Editorial Illustrator
for Novels and Book Covers
I’m Pablo Uría, a freelance editorial illustrator with over 20 years of experience designing book covers for Spanish and international publishers. I specialize in bringing visual life to novels of fantasy, horror, science fiction and historical fiction, creating covers that communicate the genre and tone of each work at first glance.
As an editorial illustrator, I have collaborated with publishers such as Kokapeli, Mandrágora, Torre de Marfil, Sportula, Apache Libros, Educando and the Government of Navarra, and I have designed book covers for more than fifty published projects. I work both with publishers looking for an editorial illustrator with proven experience, and with authors who want to self-publish their novels with the same visual quality as major publishing houses.
If you have a project underway and are looking for an illustrator for your book or novel, feel free to get in touch with me to discuss your idea.
Book covers that speak for your novel
A book cover is not decoration: it’s the first purchase decision. In a bookstore, on Amazon or on any digital platform, the reader judges a novel by its cover before reading the first line. That’s why every book cover I design is meant to work as a communication tool, not just an artistic piece.
As an editorial illustrator specializing in fiction, I understand that every genre has its own visual language. I don’t design the same cover for an epic high-fantasy novel as I would for a suspense thriller or a gothic horror tale. Each work needs its own identity.
Genres I work in as an editorial illustrator
Fantasy and adventure Book covers with characters, creatures and imaginary worlds. From epic high fantasy to urban or young-adult fantasy. If your novel takes place in a world that only exists in your head, I can help you give it visual form.
Horror and thriller Dark compositions and unsettling atmospheres for novels and anthologies in the genre. As a horror editorial illustrator, I know which visual devices create tension and what kind of book cover catches the eye of genre readers.
Science fiction Futuristic book covers for space opera, dystopias and hard science fiction. Technology, alien landscapes and speculative compositions that place the reader in your novel’s universe right from the cover.
Historical and thriller Period-accurate covers for historical novels and thrillers. I also design visual collections for series with multiple titles.
Children’s and young-adult literature Expressive, narrative illustration for novels and books aimed at younger readers. Colors, composition and style adapted to each age range.
Poetry and essay Conceptual, author-driven book covers. For works where the cover must convey an idea rather than a scene.
What the work of an editorial illustrator includes in a book cover
When you commission a book cover, it’s not just an illustration. The work of an editorial illustrator includes all the elements that make a cover function as a publishing product:
- Original illustration designed specifically for your novel
- Typographic design: title, author name, collection and text elements
- Technical adaptation to print formats (CMYK, bleed, high resolution) or digital platforms
- Collection design if your project includes several titles in the same series
- Delivery files in all formats needed: print, Amazon KDP, web and social media
Work process
1. Briefing It all starts with a conversation about your novel: the genre, tone, audience, key characters and the kind of book cover you have in mind. The more detailed the briefing, the better the result.
2. Concept proposal As an editorial illustrator, I prepare sketches or concept proposals that show the visual direction before developing the final artwork. This is where we decide the path together.
3. Illustration and design I work digitally, which guarantees technical precision, flexibility for adjustments and delivery in any format required by your publisher or publishing platform.
4. Typographic integration I incorporate the text elements —title, author, collection— into the design to achieve a cohesive book cover.
5. Delivery and revisions I include revision rounds until the cover reflects exactly what your novel needs. I deliver the final files in the agreed formats.
For publishers and independent authors
I work with two very different profiles:
Publishers who need an editorial illustrator with real experience in published projects, the ability to work with editorial deadlines and technical knowledge of print standards.
Self-published authors who want their novel to have a book cover with the same professional level as commercial publishers. If you publish on Amazon KDP, Lulu or any other platform, I deliver the files ready for direct upload.
Editorial illustration for book covers
"Para una vez que me arremango"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Everest
"Taquicardia"
Cover illustration for the novel by Edgar S. Cortés.
"Esa cruel voz interior"
Cover design and illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"La Duda del Cabo Holmes"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Señor, ten piedad"
Cover design and illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"Un viaje prodigioso"
Cover illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"Fieramente Humano"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Sportula
"Puente a ningún sitio"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Lucero de Fuego"
Cover design and illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"Capas Negras"
Cover design and illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"Cruce de Caminos"
Cover illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon
"La hora del muerto"
Cover illustration for the novel, self-published on Amazon.
"Espejismo"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Emma Lira, self-published on Amazon.
"La Marina ilustrada Vol II"
Cover illustration for the book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La Marina ilustrada Vol I"
Cover illustration for the book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Doble crimen en Finisterre"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"El secreto de las palabras del tintero"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Luis Martinez Vallés, self-published on Amazon.
"Mujeres Prodigiosas"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Javier Bejar, self-published on Amazon.
"Regresión al más allá"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Luis Martinez Vallés, self-published on Amazon.
"No matarás"
Cover illustration for the horror novel by Javier Trescuadras.
Do you have a novel that needs a cover?
Tell me about your project. I work with publishers and authors directly, in Spanish and English, for national and international projects.
"La pluma, Lengua del Alma"
Cover design and illustration for the book by Tomás Yerro (Príncipe de Viana Culture Award 2019), published by the Government of Navarra.
"Nuestros mayores"
Cover design and illustration for the book by Tomás Yerro (Príncipe de Viana Culture Award 2019), published by the Government of Navarra.
"Lerín, Buque varado sobre el río Ega"
Cover design and illustration for the book by Tomás Yerro (Príncipe de Viana Culture Award 2019), published by the Government of Navarra.
"Ahora el silencio"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Luis Martinez Vallés, self-published on Amazon.
"Las puertas blancas"
Cover design and illustration for the novel by Luis Martinez Vallés, published by Apache Libros
"El rompecabezas del cabo Holmes"
Collection design and cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La decepción del cabo Holmes"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"El secreto de las abejas"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La línea divisoria"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"El caso Pereira"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Matar al Heredero"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La paciencia del cabo Holmes"
Another cover illustration for the thriller novel saga from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Herederos de Cthulhu"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Buscador de sombras"
Cover illustration for the science fiction novels by Javier Negrete.
"Cincuenta Caballeros"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La sangre es vida"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Bálsamo"
Cover illustration for the science fiction novel by Juan Antonio Vallejo Narváez.
"El caso de la mano perdida"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Las lanzas rotas"
Collection design and cover illustration for the historical novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Cefeidas"
Cover illustration for the science fiction anthology from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Calabazas en el trastero: Futbol"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology Calabazas en el trastero.
"Calabazas en el trastero: Arañas"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology Calabazas en el trastero.
"Tras el velo"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Kobold, El señor de las cadenas"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Historia del Hospicio Real de Asturias"
Cover illustration for the essay from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Nada nuevo bajo el doble sol"
Illustration for the short story published in Planetas Prohibidos magazine.
"Tres paseos por el fantástico"
Cover illustration for the short story anthology by León Arsenal.
"Este incómodo ropaje"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Sportula.
"Abdel Muta ´al"
Illustration for the short story published in Planetas Prohibidos magazine.
"En tierra de nadie"
Cover illustration and interior illustrations for Editorial Palabras de Agua.
"En calles oscuras"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Lágrimas Oscuras"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Educando.
"Rebelión"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Educando.
"Cuando los hombres creyeron ser dioses"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Educando.
"El Último pecado capital"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Educando.
"Vacuus"
Cover design for the poetry book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Límite 45"
Cover illustration for the poetry book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"bianca blues"
Cover illustration for the poetry book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"La fortaleza de lo ilegible"
Cover illustration for the essay book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Protagonistas"
Cover layout for the poetry book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Al Anochecer"
Cover illustration and design for the novel from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Cincuenta caballeros"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Visiones 2007"
Cover illustration for the science fiction anthology from Aefcft.
"Fabricantes de sueños 2006"
Cover illustration for the science fiction anthology from Aefcft.
"Ahora el silencio"
Cover illustration for the novel by Luis Martinez Vallés.
"Montizón. La rama escondida"
Cover design and illustration for the novel from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Los pingüinos tambien se ahogan"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Torre de Marfil.
"Lovecraft. Mitos de Fuenlabrada"
Cover illustration award for the horror anthology of the FFF.
"Esta noche conectamos con el infierno"
Cover illustration for the horror anthology.
"El abismo en el espejo"
Cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Sportula.
"El secretario del duque"
Cover illustration and design for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"El tempranillo"
Cover illustration and design for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"El tribunal de la sangre"
Cover illustration and design for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Lo que pudo pasar"
Cover illustration and design for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Protagonistas"
Cover layout for the poetry book from Editorial Kokapeli.
"Transformándose"
Fantasy illustration for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Sombras de todo tiempo"
Illustration for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"La serpiente"
Photomontage and cover illustration for the novel from Editorial Mandrágora.
"Amar a Mara"
Cover design and illustration for the novel from Editorial Ábaco.
"La reliquia de yahvéh"
Cover design and illustration for the novel from Editorial Ábaco.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to design a book cover?
A book cover with original illustration usually takes between 3 and 5 weeks from briefing to delivery. More complex projects or collection designs may take longer. If your novel has a publication date, let me know from the start.
What do you need to get started as editorial illustrator on my project?
The genre and a synopsis of your novel, the target audience, visual references of book covers you like, technical specifications if you have a publisher or platform defined, and the approximate delivery deadline.
Can I use the cover for both print and digital?
Yes. I deliver the book cover in the technical formats for both uses: high resolution in CMYK for print and an RGB version for digital platforms and social media.
Do you design covers for authors self-publishing novels on Amazon KDP?
Yes, and frequently. I know the formats and specifications of Amazon KDP and other self-publishing platforms. I deliver the files ready to upload without you needing to make any technical adjustments.
Do you design covers for book series or collections?
Yes. I design the visual identity of complete collections so that all the book covers in a series are recognizable and consistent with each other.
What happens if I do not like the result?
The process includes revisions to make sure your novel’s cover is exactly what you need. A well-prepared briefing at the start keeps revisions to a minimum.
