[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1426638008345{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”3951″ img_size=”medium” css=”.vc_custom_1521729462163{padding-top: 40px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1426637664908{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_separator style=”blank” padding_top=”15″ padding_bottom=”15″][vc_custom_heading text=”ABOUT Alex” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%233f3f3f” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal”][vc_separator style=”blank” padding_top=”5″ padding_bottom=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1521751395596{padding-right: 80px !important;}”]
I AM A GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR, with a BA Hons/MA, having worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years. I love books, their physical quality and the stories contained within their words. My father, Shaun McCarthy, pen name Desmond Cory, was a very successful author of detective mystery novels, so I’d like to think it was no surprise that I ended up immersing myself in the world of book design.
I’ve worked for traditional publishers as well as lecturing in Graphic Communication. I now work independently from my home studio in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Engaging with hugely talented and enthusiastic people like authors is the most rewarding job I’ve ever done.
I am also a short story author and illustrator of children’s picture books. My first picture book, In Search of the Blue Whale can be found on amazon.com and paperboatbooks.com
As well as this website I’ve also designed various websites connected with books. For example, johnnyfedora.com is dedicated to my father’s ‘Johnny Fedora Espionage Assignment’ series of books and paperboatbooks.com showcases my own picture books.
That’s enough about myself as this website is principally about what I can offer you. My services are for authors who want to call their own shots and are especially critical on how their book looks. The ones that are very busy and don’t have time to waste. The ones that want something simple and functional for producing results. The ones, like you, that express their talent and passion through words.
I’m giving you that extra push you need to reach your goals. I would be fooling you if I led you to believe that it’s all about the wizardry of how I use Photoshop. It’s more on how your target audience sees your book. When I start designing a cover I look at the bestseller competition and I think how your cover can compete with such professional looking books. If I can touch that soft spot inside your viewers and make them want to buy your book then I feel that I have succeeded. There is no better feeling than turning an author’s dream into a reality. I love what I do and I’m sure you’ll love it too!
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator style=”blank” padding_top=”15″ padding_bottom=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1426637442987{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;background-color: #f8f8f8 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_carousel2 images=”4010,4012,4013,4014,4015,4016,4017,4018,4019,4020,4021″ visible_items=”6″ navigation=”no”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1522702338498{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-bottom: 40px !important;background-color: #ededed !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”CLIENT FEEDBACK” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:center|color:%233f3f3f” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal”][vc_separator_2 color_line=”#444444″ padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”30″][vc_testimonials items=”6″ navigation=”no” font_size=”20″ font_weight=”300″ author_font_weight=”600″ include=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]