You’ve written the words.
I’ll help you bring them to life.
Book design for women authors who want their story held with craft, care, and lived wisdom.
You wrote the book. That took everything: the courage, the time, and the vulnerability of putting your true voice on paper. Congratulations! That's a milestone many dream of and few complete. Now it's time to make it shine with a design that honors the heart you poured into it.
A book’s cover is the first conversation it has with a reader. Before she reads a single line, she feels something. Does this speak to me? Is this for me? Can I trust the woman who wrote this? Beautiful design answers all three questions in a breath.
The interior is the soul that keeps her turning pages. Typography, spacing, chapter flow, white space, and visual rhythm are the way your story lands in her hands, in her mind, and in her heart.
I'm Carole Fontaine and I am both a professional graphic designer with nearly three decades of experience and an award-winning author who designed every book in my own SAIL Above the Clouds series. I understand what makes a book beautiful and what makes it work in the real world of publishing, retail, and reader expectations. I've designed books that became Amazon bestsellers, including a PBS documentary companion book and a Persian medicine cookbook featured on national television.
Sailor of storms · Teacher of hearts · Book whisperer
Your book deserves to be held with the same level of care, clarity, and expertise as I would give my own.
This is a free 30-minute conversation. No pressure, no pitch: just a chance to see if we're the right fit for each other.
Book Design Services Include:
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Custom book cover design that captures your voice and attracts your reader•
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Interior layout with elegant typography, chapter headers, and visual flow
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Print and digital formatting to exact publishing platform specifications
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Author branding and visual identity for a cohesive professional presence
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Publishing-ready files for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and other platforms
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Design support for marketing materials, launch graphics, and social media imagery
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Publishing and marketing guidance to help you navigate your book launch confidently
The Design Process:
Every project begins with a conversation about your book, your reader, and the feeling you want the design to create. From there, Carole shapes concepts that grow from your vision, refined through thoughtful collaboration, and delivered as polished, publication-ready files.
Whether you have written your book with Carole’s guidance or arrive with your story already on the page, she meets you with the same warmth and care. Her intention is always to craft a book that honors your voice and deeply resonates with you.
This Is For You If:
You have a finished or nearly finished manuscript and are ready for the next step. You want a book that looks as powerful as the story inside it. You value design that is both artistically strong and technically precise. You want someone who understands publishing, not just design, so nothing falls through the cracks between your creative vision and your finished files.
If you want a book that looks like it belongs on a shelf next to the titles you admire most, you are in the right place.
As seen on NBC6 South Florida, The Art of Plant-Powered Persian Cuisine For Total Body Wellness Book
"Carole has been the creative force behind my signature product line for decades. Most recently, she brought my lifelong dream to life: transforming manuscript pieces, family Persian Medicine recipes, and health information into a stunning, visually captivating heirloom book. The compliments on the art and presentation have been endless. Her publishing guidance and coaching through every step of the launch was invaluable. Knowledgeable, professional, and exceptionally creative, Carole takes any project from idea to finished product with complete expertise: from books and brochures to packaging and presentations. A truly valuable asset to anyone seeking exceptional design or publishing support."
—Dr Anahitta E. Jafari, Author, Founder and Director at Parsi Herbs
The Persian Kitchen Physician (Persian Medicine)
Why Work with Carole
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Award-winning author who has designed her own internationally recognized book series
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Nearly three decades of professional graphic design across publishing, packaging, and branding, including many bestselling books
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Deep understanding of both the aesthetic and technical sides of book production
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Precise, professional, and genuinely invested in your vision
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A warm, collaborative process from first conversation to final files
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Professional design expertise under one roof
I don’t just help you "make a book." I help you birth a story that matters, and design it so it can be received with clarity, beauty, and impact.
I've had the pleasure of teaming up with Carole on four book projects over the last couple years. It's fun to look back at the dexterity in our content, with book topics ranging from an elaborate ancient medicinal cookbook, to interesting and humorous memoirs, to a science-based numerology textbook. I'm seriously curious about what will soon join this eclectic mix.
Even as a veteran copywriter, ghostwriter, and editor, Carole has become my reliable go-to for self-publishing coaching. She's walked me through the somewhat intimidating process; step by step. Her support has allowed me to recently (and confidently) expand service offerings to my clients.
A few things I deeply appreciate about working with Carole include her positive attitude, her ability to help with a variety of things throughout the process, and how she displays grace under fire with project demands. She has learned to not sweat the small stuff, and that it's pretty much all small stuff. Also, Carole knows her boundaries and is great at communicating an acceptable reality—without over-promising—which helps me be accurate with the expectations I set with my clients too!
Kristen Ujazdowski
Awareness Generation, LLC
As a first-time author, I had no idea how complex and layered the publishing process truly was. Carole saw my vision clearly and helped me give it structure. She created a personalized, step-by-step roadmap tailored specifically to my project, outlining each milestone across the writing process, production elements, and the business side of publishing, each with its own technical and creative demands. Her guidance transformed what felt overwhelming into something strategic, organized, and achievable.
Because of her clarity and leadership, I was able to move forward confidently and ultimately publish my full Spanish-language book series; a lifelong dream realized with confidence and grace.
What makes Carole truly exceptional is not only her knowledge, but her spirit. She believes in you. She sees your vision. She holds both the practical and energetic dimensions of the journey. She motivates, anchors, and uplifts you through every stage, helping you navigate each step with clarity. Even while navigating her own cancer journey, she continued to show up with integrity, generosity, and unwavering commitment—answering questions, offering clarity, and walking me through technical details when needed.
Working with Carole has been a profound blessing. Her encouragement and energy helped me stay focused and steady on my goal, and made the process feel seamless and supported. She is a radiant soul, a true sister in service, and a powerful guide for any woman who feels called to bring her book into the world with excellence, integrity, and heart.
Daniela Davidov
Log Into Your Soul – Sharing what matters
Books: Conéctate Con Tu Alma
"Working with Carole was an absolute joy from start to finish. She has a rare combination of creativity, technical skill, and deep listening that made the design process for Lives Well Lived — GENERATIONS truly collaborative. Carole intuitively understood the spirit of the project and created a design that beautifully reflected its warmth, clarity, and intergenerational heart.
Her attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to translate vision into elegant design made all the difference. The book went on to become an Amazon best seller, and I know Carole’s thoughtful design played a significant role in that success. I couldn’t imagine a better partner in bringing a book to life."
Sky Bergman, filmmaker and author of Lives Well Lived — GENERATIONS
Sky Bergman Productions
View the accompanying book to the acclaimed PBS documentary: Lives Well Lived
About Carole
Carole Fontaine is an award-winning author, seasoned graphic designer, and book mentor who helps purpose-driven authors transform ideas into beautifully crafted, professionally published books.
With nearly three decades in graphic design — including agency work, owning and publishing Real Sailors Magazine (circulation 20,000), and 25+ years in branding, packaging, and marketing — Carole brings rare depth and expertise to every project.
Her unconventional life: 20 years aboard a sailboat, surviving cancer, and navigating profound personal transformation, shaped a grounded, intuitive creative approach that is both professional and deeply human.
A multi #1 Amazon bestselling and award-winning author herself, Carole understands the full publishing journey from the inside out. She is known for creating a warm, collaborative experience that brings clarity, confidence, and excellence to every book she touches.
Let’s create!