Services Provided: Creative Direction, Book Cover Design, Photoshop Editing, Print Setup, Amazon KDP Preparation.

This project involved the creative direction, book cover design, and print-ready publishing preparation for Women Executives: Owning a Seat at the Table by Dr. Samantha Perry. This faith-centered leadership book was created to encourage and empower women called to lead at the highest levels of organizational life.

The goal was to create a professional, visually compelling, and market-ready book cover that reflected the author’s message of leadership, strength, faith, and purpose while also meeting the technical requirements for Amazon KDP print publishing.

The Challenge

Dr. Samantha Perry had a strong message, meaningful written content, and a clear vision for her book, but she needed help bringing that vision to life in a polished and publishable way.

This project required more than simple cover design. It involved balancing multiple needs at once:

• Creating a design that felt strong, feminine, and executive-level
• Reflecting the book’s faith-based leadership theme
• Making sure the front cover imagery felt inclusive and respectful
• Preparing files to fit Amazon KDP sizing requirements, including spine adjustments
• Turning an AI-generated visual idea into a fully editable Photoshop design with layers

Creative Direction & Concept Development

This project began with an AI-assisted concept that helped establish an early visual direction. The AI-generated image closely matched the mood and message the client wanted, but it still needed professional refinement and full production control.

I recreated the design in Adobe Photoshop so the final artwork would be layered, editable, and suitable for professional print production. This allowed me to move beyond an AI concept and shape the piece into a polished final cover.

The client appeared drawn to dark blue and pink tones, so I used those colors to create a look that felt both confident and feminine. The overall art direction centered on:

• Deep navy blue for authority, calm, and professionalism
• Soft pink accents for warmth, grace, and femininity
• A boardroom and skyline setting to visually represent executive leadership
• A silhouette treatment to create a more inclusive and appropriate representation

The original background image was sourced through AI and then carefully manipulated in Photoshop. Because the client is a Black female and did not want the image to suggest white female legs, I refined the artwork so the figure became more of a silhouette. This helped the cover feel more inclusive while keeping the focus on the message rather than a narrowly defined identity.

Design Execution & Production

Once the concept direction was clear, I built out the full wraparound book cover and prepared it for print. This included the front cover, spine, and back cover layout.

I used an Amazon PDF template to ensure the file size and proportions were accurate for publishing, especially as it related to the spine width. After updates were made to the manuscript and the total page count increased to 134 pages, the spine needed to be adjusted accordingly.

This part of the project demonstrates both creative design skill and technical production knowledge, since book covers for print must be visually strong while also matching exact publishing specifications.

• Recreated and refined the concept in Photoshop
• Built a layered, editable file for long-term flexibility
• Used Amazon KDP PDF templates for proper sizing
• Adjusted the spine to reflect the updated 134-page interior
• Prepared the design for Amazon / Kindle print publishing

My Role

For this project, my role included:

• Creative Direction
• Book Cover Design
• Photoshop Photo Manipulation
• Print Production Preparation
• Amazon KDP File Setup
• Client Communication & Visual Strategy

Collaboration & Strategic Input

I enjoyed speaking with the client and helping shape the direction of the project. Dr. Samantha Perry has a powerful voice and a meaningful message, and part of my role was not only designing the cover, but also recognizing opportunities to strengthen her overall author platform.

Because of her strong presence and delivery, I recommended that she consider producing an audiobook using her own voice. I also shared a helpful resource related to custom voice tools for audiobooks, including ElevenLabs, as a possible next step for future expansion.

This kind of contribution reflects the kind of work I enjoy most: not just designing a finished piece, but helping clients think through the next strategic opportunities for their brand, message, and audience.

Client Feedback

Dr. Samantha Perry shared kind feedback throughout the project, including:

“You did a wonderful job and I’m so proud of what we are creating!! I will definitely pursue a audio book and will keep you posted.”

“I have approved the book cover already. Thank you for all your hard work ladies. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”

It was a pleasure helping bring this project to life and seeing the client feel proud and excited about the final direction.

About the Book

Women Executives: Owning a Seat at the Table is a faith-anchored leadership guide for women who carry influence, responsibility, and calling into the highest levels of organizational life.

The book speaks to women who have been labeled “too emotional,” “too direct,” or “too much,” and to those who have felt their femininity questioned or their authority challenged. Rather than encouraging women to suppress their God-given traits, the book affirms qualities such as grace, discernment, assertiveness, and nurturing strength as powerful leadership tools rooted in purpose and spiritual identity.

Drawing from Scripture, leadership wisdom, and the stories of biblical women such as Deborah, Esther, Ruth, and Mary, the book reframes leadership as a sacred assignment. It also addresses the challenges women face in executive environments, including double standards, isolation, and competitive pressure, while emphasizing the importance of mentorship, community, and sisterhood.

Through practical insights, reflective questions, and real-world stories, the book reminds readers that their voice matters, their presence is needed, and their leadership is divinely appointed.

The Outcome

The final result was a fully approved, print-ready book cover that aligned with the client’s message, reflected her values, and supported her publishing goals.

This project highlights my ability to combine:

• Creative direction
• AI-assisted concept development
• Professional Photoshop execution
• Inclusive visual decision-making
• Amazon KDP production setup
• Strategic client guidance

Projects like this are a strong fit for authors, thought leaders, and organizations that need more than basic design. They need visual work that is thoughtful, technically correct, and aligned with the deeper message behind the project.