Michelle Alina

Book cover & illustration artist for indie authors ✎ Fantasy · Romance · YA · Children's
DM to discuss your project

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

A commission I'm truly proud of. 💜

It was an honor bringing this emotional scene to life for the incredibly talented author @JayeD_Hutchings Thank you for trusting me with your story and supporting my work throughout this journey.

#DigitalArt #BookIllustration

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@decideoncebook Mostly: TOC that isn't actually clickable, copyright page missing key info, and dedication placed before the story instead of after. Small things but they make a book feel unpolished fast.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

I've formatted a lot of manuscripts by now.
The ones that get flagged on KDP almost always have the same problem: someone rushed the front matter (copyright page, dedication, TOC) just to hit a launch date.
Slow down on that part. It's the first thing readers see.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

Your story has the characters. I make them impossible to forget. 🐾📚

A recent children’s book illustration featuring Teddy and her little friends. ❤️

Authors, got a story waiting to be illustrated? 👀

#KidLit #ChildrensBookIllustration #BookIllustrator

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@markemusgames As an artist, I’d choose a human-made cover every time. AI makes images. Artists create identity. A great cover should tell readers, “This story is worth opening.”

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@Tri_Xx I understand the back-pay arrangement, and that’s not a deal breaker for me if the project has real long-term potential. I’d love to hear more about your comic, its genre, your vision, and where you see the project going. A good story is always worth discussing.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

Readers buy stories. They click covers first.

#BookCover #BookCoverDesign #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthor #AmWriting #FantasyBooks

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@SunlightKitsun I'd love to draw them. One question though... what's the one thing they'd never forgive themselves for? I always find those hidden scars make a character feel unforgettable.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@NyxdaDawg83 I'd love to help with this! One question though if someone saw your sona only as a silhouette from a distance, what's the one feature you'd want them to recognize instantly? That's usually the first thing I build the design around.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@NovelistNotions This is such an interesting question. I'm especially curious whether your pen name was a marketing decision, a privacy decision, or simply the name that felt the most like "you."

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

Authors...
At what point did your characters stop feeling like something you created... and start feeling like people you simply followed? I'm convinced every writer has experienced that moment.

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@JayeD_Hutchings Thank you so much! ❤️

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@guckywuckyy I'd love the opportunity.
Is there a character or theme you want the new PFP to revolve around?

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@HavensThwrites Great question. As an illustrator, I’m always interested in seeing what editors and publishers are prioritizing. It’s fascinating how the strongest picture books often combine simple, meaningful stories with visuals that add another layer to the narrative.

[Jaye D. Hutchings @JayeD_Hutchings]

One more time!
@MichelleAl66 was an absolute professional. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them!

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@JayeD_Hutchings I'm so happy you love it! Thank you for letting me be a small part of Ariel and Dee's journey. ❤️

[Jaye D. Hutchings @JayeD_Hutchings]

I'm so excited to have received the final version of my first commissioned artwork! Thanks so much @MichelleAl66 for bringing "Kintsugi" to life!
(BTW - yes, Ariel is that short. She's kinda adorable.)

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@DezmondBoi Are you imagining a clean jersey portrait, or something with stadium lighting and that World Cup energy?

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

@PeasyPied Fr?

[Michelle Alina @MichelleAl66]

A cover should make you curious before you read a single word.

What do you think?

#BookCover #CoverDesign #BookDesign #DigitalArt #BookTwitter #IndieAuthor