as for publishers like Melville House, Hodder and Zuleika.
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Overview
I am a British book designer based in the Netherlands. Since 2011, I have worked with a diverse group of publishers—including Melville House, Hodder, Zuleika and the literacy charity First Story—as well as many talented independent authors.
I design both covers and the internals of books.
The covers I design are driven by clear typography and strong imagery. In the modern publishing world, every book needs to work equally well as a thumbnail on Amazon as on the shelves of your favourite indie bookstore. Research is one of my favourite parts of the whole process, so if your cover needs to fit the look of a particular genre, you can be sure it will do so, while at the same time standing out in all the right ways.
When designing inside pages, my focus is on clarity and readability. These qualities turn on the smallest of details, from the font used for page numbers to the letter spacing of small caps. Many of these details are received subconsciously by your readers—the book will simply feel good to read.
Each book I design employs InDesign styles throughout. This, together with a clear, efficient workflow, means all books designed for print can be smoothly converted into beautiful, flexible ebooks.
I am a member of the Independent Publishers Guild and AIGA, the professional association for design. In addition to my day-to-day book design work, I run Structo, a Stack Award-nominated literary magazine and its book-publishing arm, Structo Press.
I design both covers and the internals of books.
The covers I design are driven by clear typography and strong imagery. In the modern publishing world, every book needs to work equally well as a thumbnail on Amazon as on the shelves of your favourite indie bookstore. Research is one of my favourite parts of the whole process, so if your cover needs to fit the look of a particular genre, you can be sure it will do so, while at the same time standing out in all the right ways.
When designing inside pages, my focus is on clarity and readability. These qualities turn on the smallest of details, from the font used for page numbers to the letter spacing of small caps. Many of these details are received subconsciously by your readers—the book will simply feel good to read.
Each book I design employs InDesign styles throughout. This, together with a clear, efficient workflow, means all books designed for print can be smoothly converted into beautiful, flexible ebooks.
I am a member of the Independent Publishers Guild and AIGA, the professional association for design. In addition to my day-to-day book design work, I run Structo, a Stack Award-nominated literary magazine and its book-publishing arm, Structo Press.
Services
Languages
English
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Nature
Fiction
Fantasy
LGBTQ Fiction
Literary Fiction
Poetry
Science Fiction
Short Story
Certifications
- Member of AIGA
- Member of the Independent Publishers Guild
Work experience
Freelance book designer and typesetter
Self-employed
May, 2011
–
Present
(almost 10 years)
Designing and typesetting books for various freelance publishing clients including Melville House, Hodder and Zuleika, as well as for First Story, a literacy charity serving low-income communities in the UK.
Art director
Structo Press
July, 2008
–
Present
(almost 13 years)
Overall responsibility for the design and art direction of this three-time Stack Award-nominated literary magazine and small press.
Portfolio (10 selected works)
For a writer so reserved in what he saw into print, Juan Rulfo has had a disproportional influence on writers of literature, in Spanish and beyond, on a par with Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel Garca Mrquez. His single story collection, El Llano in flames, provides a pithy and moving expression of life in central and western Mexico in the decades following the Revolution. These stories have the ... read more
Habeas Data: Privacy vs. the Rise of Surveillance Tech
Cyrus Farivar
From Ars Technica senior business editor Cyrus Farivar, a critical and historic look at how 50 years of American privacy law is inadequate for the near-future of surveillanceShow me the data! Until the 21st century, just about all of our activities were private by default, public through effort; today anything that touches digital space has the potential (and likelihood) to remain somewhere on... read more
Coming out of the Black Country
Stanley Underhill
Towards the end of Stanley Underhill s autobiography, Coming Out of the Black Country, he quotes the advice that Polonius offers to his son, Laertes, in Shakespeare s Hamlet: 'above all, to thine own self be true. He could hardly have anticipated that this advice would precipitate in himself a lifetime of self-examination and searching and serve as a crucial leitmotif that would recur througho... read more
We Once Belonged to the Sea
Diriye Osman
Two women - a reclusive queer Somali artist and a gifted Iranian-Somali teenage punk. Both have survived extraordinary circumstances, and find unexpected solace, inspiration and friendship when their lives intersect. In a novel anchored by memory and loss, art-making and ambition, both women will have to learn how to make peace with their ghosts.Told with poeticism, moral acuity and a sense of... read more
Ways to Hide in Winter
Sarah St.Vincent
In a remote corner of Pennsylvania's Blue Ridge Mountains, a woman befriends a fugitive from Uzbekistan, setting in motion this suspenseful, atmospheric, politically-charged debutAfter a freak car accident left her widowed, Kathleen has retreated to Pennsylvania's Blue Ridge Mountains, where she works in an isolated corner of the state park. There she meets a stranger who seems to be hiding fr... read more
The Past Happens Tomorrow
Tony Hernandez
A serial killer strikes againA nuclear scientist has gone missingTime travel is very much realFBI Special Agent Dan Cotter is hunting a serial killer who preys on the young and kills without mercy. Dan and his partner are also searching for a missing man with sensitive secrets. They are getting close to closing their cases.Until Dan discovers that he may be an unwilling participant in all of i... read more
Immer mehr Menschen wachen auf und realisieren, dass ihr Leben nach Veränderungen schreit. Doch kommen anstehende Veränderungen oft mit Krisen und Tiefpunkten daher. Wer Tiefpunkte durchlebt, erhält die Möglichkeit zum Wachstum und zu einem neuen Leben. Dieser Prozess kann schmerzhaft und befreiend zugleich sein. Du wirst vieles loslassen müssen. Denn wenn du glücklich sein willst, musst du le... read more
Follies: An Architectural Journey
Fraser, Rory
There was Music
Grubb, J.D.
Unspoken
Amoah, Abena
Euan has 81 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Euan went above and beyond to help me bring my vision to life. He was responsive and patient and always supportive. I truly could not have made it through this publishing process without is quick turn arounds, keen eye for details and professional attitude. I will absolutely be working with him again. 10/10!!!
Lauren Ellman, April 2021
Euan was a delight to work with. He offered a variety of concepts from which I could choose. Then patiently worked with me as I made incremental changes to the design. Highly recommend!
Veronica Ventura, March 2021
Euan was a pleasure to work with. Everything was done on time and he was so helpful with all my questions (I didn't have a clue what I was doing so it was encouraging to be told to ask anything - no matter how silly I felt). The end product is delightful and I couldn't be more pleased. Highly recommend.
Ruth Graham, March 2021
I'm really not sure where to begin. Euan, was a dream to work with! He respected my voice and vision for the concept of my cover and stayed patient and diligent in carrying out everything I wanted for my book. He was always kind, available and responsive. Where other designers superimpose their ideas, Euan was very clear in staying true to my vision for the book. He made every edit and revision...
Read more
Tarikua Em, March 2021
Euan was great to work and captured what I was looking for perfectly! I would absolutely recommend him to anyone!
Noe Vella, March 2021
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