In the literary world, a catchy title or risqué focus may draw the eye of an interested reader, but have you ever thought about how influenced one may be by elegantly designed book cover art? Melissa Stevens saw the need for such involved illustrations in forums in the mid-2000s.

Melissa, who is an Anderson County native, is the owner and operator of a thriving graphic design and illustration business, Illustrated Author Design Services. She began in 2011, working with a small press.

She has a well-developed love for books and art. In fact, as a child she dreamed of growing up to be an artist, or possibly a math teacher. She stuck to her dreams from a young age and never deviated from those dreams until later in high school, when reality hit. She saw that art schools were extremely expensive, and she would have to move quite a distance to even attend one. That caused her to change her course of study to engineering.

In 2006, Melissa found herself with a long period of time at home unable to do much of anything due to a major reconstructive knee surgery. In this time, she explored several online writing groups. She said, “I began to integrate myself, finding new friends. I decided I needed a creative outlet, and began writing.”

Soon writing was not enough, so she dug out an old edition of Photoshop and began relearning the techniques it entailed. At this time, Indie Authors were beginning to take hold in the author world. Amazon created a Breakthrough Novel Award, which she entered. All these authors were creating their own covers for their books, but it turned out that no one really paid attention to the covers, because suddenly there was an onslaught of books from authors no one had heard of.

These events compounded and Melissa began to see forums pop up looking for covers. There was definitely a need and she was already experimenting with Photoshop in her writer’s group.

A year later, she began to create custom covers, and delved into the thought of turning this into a viable career.

She says, “It hasn’t been easy! There has been a lot of doubt, and often barely enough to make ends meet. I am blessed to have such supportive family and friends.”

The business has really thrived over the past three years. She offers covers (ebook, paperback, and hardback), book trailers, promotional designs, branding, formatting and illustrations. She has even created some things like banners for conventions, bookmarks, business cards, logos, temporary tattoos, maps, Chapstick labels, stickers, interior designs—pretty much she will fulfill almost any request that is possible.

During her career, she has worked with many nationally known authors and created covers for some such as Carla Bass, S. T. Bende, Casey Bond, Jana DeLeon, LA Fiore, Karen Lynch, Shannon Mayer, Lexi Ostrow, Janelle Stalder and many more. Other authors she has worked with for formatting or promotional designs are Jennifer Armentrout, Deanna Chase, Abbi Glines, May Sage, M.H. Soars, and again, more. Every project holds a special place in her heart.

Melissa may be a self taught designer, but she connects with her clients and has a real eye for design. She has won several cover artist awards; 2016 InD'Tale RONE Cover Design, 2018 InD'Tale RONE Cover Design, 2018 UTOPIACON - Best Supernatural Cover (Savage Beauty) and Best Trailer (Entombed in Glass), 2019 UTOPICON - Best Book Trailer (High Stakes) and Best Interior Design (Brutal Curse).

As far as career goals, she shares, “I am living my goals. Of course, I always want to grow and learn more, be better at everything, and know my field and its constantly changing rules. There are authors I would love to work with, and I strive to create better work every day.”

Melissa is a proud mother of two girls; Faith, age 10, who is an incredibly smart 5th grader and Jessi, age 4, an imaginative princess. She and husband, Jon, are college sweethearts and have been married for nineteen years.

She is from Anderson County, but moved with her family to Union County in 2011. She is on the library board, and her daughter, Faith, attends Paulette Elementary. She has worked with the Maynardville Public Library on several occasions, even creating the logo for Thunder Rally Author Event. Also, she has done several projects for The Winery at Seven Springs Farm.

If you would like to see some of Melissa’s spectacular, eye-appealing designs, visit her website at www.theillustratedauthor.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theillustratedauthor or TIA Design group. Also, her email is theillustratedauthor@gmail.com. New clients are welcome to contact her, once a timeline is established for the suggested project, she shares a contract and order form. A deposit is required to secure the slot on her schedule, and she is typically booking 5-6 months out.